Not Great In '08

This past March my family realized that we have had some not so great things happen in 2008.

• Aunt T. found out that she has cancer, however she has gone through lots of treatment and is now in remission. 
  
• My Mothers Aunt M. A. fell and broke her hip.
• Aunt M. got frozen shoulder after first snow storm in Jan.
• My mother also hurt her shoulder.
• As did I.
• Aunt S. had her first cataract surgery
• Aunt P. died and was brought back (cardiac arrest)
• Aunt M. had issues with gallbladder.
• Aunt M. panicked in the MRI machine when pictures were being taken of shoulder.
• Aunt M. A. got hip fixed but now refuses to walk
• Uncle W. tripped over the dog and has a black eye
• Tansy fell off a horse and broke her arm
• Aunt S. had her second cataract surgery
• Grandma was waving at an old guy down the hall of her facility and tripped over her cane and bruised her arm, but nothing was broken.

This is what Aunt M. had to say about all of this,

"Let that be a lesson to you....

walking and flirting with old men when you are 83 years old will just land you on your face!!!

shoveling snow is for youngsters to do!

don't read too much...it ruins your eyes!

if you die...come back

keep the sludge out of your gallbladder

don't go in the MRI machine if you have claustrophobia.

if you teach your dog to lie down make sure he knows to put up traffic cones

stay off of horses especially if everyone else in the family has had some bad luck"

Since March these are some more things that have happened.

• David was getting Jacob out of his crib and dropped him on his head.  He had a cat scan done.  They were going to make him sleep through it.  However I nursed him to sleep and asked if we could try with out the sleeping medication.  We tried, he woke up, but I got up on the table, laid on top of him, held his head straight and sang a song trying to keep the tears back.
• David cut his hand really bad with scissors
• Jacob fell off the couch and busted his lip
• David had his tonsils removed
• We went to the mall, loaded the kids in the car and forgot to load up the junky stroller, and some really cute red shoes that were with the stroller. Went back to get them and they were gone!
• Emma had to face going to ALL day school.
• Emma has had run in's with kids at school.
• We had ants bite our children like crazy
• Abby wrapped a rubber band around her finger and it was on their for at least 2 1/2 hours, her finger was a deep purple color.
• Emma got a thorn in her head
• Jacob gets burned with hot water
• Emma has been getting strange headaches 
• Jacob fell off of a tall chair, on his head again
• Pa's Grandmother passed away
• We went on an unplanned road trip got stuck in a K-Mart parking lot many miles away from home for a couple of hours
• On the same road trip it felt like something was wrong with the alignment, turned out our tire was bubbled, it could have popped
• A family member is going through a very ugly divorce
• Pa's mother found out that she has to deal with health issues, including cancer.

Yes, there were some difficult times this year, even things that I wouldn't want to relive, or wish that family members would have to relive.  However, everything that is listed above, they are getting better, I am thankful for that.

I am thankful for family and friends.  I think that is the only thing that is keeping us here in AZ.  If it wasn't for Ya'll then we probably would have moved to PA when Pa graduated years ago.  I am also so grateful that I have a family with such a good sense of humor, it helps when things are not so great. Thank you for being so good to us. -Ma

I Lost Another Tooth!!!

Emma has been holding on to this tooth for weeks and weeks and weeks.  Telling us about how it hurts when she bites into things, or how she can make the tooth go sideways.  Then finally on December 22nd she wiggled it just enough and the tooth came out!

Then she remembered that the tooth fairy comes and her little mind started to think, and think and think.  So she decided that she needed to write the tooth fairy a letter.  This is how it went.

Dear Tooth Fairy,

Where do you live?

Love, Emma

The letter was put under her pillow along with the tooth, shortly there after the letter was ripped into pieces by a younger, less understanding little sister.

Emma did not know this happened because she got sick before going to bed that night and didn't care much about anything except having her puke bucket close by.

However, the Tooth Fairy knows ALL.  So she wrote a tender letter back to Emma.  This is what she wrote.

Dear Emma,

I am so proud of you!  you lost your second tooth.  You are getting so big.

Thank you for your letter.  So, you want to know where I live?  I live 

with all the other fairies, all around  you. We watch over you.

I love to see you smile and laugh with your brothers and sister.  It is so 

great that you have a good family.

I can't wait to visit you again when you are dreaming and you lose 

another tooth.

