Home Journal - Highlights from End of December and January

OK. I think I blinked. Yes. Maybe twice. 2012....it's here! What have we been doing? I'm glad you asked. 

Lookin' cute.

E helped Betty learn to skate.

Took turns on the zip line.

Played with friends.

Rung in the New Year with the Ball Drop...

and goofy friends. :)

Looked cute again with "Love Glasses."

Ridin' bikes.

Hikin'.

Sleepin'.

Walkin' in my boots.

Cleanin'.

Plantin' seeds.

Schoolin'.

Lookin' cute again in what is really a stretchy scarf but don't mention that because someone gets upset when it's called anything other than a dress.

Whew! I'm so glad I got my first post of 2012 out of the way. Maybe they will come a little more often now. :)

Home Journal - Monogrammed Napkin Rings

I was looking for ideas on the internet one day because I was wanting to figure out how to use cloth napkins with my whole crew and not have to wash them after every meal and also not have to leave them on the table for the whole day since we use our dining room table for more than just meals. I fround a post at http://raisingolives.blogspot.com for names on napkin rings and it gave me this idea. I just used some scrapbooking rub-ons and monogrammed everyone a napkin ring and now we can get out our napkins for each meal and then put the napkin back on the ring and back in the drawer. When we need them for the next meal, we get them out and everybody has their same napkin instead of sharing their "cooties" with somebody else. Yeah! Of course, this will only work if everyone in your house has a different initial, but it works for us.

I feel cute and organized at the same time! It doesn't get much better than that for us mommies. Ha!



Home Journal - Hayride

We always enjoy getting together with our small group from church. Sometimes it gets a little loud, maybe a little bloody, but what can you expect when you get 6 families together with 16 kids! Anyway, we had a great time on our 2nd Annual Fall Hayride. We sat around the fire and had hot dogs and s'mores and then we hopped on the trailer for a little fun. It was so cute because the boys were trying to scare us and make howling sounds and all. It was classic! The girls even tried scaring the boys when they went on their own hayride. By that time, it was really dark and the girls were more scared by hiding in the trees themselves than the boys.

Bo got a scare himself, by falling into the fire. Praise the Lord only a brick that formed the pit scratched his hand. He touched a log to balance himself, but not the part that was on fire. Whew! From then on it was, "Fire, owie!"

Except for the times he was worried about the little dog scratching Betty and her friend. He would yell from 20 yards away, "Pareful, dog, scatch!" over and over. Such a caring brother... :)

 Of course, there was a gorgeous sunset that I had to capture, too.



Home Journal - Pumpkin Tea Party

Okay,well...not really tea, but orange juice and there wasn't even a tea set involved. Betty and Bo had me fill up a pumpkin ice mold with orange juice (since orange juice is orange like a pumpkin) and they proceeded to slurp it up with their straws. They enjoyed a couple refills as well. They were happy in their own little silliness and I was happy that they were playing together NICELY and were not destroying things while I got some school done with the olders. :)



Home Journal - Tub-O-Fun

We had one smiley toddler when we filled the bucket up with water for him to splash in. At first he just played, but then he couldn't resist getting in himself. :)



Home Journal -E's 12!!!

Happy Birthday Firstborn!

She's a great big sis, a priviledge to have for a daughter, an avid reader and a creative crocheter. I'm so proud of you, E! May the sun always shine warm on your face. You are God's blessing to Daddy and me. Love you!



Home Journal - Princess Friends!



Home Journal - Hugs

Nothing Sweeter!!!!

Home Journal - Furry Friend

We have a new friend at our house. Her name is Daisy. She's already found her "spot."

 Technically she's E's cat, but E is glad to share when she doesn't get up in time to feed the constant kitty whines. However, she is still a little overprotective when Kitty is in the hands of her two youngest siblings. Hm..Hmm.

She's mostly an outdoor cat, but she comes in for cuddle times and reading on E's bed. Our other cat Cloudy is NOT fond of her. Daisy can't understand why Cloudy would hiss at such a loveable thing like herself, but complete bliss in this situation was not meant to be. So Daisy looks only to the humans in her family for affection.



Home Journal - Fascinating Bugs

Bo is an explorer. He loves the outdoors and plays hard when he gets out, but then when he comes across a bug, he's mesmorized. He will be running at full speed and then notices a bug and he stops dead in his tracks to check the bug out. He has no qualms about picking up one of these fascinating creatures and letting it crawl all over him.  Check out this budding scientist as he observes his prisoner.

 And then just to get the full "flavor" of the insect, he pops it into his mouth. Oh yes...quite nice.



Home Journal - Table Surfer

After this little production, he will proceed to stand on the table and play tether ball with the hanging light! :) Never a dull moment.