Last Day of 2011

and I haven't reflected on 2011 yet...other then briefly when I wrote our family Christmas letter to send to out-of-state friends.  Randy is off Monday yet, but once he's back on the road I'll be catching up on reading blogs and blogging about life the past week or 2.

Last night Josiah was at a Jr. Youth function and I needed to pick him up at 11:00.  A friend and I shopped from when we dropped the kids off at 7 until 11...so I'm kind of sleepy now.  No late New Years' Eve for me tonight!

Happy New Year!

Christmas - Gag Gift

My gift from "Santa"

At my family Christmas gathering, frequently a (gag) gift or two labeled from Santa appear under the tree amidst the regular packages from grammy & grandpa.  This year I was the lucky recipient.  :-)  I got these cool slippers to help keep my floor clean.  I've gotta say, the kids love them!  They really slide on the floor nicely.  I got a kick out of reading the packaging...things like "don't run and slide" and "not for use on carpet".  The bottoms velcro on so they can be removed and washed.

Christmas

We've had a lovely Christmas so far with round 3 today.  Randy's off for the week so I'm not sure how much time I'll have to blog...but once we are back to our regular schedule next week, I'll try to catch up.

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas!

Last day of school for 2011

The kids will be home in half an hour.  The little boys are in bed (not sleeping and not staying there, but that's where they are supposed to be).  I have a little list of things to do this afternoon during naptime....we'll see how much I get done.

I remembered early this morning that on Dec. 9 I neglected to blog about how that was the day we got Micah. He was the only one of the last 3 that we got to pick up right from the hospital.  We picked up Zach at the county agency and we met the social worker in the Sears parking lot for Mark....so yes, at our house, babies may come from Sears.  :-)  An adorable, sweet black haired baby.  So sweet.  He was the one we initially said "ask the family that has their sister first" but when they said "no", we said "yes"....and I'm so glad.  He is only 14-1/2 months behind Mark who is only 15 months behind Zach and the 3 of them keep me stepping, but as crazy as I get sometimes, I wouldn't trade them for anything!  He's my little monkey...loves to climb and get into everything...maybe I should nickname him C.George!

Look...he puts his big toe up just like me!  :-)

Other random fact....our tree skirt this year is a length of fabric leftover from the bridesmaids dresses for our wedding...nearly 15 years ago.

The boys and I cleaned up the living room this morning...now to keep it straightened up until it is vacuumed and dusted.

It is gorgeous outside here...a taste of spring!  We walked around the block after lunch...with no coats...and weren't cold.

Randy will be home later today.  Exciting to have him here for some extra days this weekend/week!

Life with Preschoolers

I am finding having 3 preschoolers...ages 2, 3, and 4 to be quite challenging!  The 4-year-old has always given me a run for the money, but the 2 & 3 year old together are quite a handful!

I was going to tell you what all they've been getting into this week....but I didn't want to give any preschoolers out there any ideas!  :-)

Rain

A few minutes ago I heard the wind whipping around the house.  Now it is pouring down rain.  I guess it will be a rather wet Christmas this year...no snow like last year.  Despite the early snowstorm in October, so far December has been quite mild (40s) and rainy.  I even let the woodstove go out because it was just getting to hot in the house...strange for this time of year.

Today I baked Peanut Butter Blossoms.  I even let the little boys help me roll the dough in colored sugar...always such a challenge for me to let them "help".  [Wow, it is really windy and rainy!]  At 12:30 the little boys and I went to school to see Autumn's class & the 2nd grade do a Bethlehem tour thing.  Autumn was Mary.  Then I met a friend at Wal-Mart to pick-up something for Christmas...yeah, it was crazy there!  I was glad I was only in the parking lot and not going inside.

Tonight, being Wednesday, was "school kids stay up later" night.  The goal is that I can just hang out and talk with them...but that is kind of difficult with a little boy who does not stay in bed...I had to keep interrupting us to put him back.  Josiah is one of the contestants from his class in the school geography bee.  I'm hoping to attend, but not sure how it will work as Mark has speech that morning...so unfortunately I probably will not make it in time...unless there is another opening that I can switch that.

I have been totally loving this week of being at home.  I guess going to appointments every week was more wearing then I realized!  Next week isn't to bad either...I think it all goes back to normal though in January.

As for January, it really is time for me to look at my calendar and get babysitters lined up to cover appointments.

Well...I should go to bed.  I've been staying up to late recently and should catch up on my sleep.  But I do love these quiet hour(s) when the kids are asleep and it's dark and the Christmas tree lights are cozy....

Monday

Yesterday we stayed home all day...no church, no Christmas caroling.  We thought it best to not spread our germs, and since only 3 of us had been sick, I thought it likely that we were probably carrying the germs.  And wouldn't you know, last night 3 more got sick.  So only 2 of us left...and hopefully we'll escape this time!  I am thankful that we should be better before Christmas.  We do also have some runny noses but that's okay.

Today, in addition to laundry, I decided to do a bit of baking/food prep.  I made a Banana Split Supreme for Christmas lunch.  I did modify it so that half the pan is just cookies/ice cream/fudge as I wasn't sure the whole family would appreciate all the banana split flavors.  And I made Candy Cane Cake for us to eat this week.  I modified that a bit in that I didn't put the mint extract in and I used a yellow cake instead of white since that's what I had.  I also put Christmas sprinkles on top instead of crushed candy canes.

Since we've been sick, I decided not to host playgroup tomorrow...no one wants to be given a virus for Christmas!  So now my week is almost totally free.  Autumn's class is doing a little Bethlehem journey thing on Wednesday afternoon that we may try to get to.  And some of the kids have Christmas parties that I need to send things in for, but nothing else until the weekend.  Usually after a few days of being stuck at home with some sick kids I'm longing to get out...but I haven't felt that yet (maybe tomorrow?!).  I think it's because of all the appointments we have every week.  It's nice to just be home....

Well, the kids are all resting so I should get some laundry folded and dishes done...and perhaps drink another cup of tea...