I Love You Emma!

Love The Tooth Fairy

Emma also received  a cute fairy duck and a One Million Fairy Dollar Bill.  Very cute stuff that came from Grandma, don't know where she got them but they are loved.  Thank you Grandma. -Ma

More New Photos

More photos from the photo shoot at Goldfield in Apache Junction. Thank you for all the great feedback! I created the borders with onOne PhotoFrame 3 plug-in for Photoshop. I saved these as 24bit PNG's to preserve the transparency for the web. Shot originally RAW+Jpeg with my Nikon D300 and 17-55mm 2.8 - Pa

New Photos

We've been wanting to update our family photos. So on December 20th, after Ma found matching red shirts for the kids, we headed out to Apache Junction. It turned out to be a really fun day. We rode on the train, went out to lunch and did a little window shopping. These color photos below are the ones we're having printed on stretched canvas (11" x 14" for each of the kids, and 16" x 20" for Ma and Pa). The header image, with all the kids looking away will be printed on canvas as well but in color (24" x 36"). Soft Light Photography is my freelance business that I've been doing for several years now. I save 40% off my regular price when I order studio samples. The canvas is printed with the word "sample" and my logo. The kids did really well! - Pa

Christmas Questions and Answers

So my sister in law sent this to me via e-mail, thought it would be more fun to post here.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?  This year we are wrapping with paper bags.  It is fun bringing home our groceries in paper.
 
2. Real tree or Artificial?  Real, our fake trees keep breaking.

3. When do you put up the tree? After Thanksgiving sometime.

4. When do you take the tree down?  After Christmas sometime.

5. Do you like eggnog? Depends on my mood.

5A. Favorite drink for the holiday?  I love water... all the time. 

6. Favorite gift received as a child? The one thing that I keep remembering is the plaque that Mom made for me, ballet slippers and my name.  I thought that was great.  It was hard to pass on, I hope who ever got it likes it as much as I did.

7. Hardest person to buy for?  Pa, but now he buys his own presents.  Works better that way.

8. Easiest person to buy for? Emma

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, I love it.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?  We intend to mail them every year and many times we will take the picture and then never get them printed, or life just happens and they never get sent.  I work on getting better at that every year.
 
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?  I don't know if I ever received that bad of a gift to remember.   

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?  Hu, I guess I don't have one.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Too late.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Most definitely.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? I love stuffing.

16. Lights on the tree? Yes

17. Favorite Christmas song? Oh Holy Night, What Child is This.  So many good ones.
 
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Depends on the year.  

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? No, I don't think I ever could.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Currently nothing.  Kids want a star I keep telling them we will make one, but we just haven't.

21. Open presents on Christmas Eve or morning? One personal family one on Christmas Eve. 
 
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? The crowds.

23. Favorite Ornament?  Ornaments overwhelm me.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?  Ham

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? A Happy Family and peaceful day.

26. Favorite Christmas memory?  The first one with Pa and Emma, so much more fun with kids.

27. Favorite Christmas cookie? Anything with CHOCOLATE!!!

28. Are you going to make any gifts this year? Yes, if I make time to do it.  I spy bags for all of the nieces and nephews... sorry guys if I don't get it done.  I do have them cut out, just need to drag out the sewing machine.  That is the hardest part. -Ma

Yeah!

HALLELUJAH!

Neighbors took down the trampoline today!

We can now rejoice! -Ma

David's Sandwich

Mom, can I make a sandwich?

Not the kind you make, but the kind I make.

I need one of these (hotdog bun),

will you get me some yogurt?

I just need to taste the yogurt first.

Will you get me some cheese, please.

Mmmm, this is going to be good.

I just need some crackers.

Hmm, I need something else.

More yogurt.

And cheese.

It's a good David sandwich.

Oh ya, this is so good!

I love this last picture because of his eyes.  When he was just little and nursing, he would latch on and immediately his big blue eyes would roll back and you could tell that he was in heaven.

-Ma

Gingerbread House

Once a year my mom comes over and makes gingerbread houses with the grandkids.

Abby working intently on her wall.

Yummy this is tasty.

Lets keep working.

Just one more lick, this is really good.

Emma's masterpiece.

David's wall.

Aunt Tami helping David.

Willow Mae and her Dada working together.

My Brother Ben and his beautiful house.

So glad Danny could be here.  Missed you Heather.

Aunt Tami and Emma, with our gingerbread house and nativity set in the background.

The finished project.

From left to right, our house, Ben's house, and Paul's house.

I am so sad that we didn't get any pictures and Paul and kids.  Kids loved playing in the back yard.

Thank you Mom, for putting all of this together.

Thank you all for coming over, we had tons of Fun! -Ma

I Want That

Jacob is getting really good at telling us that he wants stuff.  He says, "I wa dat."  Or, "Whas dat?"

Last night Pa and I were in the bathroom and Jacob wanted Pa's electric shaver.  I tried to give him the broken one but he stomped his feet and said, "wa dat!"  as he pointed to the shaver.  Pa and I laughed as he reached up and got the shaver.

Pa said that Jacob really likes gadgets, that he is always wanting the shaver.  Jacob looks up, points and said, "an dat."  He pointed to the electric tooth brush.  -Ma

Fall Festival 2008

Emma's school had their Fall Festival.  After playing tons of fun games and getting coupons for playing they were able to go pick out a toy with however many coupons they had.

I think the lady that took our coupons felt sorry for me.  I was by myself, Jacob was asleep in my arms, plus three cotton candies.  I was asking them to count the coupons because I just ran out of hands.  The lady just took the coupons and said, they can pick what ever they want.  This is what David and Emma chose.  Or should I say, Emma chose them.  David picked out a squishy frog, then he said he didn't want that so he traded and got a squishy ball, then we went around the corner and David saw what Emma had and he just had to have it.  So we traded again.  Thank goodness he got the last pair of springy "eye" glasses.  Abby got touchable bubbles.  We didn't get any pictures.  But she did have fun with them she went outside to blow them and when she came in she asked if I could get the dirt out of the bubbles.  I think the wand fell on the ground one too many times.  -Ma

Exercize

Jacob loves to exercise with his Mama!!

Whenever I pull out the air climber he has to be the first on and the last one on.

Isn't he cute??  -Ma

Emma's Headache

Emma went to the doctor Thursday for her headache.  He said it could be one of 3 things.

1. She could be stressed.  My only thought would be that she is stressed about her math at school.

Doctor suggested that we see if there is a councilor at her school that she could talk with.

2.  Her sinuses could be blocked.  She will be having an x-ray done... probably next week.  He also gave her some trial mucinex to take for the next couple of days.

3.  I don't think I listened very well to this one but he said that if her head is still hurting then she would need to get a cat scan.  But he doesn't want to do that because of too much radiation.

I don't feel worried about her my gut is saying that the problem is probably #1.  -Ma 

Keep it Simple

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Saw this on another blog.  Jacob could not stop laughing.  

When do we lose this innocence? -Ma

Progress Report for Emma

Emma is doing so well in school.  At the beginning of the year she struggled, and she still struggles a little, but I think she is just doing great!

On a scale of Good, Average and Having Difficulty this is how she did,

Reading Good

Spelling Good 94%

Phonogram Good 97%

Math Average 87.1%

Language Having Difficulty 84%  She has a hard time knowing what words to use in sentences.  ie, she will say her instead of she.

These are graded as Outstanding, Satisfactory and Needs Improvement

Penmanship Outstanding

Homework Outstanding

Conduct Outstanding

Teachers Reply, 

Emma has done a great job bringing up her math grade.  She is having difficulty with some of the language concepts.  She is a great student!  :o)

I am so proud of Emma, she has worked so hard and continues to do so well.  We fought so much at the beginning of the year trying to get homework done, it would take hours.  But then I changed the time when I would ask her to do her homework.  Now it is right after dinner or while I am making dinner.  She gets it done in 20 minutes.  Yea Emma!  I love you! -Ma  

 

Nursing Jacob

After 15 months I was still up at least 2 times at night nursing Jacob.  Last Monday night I figured it was probably time to get this kid and myself to sleep all night.

Nights one, two, three and four... lots of crying, he was in bed with Pa and I but he didn't want to snuggle in any way.  He would body slam us, or pick up his head and hit us with it.  Then he would resort to falling asleep on top of me.  If I tried to move him next to me he would become infuriated, and he would start all over again of body slamming and head banging.  He would also cry the saddest cry ever, a cry that made me want to just let him nurse so he could be happy again.  But I had to be strong, so I was.  Pa tried to help too, but the little man only wanted his Ma.