Saturday

and the stomach virus has arrived at our house.  Thankfully Randy was home as Micah, Zach, and Mark all got sick during the night...  Hopefully it will be us all before Christmas.

Last night we went to the kids' school program...beautiful as always.

Life and other Christmas-y Thoughts...

• Usually I make a cheese ball because Autumn & I love it...haven't yet, but still want to.
• We also like cream cheese topped with Pepper Jam and spread on crackers.
• Last year I made a bread braid wreath for St. Lucia's Day...didn't get to it this year.
• We usually have a couple of Christmas programs to go to.  The kids' school always has one...all music...the teacher does a phenomenal job.  Amazing to see how they go from shouting in unison in 1st grade to singing 3 or 4-part harmony in Jr. High.  Our church service the Sunday before Christmas is also a program.
• This morning I took Mark & Zach to the dentist...both looking good.  This was Mark's first time so they just counted his teeth since he didn't want to get off my lap...but what they saw looked fine.
• I'm excited because we have no therapy appointments until after Christmas!  I love what therapy does for my kids, but I'm so excited to have a week and a half of minimal driving!
• This week we've had speech therapy, occupational therapy, and a dentist appointment.  We still have MOPS, Jr. Youth/JGA meetings, and the grocery store.  I do like to stay home sometimes...
• After not having my house "professionally" cleaned for 2 weeks, I was quite happy to have her come again today.  I obviously am not yet doing well at keeping after myself....need to get there though because eventually I do need to take this back over...
• Micah is on another antibiotic to hopefully clear up his ear infection.
• Nap time....time to keep the kids in their beds, and if I can get them to stay there, eat some lunch since I neglected to eat while they were eating.
• This mornings "phrases of the day" were:  "The Christmas Tree is Not a Toy" and "Stay off of the Table!"  :-)

Our Weekend

Saturday I did get to the Cozy Coffee Shop and had a wonderful cup of Spiced Chai...mmm...and managed to keep the boys from breaking anything.  :-)  Then I picked up Autumn at her sleepover.

In the evening a couple of my friends came over and Randy & Josiah went to a guys night of playing "Haus" or "Hoss" or however you spell it!

Sunday we went to church.  After naps we went to some friends' house and watched "A Christmas Child".  Very touching Christmas movie...I managed to suppress my tears.  :-)  Dealt with a journalist who was adopted as a child trying to find his story/roots.

In the evening we played games...playing games in this house is always more ideal to think about then to do.  Hard to find games that the age span will enjoy together.  Hard to play while helping a 4-year-old who can't sit still on your lap.  But we did it anyway.  Randy & older 3 played "Morph" then the oldest 4 with me helping the 4-year-old played Monopoly Junior.  Along the way we discovered that several games we wanted to play were no longer options because of missing pieces.

There has been quite a bit of tragedy touching those in our social/family circle in the last few weeks...older people dying, young people dying unexpectedly....and it always seems worse at Christmas and the Holidays...

It is a good morning today.  The boys have been playing nicely for an entire hour....I have not had to interrupt or solve a problem or fight...a rare gift!  And it allowed me to get the dishwasher unloaded and another load started.  Later the babysitter is coming and I need to take Mark for Speech Therapy.  I am doing piles of laundry of course.  It is sunny...another wonderful gift since it is so frequently cloudy and/or rainy it seems.  Micah slept until 4:50, and then snuggled in and slept until almost 7.  Mark slept all night as well, only coming over to me shortly before 7.  There was a cup of coffee in the pot that Randy left for me when he got up and left on this round.  Another gift.  What a lovely morning!  And I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts.  :-)

Christmas Tradition - Gifts

I'm sure I talked about this before...but this is the "official" tradition blog post about it.  :-)

Our kids get 3 gifts just as the magi gave 3 gifts to Jesus.  I also fill their stockings...but we don't do the Santa thing.  It's a fun way to give them some little things, they have no illusions.  Our gifts are rarely anything fancy...books, DVDs, a desired toy or clothing item, music CD, some items bought new, some on sale, some at a consignment shop.  Randy & I get each other gifts...sometimes simple, sometimes extravagant...we don't discuss it really, just do what we want that year (within reason!).  Randy (wonderful man that he is!) typically takes the kids shopping for them to get something for me.  I (being less brave) just buy gifts and put the kids names on them for him.  I keep thinking I should allow them the privilege of shopping for him as well, but I tend to pick up things on sale or such and so by the time Christmas comes his shopping is done and there's no need for anything else...maybe next year, because it really is special for them to pick something out themselves....

There are also gifts from grandparents and we exchange names among ourselves on my side of the family so there's another small gift.  Randy's side is a bit difficult to exchange names since there are 8 of us...and 8 of them combined.  So last year we started doing family gifts there.

I try to foster gratitude and yet I know it may be hard for my kids to understand why their friends/neighbors receive more extravagant presents....I just say that families are different....and that they are welcome to save their money for whatever item I am not willing to buy for them.  :-)

As for "when" we do our gift-giving here...it really depends on the schedules of our families...some years on Christmas Eve, some years on Christmas Morning....not sure if we've ever done anything else.  I don't like to rush it though.  We open the gifts, one at a time, watching to see what each person receives before moving on to the next gift.

Saturday morning

Last night I got to go shopping with my sisters.  Had a fun time...should do it more often!  :-)

Autumn is at her cousin's house for a birthday sleepover.  I need to pick her up later this morning.  Randy, Josiah, & Zachary went to cut wood.  So it's just me, Janae, Mark, and Micah at home...kind of quiet!

I'm doing laundry and cleaning today I think.  Tonight a couple of my friends are coming over and Randy & Josiah are escaping from the women and going to hang out with some other guys.

There is a fundraiser at a local coffee shop today to raise funds in memory of my neighbor's brother-in-law.  So if you're local, stop by!  I'd like to go get some coffee or something...if I can bring myself to take the kids into a little coffee shop...  Details:  "Cocalico Senior High LEO Club is hosting a benefit in memory of John Keene to raise funds for the Colon Cancer Coalition. The event is being held at Cozy Coffee Café, located at 1832 North Reading Road ALL DAY on Saturday December 10th (TODAY). 15% of ALL sales for the day will go to cancer research.
Spread the word! Hope to see you there."
Now I need to get motivated to do what needs done...