Night five, he whimpered, and allowed  "some" snuggle time.

Night six, he stayed in his bed till 3 am.  He did not cry, he just got out of bed walked to our room, pushed the door open and came to my side of the bed and said, "Da, da, da, da."  As he is moving his hands around to state his point.

I picked him up put him in the middle of myself and Pa, and he fell fast asleep... after telling me his story.

I do however have a larger hurdle to jump, but not till I am ready... I still nurse him to sleep at night... -Ma

Because They Are Famiwy

After putting the nativity set out.  The kids love to look and touch.  I don't know what kid wouldn't because the set is from Dreamsicles and they have the cutest faces.  If they weren't breakable I would let the kids play with them.  I remember when I was little and my mom would put out the nativity set I loved to take Jesus out and just hold him, I felt closer to Jesus when I did this.  So I try not to get mad when they are touching.

Back to the story...

Abby climbed up on a little table up to the shelf with the nativity set.  I noticed her up there as I was passing by and I stated, "You can look but please don't touch."

Later I was passing by again and Abby was still on the table looking at the set.  However the set was now clustered together in a tight circle.

I said, "Abby, I asked you not to touch."

Abby said, "I not touching Mommy, I just looking."

Me, "Abby, they moved and I asked you not to touch."

Abby, "I not touching Mommy, I just looking."

Me, "Abby, if you're not touching, how did they move?"

Abby, "Because they are Famiwy.  They are together."

-Ma

Hardy Tarte Yams

I came up with a holiday recipe for sweet yams layered with apples. Tastes sooooo goood. Like apple pie and sweet yams together. Very delicious. Was a hit with everyone this Thanksgiving!

Ingredients

1 large yam (red flesh)

2 tart medium apples (Granny Smith)

1/3 cup pure maple syrup

1/2 cup brown sugar, not packed

1 lemon

6 tablespoons of butter

2 teaspoons of vanilla

2 teaspoons of nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon of ginger

Directions

1. Cook yam with skin on, in boiling salted water until tender (25 minutes)

2. When cool peel and slice crosswise a little bit thicker than 1/4 inch.

3. Zest the lemons and then juice them reserving the zest and juice.

4. Peel, core and slice apples.

5. Pour majority of pure maple syrup on the bottom of the 1.5 quart Corning casserole dish.

6. Layer yams then apples over the maple syrup

6. Dash brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and a spritz of lemon juice on top of the apple layer.

7. Add slices of butter.

8. Add another layer of yams and apples to top this layer the same way. Until all is gone.

9. Cover with lid or foil and bake 45 minutes at 325 degrees °F.

9. Remove cover and put temperature up to 400 degrees and cook for 15 minutes more.

10. You can microwave this dish. Cover and cook it for about 20 minutes on high. Check for tender apples by inserting a knife. There will be juice at the bottom, so serve with a slotted spoon. Serves 4-6. Enjoy! - Pa

From the mouth of a 6 year old

We were in the van while Papa went in to the store for a second.

Outside it is cold. Well, as cold as it can be in the desert.

Emma blurts out,

"Mom, I am sweltering in this jacket!"

I reply, "Where did you hear that from?"

"What?"  Says Emma, "Sweltering.  Don't you know what that means?  It means, you are very hot and sweaty."

Laughing in surprise, I ask, "Where did you hear that from?"

"Word girl."  She says matter of factly.

Some days I think she watches way too much T.V. but then there are days like this and I think, at least she is watching stuff that helps her brain.  LOL. -Ma

Hardy Black Bean Soup

I'm looking for a good black bean soup recipe. I'm going to can it in my pressure canner. I've got five pounds of black beans soaking overnight. I found this recipe, it sounds good. We also have the Ball Blue Book of preserving. On page 64 there is a recipe for canning navy beans with pork and tomato sauce. Ma says I should prepare the black bean soup according to that recipe. Sounds good to me! I'll let you know how it turns out. - Pa

Ingredients And Procedures

2 tablespoons oil 3 medium onions -- chopped 4 cloves garlic -- minced 48 ounces canned black beans (frijoles negros) -- drained and rinsed 1 tablespoon fresh oregano -- finely chopped 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin -- or to taste 1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme -- finely chopped 1 bay leaf 2 cups cubed ham -- cooked 2 cups chicken stock 1/4 cup dry sherry 16 ounces canned whole tomatoes -- drained & chopped 1/4 cup fresh tomatoes -- peeled and chopped salt and freshly ground pepper -- to taste ACCOMPANIMENTS: fresh lime or lemon wedges sour cream radishes -- thinly sliced green onions -- sliced cilantro leaves chile salsa In a wide-bottomed, large saucepan over medium heat, heat oil. Add onions and cook until soft, 3 to 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute longer. Stir in beans, oregano, cumin, thyme, bay leaf, ham, stock, sherry, and tomatoes. Increase heat and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, about 30 minutes. Season to taste with salt, if necessary, and pepper. Serve soup with your choice of accompaniments, or cool to room temperature and refrigerate or freeze. Makes about 7 cups. * Timesaver Tip: Soup can be made up to 2 days ahead, covered, and refrigerated, or it can be frozen. To freeze, spoon soup into one large or several smaller individual freezer containers. Cover, label, and freeze at 0 degrees F up to 1 month. To serve, defrost soup 15 to 20 minutes on Defrost setting of microwave, or thaw in refrigerator 8 to 24 hours. Gently warm soup in a saucepan or microwave at 50% power until it is warmed through. Stir several times both during defrosting and during reheating. Microwave Version Put oil in a 2-quart casserole and microwave on 70% power 45 seconds. Add onions and microwave another 3 minutes, until onions are soft. Add garlic and microwave a minute longer. Complete step 2 as directed above. Cover casserole with waxed paper or loosely with plastic wrap and microwave, still on 70% power, 30 minutes. time and timesaver tip same as above.

More free recipes

Beans-With Pork and Tomato Sauce (Ball Blue Book of Preserving)

1 quart dried navy beans (about 2 pounds)

1/4 pound salt pork, cut in pieces

1 cup chopped onion (about 1 medium)

3 tablespoons sugar

2 teaspoons salt

1/4 teaspoon cloves

1/4 teaspoon allspice

1 quart tomato juice

Cover beans with cold water and let stand 12 to 18 hours in a cool place (Lucky it's winter in Arizona!). Drain. Cover beans with boiling water by 2 inches in a large saucepot. Boil 3 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand 10 minutes; drain. Combine onion, sugar, salt, spices and tomato juice; heat to boiling. Pack 1 cup beans into hot jars; top with a piece of pork; fill jar 3/4 full with beans. Ladle hot tomato sauce over beans, leaving 1-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Adjust 2-piece caps. Process pints 1 hour and 5 minutes, quarts 1 hour and 15 minutes, at 10 pounds pressure in a steam-pressure canner.

Party

Happy Birthday Papa!!

Pa had a nice birthday, visitors' and gifts from friends and family.  This year was unique, he was able to pick out and purchase his own gifts.  It is probably because I am too worried about how much $$ I am spending so he usually gets a card and birthday cake.  You picked some great gifts.  Instead of cake this year, we have some friends that made some yummy pumpkin pie. Thank you!  I hope you had a special day.  :o)  Love you, Pa. -Ma

Babysitting

For the last two days I have had my niece and nephew over for a few hours.  Abby and Mackenzie are 9 months apart.  And Jacob and Holden are 3 months.  I felt like I had two sets of twins in the house.  Just the way they acted, they wanted the same things at the same time.  They were a lot of fun.  Either they loved each other or they fought!  The moments of love were so wonderful, and the moments of fighting didn't last long enough to even worry about.

Abby referred to Holden as Golden.

David made Holden laugh from the gut, it is so awesome how kids can do that with babies.

Jacob just loved Holden so much!!  Holden couldn't go to sleep while being held with bottle, or while pacing floor, he really likes his crib.  So, I was holding Holden on my lap with bottle and Jacob was slightly jealous, he climbed on the couch and tried to get on my lap in-between Holden and I.  When he realized he wouldn't succeed he started giving Holden gentle kisses on his forehead.  Soooo, cute!!

When lunch time rolled around, Jacob and Holden needed me to spoon feed them.  So, mac and cheese on one plate, two different spoons (just because one had a runny nose) and they ate.

Thank you Andrea for letting me spend time with your little ones, we had tons of fun!! -Ma

Emma's Forehead

3 weeks ago Emma started complaining about her forehead hurting.  At that time she also said that her throat was bothering her too.  After calling the school nurse, I learned that strep throat was going around so I learned that a headache can go with strep throat.  Gave her some colloidal silver and that seemed to be the end of it.  Well her throat issues went away.  