Christmas Tradition - Candy

I don't make much candy...but there are 3 that I frequently make around Christmas.  And I have a ream of recipes that I plan to try at some point!

They are:

1. Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge.  I love this easy recipe from my mom.  It just melts in your mouth.
2. Butter mints.  Another super simple recipe that the kids can help with by rolling the dough into balls and criss-crossing with a fork.  Many recipes for these contain cream cheese but not this one.
3. Chocolate Pretzel Rings.  I love this combination of sweet and salt...I do substitute my favorite mini pretzels in place of the rings.

Some years I've tried other kinds that were good too.  Last year I tried a peanut butter cup recipe that was awesome!  Unfortunately, I lost the recipe....hopefully it will turn up some day.

Christmas Tradition - Cookies

Most years I enjoy making assorted cookies for Christmas.  As I've mentioned, I used to make 1 (or 2) kind a week from the beginning of November until the middle of December and then I'd have a nice variety.  That was pre-multiple preschoolers!  I still love to bake cookies, but instead I sneak it in whenever the desire strikes me. Some years I make more kinds, some years less....but it's hard not to make my favorites.

This is the list of what I like to make....some every year, some every 2 or 3 years.

Cookies:

• Sand Tarts (I posted pictures of them the other week).  I use the recipe in "The Mennonite Cookbook" for Sand Tarts or Saint Hearts.
• Pecan Tassies.  My mom's recipe crossed with the recipe that came with a cookie scoop from The Pampered Chef.
• Peanut Butter Tarts.  Another recipe from my Mom.
• Grandma's Sugar Cookies....from my Grandma!  I top with red or green sugar
• Beatrice's Drop Cookies.  This is a soft sugar cookie with icing that I top with some red or green sugar.  This is also a cookie that I love...but hate to make because of the extra step of icing...and needing to have enough icing for all the cookies without running out or skimping and having a lot left.  I do have a Great Aunt Beatrice...not sure if these came from her or not....I got it from my Mom.
• Chocolate Pinwheel Cookies.  I love these!
• Chocolate Crinkles.  Not sure where I got this recipe, but I think I should try another...they never quite turn out the way I expect them to.
• Chocolate Caramel Cookies....Love these, but a bit extra work so it's not an every year cookie...chocolate dough wrapped around a rolo candy and dipped in a sugar/chopped pecan mixture.  Scrumptious!  Unfortunately pecans are rather pricey.
• Chocolate Truffle Cookies....chocolaty goodness...Love these!
• Peanut Butter Blossoms....those peanut butter cookies with the Hershey Kiss on top.  I usually roll the dough in red or green sugar.  Haven't made these in a few years because they are hard to stack in a container.  And kids tend to just eat the kiss and skip the cookie.  :-)  Was thinking of making them again this year though.  Not sure what recipe I use...perhaps the one on the back of the Kiss package...if it's still there.
• I used to make one that took chocolate chip dough and wrapped it around a mini-Snickers bar.  Hadn't thought of it in years...but that's delicious too..especially when it's still warm...

I've tried other recipes from time to time...but these are the most requested by the kids & me.  In addition to these, sometimes I will buy "place-n-bake" cookies simply because they're easy, they're fun, and I love them warm.  :-)

Random preschooler tidbits & other stuff.

• Having a 2 year old, 3 year old, and 4 year old in the house is hazardous!  :-)
• Thought this was going to be a "no nap" day, but they finally went to sleep...at least the 2 that normally sleep...and the 3rd one is resting quietly on the sofa.
• This morning the 2-year-old dumped shell macaroni all over the floor...then they all proceeded to sit in it and eat it...good thing macaroni is fairly cheap!
• They dumped out my makeup/perfume stuff again....at least they didn't open it this time...except the perfume...those boys smell sweet!  :-)
• Somehow I'm already blanking out on what else they did this morning....
• It's going to be so much fun at Christmas!
• Yesterday we reorganized the basement family room again.  Everything is in it's proper box and locked in the toy room to be gotten out 1 (or 2) at a time, then cleaned up and returned before getting out something else.  At least that's how it's supposed to work.  Somehow everything was out.  But now it's all back and we can start over.
• Also, broken toys and torn books are trashed.  Nice books are nicely organized on the shelves again
• This morning I was working on reorganizing the living room (which may have contributed to the little boys getting into things in other rooms).  Anyway, the bookshelves no longer have books helter skelter on them...nicely placed or moved downstairs now.  Toy drawers cleaned out.  Puzzles put together.  Downstairs toys put in a basket to take downstairs and sort.  I'm sure by now it doesn't look it anymore...  I do have a couple cupboards in there that should be gone through too...but at least the toys are reorganized.
• I accidentally washed a "Pull-Up"  today....which of course exploded all over the washer.  I really don't recommend that....
• Now I need to go finish folding laundry before the boys wake up.

Christmas Tradition - Tree

Our Christmas Tree this year...perfect for us.  :-)  I think I blogged about getting the tree a bit ago, but anyway...

Our tradition is that Randy & the older kids go tramping around a local tree lot and cut a tree.  Earlier in our marriage I would go along, but recently I just stay home with the littles...much easier then lugging a 2-year-old over field and vale!  Anyway, first we would put the tree in our living room (although since we like big trees it fit snugly), and then one year it was too tall!  So we put it in the Kitchen.  I LOVED it there because it was so much easier to clean up the needles off the hard floor AND I was in the kitchen constantly so enjoyed it more.  So, when we get our tree we just shift our table a bit to fit the tree along the one wall...makes things a bit more crowded but enjoyable.