Forehead pain continued...

So after three weeks of hearing, "Mom, my forehead hurts."  I had just had enough.  

Went to the eye doctor today, she had to get the yucky drops in her eyes.  They did find that she has a stigmatism in her right eye that they had not noticed before.  But, that wouldn't cause headaches, in fact he said that I wouldn't have to change her prescription unless I was looking for a reason to get new glasses. 

Now on a side note.  While I was filling out the new insurance information.  I guess David took a toy from Jacob.  I looked up to see what was going on, and before I could determine who was in the wrong.  Some old guy decided that it was his job to take care of the situation. 

Here is how it went, 

Jacob screams.

Old guy said, "Give that back to him."

David in shock looks at the old guy.

Old guy, "give that back, you can't take it from him, you give it back right now."

Old lady who is sitting next to old guy, "you give that back to him."

David in even more shock, hands the toy over to Jacob.

Old guy laughs and said, "someone needs to stick up for the little guys."

2nd old guy in office said, "ya, and he is still eying it."

Old guy and old lady laughs.  Old guy says, " Ya, we sit next to some kids in church and we don't let the other kids be mean to the little guys."

Ha, Ha, Ha, they all laugh.

David out of embarrassment hides under a table.

I am in shock the whole time, just looking at the back of the guys head, making faces the more he talks.

Let me make one thing clear... I am all in favor of helping others in parenting.  However, I feel that a stranger needs to do it lovingly, he was demanding and making fun of David.  His voice had anger in it.  If you are going to be angry at a child being a child step back, because that is not going to teach the child.  

After a couple of minutes David came over to me and said, "Mom, I don't like that guy talking to me." 

My reply, "I don't either, Mom is hear and I can take care of the situation, you should not take toys from your brother though, okay."

David, "I know."

I continued filling out the paper work, and I noticed that the old guy cranked his head around to look at me, he then mumbled something.  And that was that.

Now, question.  Why didn't I say anything right away???  Because I am naturally shy and I have such a hard time facing people.  Now I feel so upset, I should have just told the guy how I felt. -sigh-

Well, back to the forehead pain, she has a molar coming in, so I called the dentist.  He said that it is not normal for one to have headaches while a tooth comes in but I could come in and they will look at it.

I think I will set something up with the doctor next.  Can they figure out if it might be allergy problems?  Will she have to go through tests?

She was having tummy problems earlier in the year and I think it was just stress.  Maybe this is stress too? -Ma

You are Unique

I love to go to Costco... most of the time just to get the fun food.  What better thing to do than walk around a LARGE busy store and get food along the way?

Okay so more than the food I love the cute little lady's that hand out the food.  Some are grouchy... but that is another story!  And some are so nice.  Pa and I went to Costco on Veterans Day and they were passing out yummies.  We talked with two ladies, one about soy milk.  And the other about how the world is and what it was.  She was passing out cottage cheese with blue berries, we talked about what it was like in her time.  If you have moldy cottage cheese scrap off the top and eat the rest, don't let it go to waste.  We talked of how I was taught to scrape the inside of the egg when you crack it (don't waste anything).  We talk of how there was no room for wants in her time.  We talked of flat screen T.V.'s.  Then we talked of our tiny house and how it is squishy but we are happy that we have each other.  She spoke of how couples need to hold on to each other to make it.  How it is more important to have a family, children.

Then she looked at our cute and unruly children, we were in the refrigerated isle and they were walking on the ledge by the doors.   She said, "You are unique.  It is nice that you are able to put your family first and not the world."

I am very thankful for a great family, we might not have a house that fits our family by the worlds standards.  Or a two car garage that can hold our unneeded stuff.  Or two full sized bathrooms.  Or even a flat screen T.V..  But we do have each other and a lot of love that goes around and I am so thankful for that.  I will take being unique. -Ma

Sassy Three Year Old

I have something to say to who ever came up the the term, "terrible two's".  I think two year olds are so fun.  I absolutely love them!

3 year olds now that's another story, I struggled with them.  Even before I had kids I just can't seem to figure them out.

At age 2 they know how to say no, but it is so cute.  Because  they can't stand their ground.  A 3 year old knows how to say no and they know what it means, and they use it.

This little beauty is amazing.  She loves life, and is so affectionate.  She has a smile that will melt even the most angry heart. 

I think we will take the good with the bad.  But please I can only handle 9 more months of the sassy 3 year old.

Love you Abigail! -Ma

Thank You Grandma's

Thank you Grandma for putting my Strawberry Shortcake blanket together.

Thank you Great Grandma for quilting on it.

I wasn't feeling so good when this photo was taken and it brought me comfort.

I love you!! -Abby 

Thank You Grandma

Photo taken by Emma with a very cheep camera.

Emma and Abby are so thankful for their curtains.

Emma likes that her room can be pink when the sun is shining through early in the morning. 

That way Abby can still have her favorite color room during the day... purple.

I think is it so great that they get to have the experience of being sisters. -Ma

Busy One Year Old

Wow, this little boy of mine, Jacob. He is such a handful. Yesterday, I was in the shower and he thinks it is fun to stand on the toilet and turn on and off the hot water at the sink. I can feel when that hot water comes on so I say, "Jacob, hot! Turn it off." He laughs then turns off the water. Well I just finished washing my face when I hear him start to scream. So I said, "Yes, Jacob, it is HOT! Turn off the wat..." I look and and he is in the sink trying to get out of the stream of water. His skin was pink and hot where the water had hit on his knee and both feet. No burns though, Phew.

Later he wants to climb a kitchen chair. We have a counter height table, so tall chairs too. Usually he is able to get up the chairs just fine. But this time the chair fell, but not on him. How did that happen?

Later on, he was outside going up the ladder and the playground set. He gets up two steps and falls off sideways.

He opened one of the top drawers in the kitchen where we keep the scissors, reached in and pulled out the scissors. How did he get so big?

Even though he is a handful. He is so amazingly cute!!

He has a bear puppet with a book on the belly. (He got it for Christmas, I think from Uncle Paul and Aunt Katie). He has loved this puppet from the beginning. Today he found it and brought it to me, dropped it in my lap and said, "da, da, da." as he was backing up and pointing in excitement. The norm is, whoever receives the bear has to put it on, hide the bears face with it's hands then open quickly and say, "BOO!" Jacob laughs and laughs so hard he usually falls over.

He also thinks it is so great when we can play with a ball. I throw he fetches.

He loves to play with cars, the one in the photo is fun, push the person down and the car goes, weeee. We have another one that he loves to play with, shake it put it down and it goes fast!

I love when he walks up to me and just smiles. He squints his eyes, as if that were the smile instead of the lips curling up.

Speaking of lips, when he is so sad. (Mostly at night when he wants to nurse and it is taking too long for me to go and get him.) Those cute lips pucker up, he makes a perfect little circle with his lips. And he cries, "Oooooooo."

He has teeth that look like he is a thumb sucker, but he is just a boy that really likes nursing. I only let him at night now. :o)

At the dinner table I have just got to say that he is such a serious eater. He concentrates on each and every bite. When he is done he will join in on the conversation and laugh when everyone else does or he will just laugh to get everyone else laughing.

Last night after scriptures I said, "Okay, time for prayer, fold your arms." Jacob said, "Da." He kneeled on the floor, then put his face in his hands on the floor and mumbled some sort of a prayer. (This is how his siblings do it, for some reason they lay down on their tummies and cover their faces to say the prayer.)

Such a fun little boy. So glad he is part of our family. -Ma

Bread Dough

If your bread dough wont rise, never fear, you can make pizza. I tried to make bread yesterday and the stuff wouldn't rise... I don't know what was wrong with it. I never make bread and I used a recipe that is titled, 'Perfect White Bread'. I did add a cup of wheat flour. But, I just don't know what I did wrong. Guess we were destined to eat pizza last night. -Ma

Proposition 102

So I don't know how to copy and post videos but I have a friend that does and she has an amazing video on her blog that I think everyone should watch.

How can we not take a stand?

http://kobialkafamily.blogspot.com/  -Ma

Life is Like a Box of Chocolates, You Never Know What You're Gonna Get

Or in this case you never know what reaction you're going to get.

Some may know that we have been having problems with our neighbors... their 13 year old boy to be exact.