When it comes time to open gifts, however, it is a bit tight.  Previously we would fold the ends of the table down and scoot it off to one side, but since our table has gotten longer as our family has gotten larger, last year we started a new tradition.  I stick a small, fake, cheap 3' tree in the basement on a cabinet, and we open our gifts there...more room to enjoy the moment.  :-)

I gave up the tinsel when our kids were tiny.  I gave up the beads after dealing with the 3rd toddler.  Since we decorated the tree, most of the ornaments have migrated to the top half where they are not as tempting.

Our ornaments are an eclectic mix (doesn't that sound grand!)....no designer tree here....ornaments from when I was a child, ornaments that each child has received, applesauce-cinnamon ornaments, salt-dough ornaments, "craft" ornaments, crocheted snowflakes, a few shatterproof balls...and yes, they break.

This is the first year since we started getting really tall trees that I've been able to use the angel on top...the past few years it has been to tall and I just stick a bow up there.  Sometimes the tallest sprig will even slightly bend at the ceiling.

Anyway, I love the Christmas tree tradition...just all warm and cozy.  :-)

Happy Birthday!

My baby is 2 today!

We celebrated on Sunday since we weren't sure if Daddy would be around today or not.

His gifts:  A Scentsy monkey (Camu Camu scent), Wooden Number Puzzle, box of dress-up clothes/hats that in this picture the little boys are all enjoying.

Christmas Traditions - Advent

Most years we get an Advent calendar...sometimes bought, sometimes homemade, but always just a paper with little doors to open.  And we did get one again this year.  This year through facebook or blog, I can't remember which, although I know it was from Dawn at www.arethesekidsallyours.blogspot.com I discovered the concept of a "Jesse Tree".  I was unfamiliar with this so I "googled" it.  Anyway, I found a website www.aholyexperience.com that offered a free downloadable guide.

This offers a daily reading from the Bible and a corresponding picture/ornament to hang on a branch or tree or something.  I love this concept because the readings cover from the Beginning to Christ....the history leading up to Christ's birth.  Anyway I like it because if there is no Creation, there is no Fall of man/sin entering the world, and if there's no Fall, there's no need for Christ's birth.

So, today I was cutting out the pictures, matting them on scrapbook paper, and mounting them on cardstock.  Now I need to punch holes in them and add ribbon to hang them.  I think I will hang them from a curtain rod since I don't have a branch.

So it's a few days late, but I'm excited to start this!

Monday morning

Mark & Micah were up early again.  Micah was up off-and-on all night.  He's been pulling at his ears also so I decided that before I get tough about staying in bed all night, I should get his ears checked to make sure that his ear infection from November cleared up.  Well, the doctor said his ears are pink, but the drum is not bulging.  He gave me a prescription for Amoxicillin and said that if it's not cleared up by Wednesday, to get it filled.  I am a bit confused though because Amoxicillin is what he was on a month ago...I thought they usually give something different.  This doctor (not one of the normal doctors at our practice...and very nice I must say) seemed to think this is a new infection and probably viral.  I tend to think it's the same infection from before that never totally went away...but who knows...he is the doctor after all!  :-)  Anyway, so if I decide to fill it, I need to decide if I'm going to do so as written or if I'm going to call back to the office and double-check that this is the best option.

Last night we celebrated Micah's birthday a few days early so that Randy could be part of it.  This morning we dealt with fights over the new puzzle.  It is a wooden puzzle with numbers from 0-9.  Zach plays with it and says A-B-C-D....  Umm, no, numbers not letters....I don't think he knows the difference yet!

Last evening we also went to the local Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony which included a simple live nativity, bonfire, coffee/hot chocolate/other food, and Santa.  Zach was very disappointed that we did not go see Santa.  Our family doesn't do the "Santa" thing other then we talk about St. Nicholas...but the kids all know the presents are from us....that being said, we have let them sit on Santa's lap at functions for fun, but I didn't feel like waiting in line to do so.  :-)

Today I'm doing mounds of wash....which is normal on Monday, but even more today since I did not do any on Saturday.  I'm hoping to bake some cookies this week as well.

Saturday we went to a local vendor/craft show.  We also baked chocolate crinkles and I got caught up with our book work.  My cards came in the mail so I got them mostly addressed as well (easy with labels!).

This week is nice...nothing other then the normal therapies except a dentist appointment for 3 of the kids and this morning's excursion to the doctor.

Life

I'm thinking it's about time someone gets sick here.  Micah did have that ear infection a bit ago, and we have been dealing with assorted sinus infections, but considering the number of times my kids have told me their classmates were out sick....we're due one of these days.  I'm trying to be vigilant about giving them vitamins...

Zach was all snuggly/clingy/mellow tonight....very unusual, I wonder if he's getting sick?

Josiah's been dealing with leg cramps or something all evening...short, sharp, sudden pain in his shin periodically...and headaches whenever he stands up.

We did piano lessons tonight.  We are working on Christmas music which tends to be more difficult.  Autumn makes her piano debut at church on Sunday.  The kids watched Veggie Tales "The Toy that Saved Christmas" while we did that.

Right now with the lights off in the kitchen other then the Christmas tree and the lights above the cupboards, and with everyone in bed, it is very peaceful.  Earlier, however....it was interesting.  The boys are quite fascinated with the tree (hopefully it wears off).  Mark was upset because I took a candy cane away before he devoured it all (I'm not sure if he removed the paper of the part he did eat).  Micah was made because the candy cane he was eating wasn't tasting right.  In fact, it was an ornament...pure plastic/resin or something...it did break though!

Micah was up quite early this morning (5:15ish) and did not go back to sleep although I tried hard to keep him quiet and in bed until our official "get up any time after" time of 6:30.  So I should get to bed in good time tonight....but I did start watching those Lord of the Rings dvds I bought and they are calling my name...  :-)  We'll see....

Agenda for Friday & Saturday:

• Pay bills/Go to bank
• Clean house
• Bake
• Menu Plan
• Grocery Shop

We'll see....

Baking Cookies

Thanksgiving Weekend

Last Wednesday the kids had their annual school Thanksgiving Feast/mini-program.  This year's focus was family and it was neat to see them singing and see the skits they wrote themselves.