Lets take it back to 4 years ago the first week that we moved in... or little pick up truck was in the back yard and some one broke the drivers side window.  Went to the neighbors and the reply was if you can find some evidence so I can pin it on my boys you let me know.  The had a skate ramp that was built next to the block wall and the kids could see over the wall.  Now put two and two together and it all points to the kids.

From that point to this point things haven't been too bad... ya know the usual, the adult male drives his truck across our yard, the adult female pours her dirty mop water in our yard causing weeds!  And we can't forget kids that throw their trash all over our yard.  Not too bad right?

Okay, fast forward to this past month.  Neighbor's trampoline was moved touching the block wall between our yard, kids leaning on the wall saying mean things to our kids, staring into our house,  sitting on the wall, standing on the wall jumping onto the trampoline.  I ask them to get off and I get attitude, I go to parents and they get mad at us for going over their and bothering them.  Kid flips us off, parents get mad at us again.  Cars and house gets egged, we don't mention it to parents... why would we want to bother them?

INSTEAD:  We try CHRISTIAN COURAGE.  I was shaking, but on Halloween night I took the kids over and 6 half pound chocolate bars.  All in hopes that the 13 year old will not do anything bad to our home.  And it would be nice to mend the wounds between us adults.  Well nothing bad happened to our home and we got a thank you from the adults, and a very long conversation with the male adult.  

I think we are still very upset about the situation, but at least we are in more control.  -Ma

No One Can See My Bum Or Belly Button

I look outside to see Abby stripped down to nothing walking towards the house with one hand over her belly button and the other in between her legs. "Abby." I said, "What are you doing?" "It's okay Mom" Abby says with a big smile on her face, "No one can see my bum or belly button." "That's good sweetie, but where are your cloths?" I asked. She says, "Oh, they are over there by the slide. Sorry I went potty on the slide mom."

For Family Home Evening we had a modesty talk, we talked about wearing shirts that cover our bellies, and we never ever let anyone see our privates. So good to know that the kids are listening. -Ma

Happy Halloween

Emma was a beautiful TIGER!!  Grandma Maggie found a dress at a garage sale. We then put a tail on and made some cute ears.

Poor David always gets the short end of the stick. First he wanted to be an elf. Then he changed his mind, he wanted to be a tiger because Grandma Maggie also found a tiger costume that probably fits up to a size 3. It could have worked but he felt uncomfortable. so we went to a friends house and borrowed a couple of costumes. A dragon and Nemo the fish. Dragon he wore to the library for story time and the parade through the library. Dragon was too small also and he was very uncomfortable. So fish... that fit except for the sleeves were too short and tight. So, I thought we could make up a pirates costume how cute would that be??? We went to target to find a red bandana... went past the halloween stuff and found that everything was 30% off. We then found a costume... THE WHITE POWER RANGER!

Abigail went as a CARE BEAR.  Costume fits sizes 3 to 12 months.

Jacob was the cutest TURTLE ever!

Ma and Pa went as Ma and Pa.

Thank you Maggie and Diana for letting us use the costumes.  

We had tons of fun this halloween, we went to the trunk or treat at church.  Ate chili and hot dogs, played games, and got too much candy of course!

Jacob was fun, very independent.  He had his own agenda the whole night, walking everywhere and of course climbing on the chairs.

As we were trunk or treating, we were walking as a family, and I think Emma got tired of waiting for everyone, so she went ahead probably about 8 cars ahead.  (Anyone that knows me knows that I am a spaz when it comes to keeping a close eye on my kids.)  When I caught up with her, she said, "Mom, I wasn't scared.  I felt very brave going all by myself."  I know she is 6 and she is perfectly capable of doing this on her own especially when I can see her the whole time.  Another thing I need to work on... letting go.  -Ma

Is This My Little Girl??

I bought some of those hair curlers that you sleep in at the Good Will. I think at Target they are $7.00 a package, but I found 2 packages for .99 each. Yea, I never find good deals. So, I brought them home and told Emma that I found something to make her hair curly... same day she got the thorn in her head. As a result we haven't been able to curl her hair till last night.

I woke up bright and early, ready to see what has become of her hair. As we undo the curlers Emma is squealing with excitement, and I am thinking, 'is she going to be made fun of?' Those curls were so tight. In the end after smoothing it out just a bit, her hair turned out soooo cute!!

Emma loves that her hair is above her shoulders, and I think she loves how it bounces when she walks. I took some picture but I still need to figure out how to post. ...to be continued... - Ma