Thursday we spent the day with my family at my parents house.  I loved spending time with my siblings, their spouses, and nieces and nephews....a few were sick and couldn't be there, though.  The food was simply splendid as always...always tastes better when Mom cooks.  :-)  My contribution was Cranberry Applesauce Jello Salad and Praline Pumpkin Torte.

Friday morning, bright and early, we left to go to Randy's parents' beach house in Delaware.  The kids did okay traveling this trip...not splendid, but okay.  We stopped at McD's for breakfast.  We had a great time hanging out with family, riding bikes, walking the boardwalk at Rehoboth, playing on the play ground, shuffling through fallen leaves.  My sister-in-law and I did a bit of "Black Friday" shopping on Friday evening after the crowds had dissipated somewhat.  At a little shop in Rehoboth we got the kids t-shirts...buy 1 get 1 free....end of season clearance I guess.

We traveled home Sunday which still gave us 1 more day of the school vacation.  Monday I went to work decorating the house for Christmas.  And tonight the final decorating was accomplished...Randy & the 4 older kids went and cut a Christmas tree (just for the record, we like our trees a little odd...not perfect, longer branches and holes okay with us).  After dinner we decorated it....I love the smell of a pine tree...not sure exactly what kind it is, the needles are medium long, shorter then a white pine but longer then the average fir tree...All the lights and scents of Christmas make me feel cozy.  :-)

Random

• My favorite purchase when shopping on "Black Friday" evening - The Lord of the Rings trilogy...$1.96/each.  Only negative is that they are the regular (not extended) version, but really...what a deal!
• Decorating today with the windows open....a taste of what it must be like to have Christmas in a warmer climate....but strange for here!
• Next birthday coming up next week....better make sure I have some gifts!
• I'm always so ready for the quiet that comes when everyone is sleeping.  Even though I know that I should be also, it's hard to give up that beautiful, quiet time.
• I got my new dishwasher today.  So far I am quite pleased.  And, wow, it is so quiet!  I think I can actually fit in more dishes...but I'm still learning since it's designed differently then my old one.
• I'm looking forward to getting Christmas cards in the mail....as well as getting the ones I ordered so I can send them out.
• Much as I love Holidays, I'm ready to get back to our daily schedule...and after a bit of time I'll be ready to have another holiday....love variety!  :-)

Christmas

I've had a hard time feeling "Christmasy" this year.  Usually I have dreams and plans for December, but I am strangely empty this year.  Sunday morning, however, we walked to the park in the development where my in-laws' have their house.  My feet rustled in the fallen leaves.  The smell of the decaying leaves was in the air.  The kids played at the park.  It was restful, peaceful. *until someone needed to go to the bathroom, but anyway.

Then, I was ready to move one, move on past Thanksgiving and fall, to Christmas.  We listened to a Veggie Tales Christmas CD on the way home [you know, one of those trips where the little ones who need to nap refuse to be still long enough to do so and so are extremely loud and cranky].  In the evening we watched "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" (Jim Carrey version) to start our holiday movie viewing.  This morning I dug out all my boxes and took down the fall things and put up the festive Christmas things.  I played Christmas music until someone took over my computer.  And I enjoyed the mess...and I didn't feel obligated to use every decoration I've ever received...I allowed Autumn to help me willingly (yes, that's a challenge for me....) and chose to actively involve her.

Now, there's still that matter of Christmas baking.  I'm afraid I'm rather behind compared to some other years...but this is this year, not that year, and whatever gets done, gets done.  I'm thinking that Saturday may be a baking day since Randy will be out cutting wood.  Perhaps I will mix up some dough on Friday to prep and then the girls and I can bake on Saturday.

As for shopping, my sister-in-law and I went out a bit on Friday evening (much preferable then Friday during the day) and I got some gifts.  I pick up things as I go through the year also.  And I got a few things online today during the cyberMonday sales.  So, that being said, I'm nearly done.

Speaking of gifts, in our family we really don't make a big deal...and yet we have a fabulous time.  The kids get 3 gifts each + stocking stuffers.  Some of the gifts come from consignment shops.  None of them get electronics.  And we love it this way...anyway, I do.  :-)  Sometimes they do comment on how other kids they know get more extravagant gifts...and I just say that "I'm not that kids mother"  :-).

I just realized that I think I got the girls 4 gifts...oops, something will need to wait until a birthday or else 2 things need to be combined into one!

I was reading on another blog about a "Jesse tree".  I googled it and think perhaps we will talk about that during our snack time before bed this year....it's a series of Bible readings (with corresponding ornament) from Creation to Christ.

Monday

We had a lovely weekend at the beach house with some of Randy's family....kids are off today and I'm doing laundry and decorating....more detailed post later...

Gifts for the person who has everything

Consider giving to an organization/charity in their honor...either a specific monetary amount or money which purchases an animal or other specific item for those in need.  Of course, some people will not appreciate this, but others will be thrilled that you are helping others in their honor instead of giving them another gift they don't need.

"Gift Catalog" charities include:

• http://giftcatalog.bethany.org/ - Bethany Christian Services (Adoption, Orphan Care)
• https://secure2.convio.net/ccsh/site/Ecommerce?store_id=37702 - Show Hope, an organization that supports orphanages and adoptions.  Often associated with Steven Curtis & Mary Beth Chapman who started this in honor of their daughter.
• http://www.worldvision.org/content.nsf/pages/gift-catalog-dynamic-search-holidays?open&campaign=10152558&cmp=KNC-10152558 - World Vision, a relief organization.
• https://donate.mcc.org/christmas-giving - Mennonite Central Committee - "Relief, development and peace in the name of Christ"
• http://www.compassion.com/catalog.htm - Compassion International - Child Sponsorship and Relief.

In Everything Give Thanks

I realize that frequently I blog about Thanksgiving in November, but that National Adoption Month kind of took over this year for whatever reason....so, to being thankful.  I'm working on being thankful in all things and helping my kids to learn to be grateful instead of never satisfied....sometimes I think it's a harder lesson for us in the affluence here then in a 3rd world country...there's always something else out there to make what we have look inferior.

So, I'm thankful for (in no particular order):

• The God who created us and this world and reconciled us to Himself through God the Son, Jesus Christ, and for God the Holy Spirit who guides us.  The mystery of the One God who is 3 in 1.
• My husband...wonderful, hardworking, committed....
• Our kids....Josiah, Autumn, Janae, Zachary, Mark, Micah
• Our families....some people have difficult in-laws, ours are wonderful.
• I'm thankful I was raised in a stable, loving family....a blessing without compare!
• The boys' therapists.  They are great additions to our lives.
• The kids' school
• Our church/church family....we are so blessed!
• Plenty of food
• Plenty of water...and hot water
• Fresh air
• The beauty of the earth around us.
• Electricity....being without it earlier this fall definitely accented that!
• Health and strength
• Sunny days
• good books and movies
• friends and neighbors
• e-mail and facebook and blogs (encouraging ones!)
• the ability to play piano
• Beautiful surroundings...plants, grasses, trees

Well, gotta run and check on those boys....  :-)

Adoption Reality

Great post here on adoption.

And yes, there are probably an excess of adoption posts this month...since it's National Adoption Month....

National Adoption Month Posts continued. :-)

Pretty much anyone adopting (except via foster care) is raising money in whatever way they can.  I got this cool Tervis tumbler and keychain from http://www.minus1project.blogspot.com last week and their store www.gotloveadopt.com.

Janae's Birthday - Photos

 Birthday cake with Polka Dots as per request....flowers & dots cut from Fruit Roll-Ups.

 Arthur books (I was thrilled to find these "like new" books at a consignment shop!)

 a new mug...her little brother broke her old one.

 a box of dress-up clothes (bought from a friend who is moving).  We also got her a pair of roller-blades.

Wearing the dress-up clothes and opening Grammy & Grandpa's gift...a soccer ball, stamps, and paper.

She also got a pack of 10,000 beads from Randy's parents...but I forgot to take a photo of that.

Saturday night

and I noticed I haven't posted for awhile...and can't remember anything going on....hmm...

• I finished watching "Pride & Prejudice" and started watching "The Scarlet Pimpernel".
• Haven't been reading to much lately other then "The Out-of-Sync Child"....which I really like, except the appendix talking about how our brain evolved....(Yes, I am a "young-earth creationist").
• Started making Christmas cookies today....now the challenge to keep other things in the house so we don't eat them until closer to Christmas....made "Chocolate Pinwheels" and "Sand Tarts".
• Am currently without a dishwasher and excited about the new one that should be coming in a week or 2.
• Thursday was MOPS, had a good time as always.
• Today is "National Adoption Day"...and I'm thankful for how God has changed me through our experiences with adopting our boys via foster care.
• Excited to go to church tomorrow...been a month since a "normal" service there....last week we were gone, week before was a kid's program and no Sunday school since the electric only returned Sat. sometime, week before that we went to a different church since no church at ours because of no electric (that snow storm in October we had).  So happy to go again!
• I am enjoying hazelnut creamer in my coffee this week.  Not a flavor I typically buy but I will again!

Christmas Cards

 Before we left on Friday I had my mom take some photos of our family in hopes of turning one into a Christmas card.  This was the "runner-up"...so as not to totally ruin it for my friends who may read this who actually get a card from me.  :-)

I was quite amused when I did order my cards.  I had a coupon to a website offering 20 photo cards for $1.99 (+ shipping).  I usually order more then 20, but figured I could always order from another site if greater quantities were extra expensive.  Anyway, it turned out that the greater quantity prices were reasonable, so I ordered a bunch.  I was quite amused at all the upgrades they offered (at a greater cost of course).  But my favorite was when it came to shipping...Slow (21 days), Standard (14 days), and 2 faster options which I can't remember what they called them.  I'm quite familiar with "standard" shipping, but I had never heard of "slow"....however, I chose "slow" as it was cheapest.  (So my cards may be going out late this year.)  Hopefully I'm not to disappointed in not choosing any of the other upgrades and/or offers....but I was very pleased with the deal.  :-)

Our Weekend - continued

Top 3 things I enjoyed this weekend:

• Uninterrupted time with Randy...although since I have a cold which affects my voice, I couldn't actually talk as much as usual. :-)
• Being able to eat without cooking or cleaning up!
• Shopping without a time constraint (typically I need to be back for something).

Our Weekend

We left Friday before lunch.

 Coal country.

 Driving...

 Delivering a load of organic mushroom soil.

 We drove through some snow & rain.

Saturday morning:

 We weighed the truck at a CAT scales.

The farm where we loaded the corn:

 I took all these pictures through the window...it was rather cold and windy outside.  Around our area we don't often see pipelines above ground.

 Watertown, NY, home of those little pine tree air fresheners for your car.  This was the factory.

 We stayed both nights in this lovely hotel....newly built this summer.

 We were within walking distance of lots of shops...so we went Christmas shopping.  There was also a Salvation Army thrift store where I found jeans & shorts for the kids.  My shins are still sore from all the walking we did, but it's not practical to drive a semi-truck around to stores.  :-)

 On the way home...I think this was Syracuse.  We had to go around the city on the way north because of a train derailment.

I think this was in PA....

Janae

 Happy Birthday to our 7 year old daughter!  (Photo - Oct. 2011)

Photo - Summer 2011

Photo above & below from other years.

Friday to Sunday I went with Randy on the truck.  It was our first weekend away since the March before Zach was born.  We did get away for 1 night about a year and a half ago.  But with doing foster care (very particular where kids can be left overnight...and for good reason...but expensive as it requires background checks for everyone over 18 in the house) and having another infant every 15 months, it didn't work out so well before.

We left Friday around lunch and returned Sunday around 3:00.  We stayed in a lovely hotel in Watertown, NY.  More photos to come.  :-)

Adoption Month

Adoption Question #1:  Why did you adopt?

Answer:  We wanted more kids.  No great ideas of "saving" anyone, just a desire to be parents, and the knowledge that there are kids that needed homes.

Adoption Question #2:  Do you love your biological kids and kids via adoption differently?

Answer:  Nope...although there is a shared component to the ones who joined us via adoption as they have birth parents as well....but they are all OUR kids, regardless of how they joined our family.  So glad God joined us all into one family.

Adoption Question #3:  Domestic or International

Answer:  Whatever is right for your family.  We chose foster-to-adopt.

National Adoption Month Posts continue

I know that there are lot of kids labeled "special needs" and that that designation covers a huge spectrum.  So I've been fascinated and blessed by some of these blogs where they have chosen to adopt kids with major medical issues:

* Ben & Kim have recently adopted a Downs Syndrome child in addition to adopting various special needs kids in the past.  A year or so ago they adopted a beautiful little girl in a hospice situation...adopted her knowing they would need to release her.
*Jason & Dawn are raising funds to adopt another child.  And they are specifically requesting a special needs child, possibly also Downs Syndrome.
*DW & Linny just adopted Ruby Grace from Uganda.  As I write this she is in surgery.

Wednesday

It's still National Adoption Month...right now Dardi has been sharing her adoption story on her blog.  If you like adoption stories, she did part 3 today.

This time change is knocking me for a loop.  Seems like I loose all energy by the time I get the kids settled for naps.  Oh well, in a week or so we'll adjust...although honestly I'm still not sure what the big deal is with bothering with time change.

Mark loves his speech lesson.  And I enjoy the half hour sitting in there with him but doing my own thing...today I was finalizing my shopping list for when I go Christmas shopping.  I had planned to work on Zach's afghan but left the crochet hook in the Expedition accidentally.

Time to go drink another cup of coffee....

Last night I finished watching "Victoria & Albert"...a movie about Queen Victoria & Prince Albert. Loved it!  But cried buckets when he died....so if you watch it and don't like to cry, skip to the next chapter at the deathbed scene!

My favorite Thanksgiving hymn.

"My God, I Thank Thee"
Adelaide Anne Procter, 1858

My God, I thank Thee, who hast made 
The earth so bright,
So full of splendor and of joy, 
Beauty and light,
So many glorious things are here, 
Noble and right.

I thank Thee, too, that 
Thou has made Joy to abound,
So many gentle thoughts and deeds 
Circling us round;
That in the darkest spot of earth
Some love is found.

I thank Thee more that all our joy
Is touched with pain;
That shadows fall on brightest hours,
That thorns remain,
So that earth's bliss may be our guide,
And not our chain.

I thank Thee, Lord, that Thou hast kept
The best in store;
We have enough, yet not too much
To long for more,
A yearning for a deeper peace
Not known before.

Tuesday

I love this song.  It came to mind as I was reading comments on my neighbor's facebook page indicating that her brother-in-law had passed on.  He was the one with colon cancer I had mentioned.

And then I remembered that in November last year Randy's grandma died.  And his cousin's wife (leaving 5 or 6 kids including an infant).  And several years ago my grandpa died in November as well.

Maybe that contributes to why I'm not feeling Christmasy at all....or maybe it's the multiple preschoolers.  :-)  I used to bake 1 or 2 kinds of cookies a week starting right after Halloween so I'd have a nice selection by the middle of December.  I have no inclination to bake at all right now.  I did go through my recipes and pull out the cookie ones...primarily because I had to reorganize them because some little boys thought it'd be fun to pull the binder apart (one of those 3-ring photo albums for 4x6 photos).  I have started shopping (it's a habit to look at sales and consignment stores and set things back throughout the year).  I've started wrapping...but it's "what I do" this time of year.  Perhaps once Thanksgiving is over I'll get more excited...I don't decorate until after Thanksgiving, like to enjoy that holiday too.

And of course, the weather was lovely today, who wants to stay inside!?!

Looking forward to tomorrow's speech lesson with Mark.

Zach

I've long contemplated at what point I would need to do further evaluating on Zach....I think the time has come...at least to get on a waiting list somewhere.  Today his sweet OT was doing some testing as the time has come to reevaluate for if insurance will give him another set number of sessions.  He tested at 1%.  That is, he did better then 1% of 4-year-olds.  Yeah, I believe the time has come to do neurological testing....not looking forward to the process, but looking forward to finding some answers....Love my sweet (although aggressive) boy and want the best for him!

***Later***
I did it.  I scheduled an appointment with a neuro-psychologist.  Amazingly enough, they can see him in January which is sooner then I expected.

Another Monday

and once again Micah slept horribly.  After a very brief nap, I gave in and called the doctor.  It was hard to get much done today as he was quite needy.

This evening I had parent-teacher conferences with the kids teachers.  Thankfully everything is going well for the most part.  Immediately after that I took Micah to the doctor (so yes, I was distracted during the conferences as I had to take him with me...no time to stop at home in between).  Yes, he has a sinus infection and an ear infection...and one that's border-line.  So we went to the pharmacy for amoxicillin.  Looks like we're picking up with him right where we left off last spring.  We barely made it through last winter without needing tubes for his ears, it's not looking very promising...

Everyone is tired and in bed.  Micah under protest and crying.  Last night he wouldn't sleep until I rocked him.  I gave him some Motrin tonight so hopefully he sleeps better.

Tomorrow Zach and I go see Miss B.  I don't know if I've mentioned it, but I just love our therapists (Miss B and Mark's Miss S.)  They are great ladies who do a wonderful job.  I will probably stop and vote on the way.

Now I need to go do the dishes.  The babysitter fed the kids since my conferences were over dinner time.  And when I got home everyone needed me...so they are still waiting for me.  Randy should be home before to long as well and I think he may be here for breakfast tomorrow....always nice!  :-)

And in the prayer department, continue to pray for:

1. John & Lynn K.  John's the one I mentioned last week who has colon cancer.
2. John M. & family.  John fell from 25+ feet last week and has a lot of trauma.
3. Tyler T. & family.  Tyler's a MOPS friend's son that I think I've mentioned.  He's 6 and has relapsed with his Leukemia.

Dinner Rolls

http://hishandshisfeettoday.blogspot.com/2011/11/30-minute-rolls.html - Kim  posted this 30 minute roll recipe link the other day.  I admit I was skeptical of yeast rolls this quickly, but I tried them yesterday and they are fabulous.  In all reality, they are probably 45 minute rolls with the mixing up added in, but still, yeast rolls in under an hour is amazing!  And my family all said that this recipe is a "keeper"!

Orphan Sunday

Today is "Orphan Sunday", that day of the year to remember the orphans around the world.  Now, I'm sure I've blogged on this before, but again, just a few quick ways we can help out the kids in need around the world.

• Support relief ministries like World Vision or MCC to help stabilize families and keep them alive and intact.
• Sponser a child through Compassion, World Vision, or assorted other organizations.  I am most familiar with Compassion and they also have a Women/Child program that you can sponsor to help Moms know  with prenatal and infant/preschooler health and care.
• Adopt a child internationally.  I know some people feel that it is better for the child to stay in country, and that is certainly good if possible, but it is (generally, possibly always!) better for a child to have a family then to be in an orphanage...particularly depending on the staff/child ration.
• Adopt a child domestically--privately or through foster care.  Whether we like it or not, not all children have stable homes....but every child should have the opportunity to have one.
• There are organizations that work in country providing children's homes.  Support one of these.
• Support local rescue missions, shelters, and food banks.  Helping parents stabilize helps kids.
• Support families you know who have children, whether biological or adopted.  Raising kids can be hard work.  And sometimes, parents can suffer burnout because of the difficulties in any particular situation.  Particularly if they don't have a support system.
• Support adoptive families financially....adoptions can cost from $0 (many foster adoptions) to $50,000.  Many families have fundraisers...support them...but if you don't need or want the product they are selling, feel free to straight out donate.  :-)  Also, adopted kids are hurt kids, regardless of the cost of the adoption, and depending on insurance companies, the experience of the kids, and their personalities, they may need assorted therapies....these can cost lots of money.  Even if the insurance covers them, the parents may spend a lot of money on babysitters for other kids in the families and gas to take them there.

Just a few thoughts that I had....if you have any more ideas...please share!

Saturday

We (my sister-in-law and I) had a great evening at the PA Family Institute's Friends of the Family Banquet last night.  Since Randy couldn't make it my sister-in-law filled his place at our table.  Lots of fun with friends.  The food was good as well.  Exciting to hear how the PA Family Institute fights for pro-family legislation.  And quite exciting to hear Lila Rose as the keynote speaker.  Lila Rose made national news by doing undercover investigations on Planned Parenthood.

We got home later last night, so I got to bed late.  Mark & Micah both have runny noses and were restless from midnight to 5:00 this morning...I'm sure I slept more then I think...I hope!

Nothing on the agenda today other then cleaning up, doing laundry, and baking, and whatever else come up.  Randy should be home sometime around lunch or so.

Post #700

Crazy!  Who would've thought I'd come up with something to post 700 times since I started blogging?!  Of course, sometimes I blog about nothing in particular...so I guess I can say "nothing" quite frequently.  :-)

I really need to go do dishes.

Randy will be in here shortly, then he'll leave again in the morning for one extra trip this week.

Seems things (good or bad) come in bunches.  Right now it's tough stuff in bunches.  The neighbor's brother-in-law mentioned in the previous post, my friend from MOPS whose dad fell from 25' and has severe trauma.  Angela posted about the trauma going on in her life.  And then there's the all the tragedy that you read about on the news and see on the internet....this world is definitely sin-cursed...and I am excited to know that at the end of time God will make everything new...there will be no more pain, or sorrow, or tears, or anger....

On the good side, our friend (the one whose wife died of a brain tumor 3+ years ago) just announced his engagement.  Funny thing, he is my second-cousin on my paternal grandpa's side.  And she is my second-cousin on my paternal grandma's side.

Randy's home now, so I gotta run soon.

Today was a good day for the most part.  I went to MOPS this morning.  The director of a local shelter came and talked about the shelter and their needs.  Then we went to my Mom's house for lunch.  Micah & Mark slept today...seems 2 out of 3 is the most I can get to nap anymore, and sometimes only 1 out of 3, but they're doing better at staying in bed, regardless of if they are sleeping are not (they are allowed to read, they don't have to stare at the ceiling).

Tonight we did piano lessons...I think this makes 3 weeks in a row...which is very good for us!  :-)

Friday's schedule - pick up pig meat at the butcher, drop off subs for my sister-in-law, go to the post office to get the mail....speaking of which, I think I could solve the postal service budget issues.  We live in a town with no mail delivery, to have the town address, we need to have a post office box...$42/year (for the smallest size box).  If rural boxes also cost $42/year, that would probably fix their budget....and cause a huge outcry from all of you who have been getting free delivery forever.  :-)

It is now Friday, right after lunch.  We got the pork, got Randy new boots, went to the post office, dropped off subs at my sister-in-law.  Now I need to get the house in order, do lots of laundry, and fit some boys' naps in there.  So, really do gotta run.  I'm leaving for a banquet tonight at 5:20 or so.  Thankfully my friend can babysit here and put the kids to bed for me.  Since Randy won't be able to make it, my sister-in-law is going along.  Should be fun!

Have a lovely weekend all!

Tuesday

And a beautiful Tuesday it is.  I love the fall colors.  A lot of leaves are down but there is still a colorful mix out there.  And it's sunny.  Wonderful.

Today was Zach's occupational therapy.  Tomorrow Mark has speech therapy.  Thursday is MOPS.  Friday night we have a banquet to attend and the kids have play practice for their play at church on Sunday.

Today starts National Adoption Month.  Sunday is Orphan Sunday.

I read assorted adoption blogs including this one which shows their kids' testimonies using "Cardboard Testimonies".

One of my favorite songs...

Very challenging...am I satisfied with God, his grace, my faith....regardless what life brings?  I will probably wrestle with the message of this song until the end of my life...