14 january

kylie nailed down our family's musical style today ... "indy pop" ... we mostly agree. however, this evening's concert was performed by toby mac's biggest six fans.

13 january

it's my birthday. i feel thirty-five. i do. but i don't mind. at all. and this picture makes me laugh. hard.

12 january

connor and tj cleaned up the garage. obviously. we celebrated 35 years of me tonight with chicken marsala and turtle brownies and zooming. life is good.

11 january

a day home. after a lot of running around this week. school, chores, pizza, and brave. 

10 january

while i was at the dentist, brian was in the woods with the boys. guess who was having more fun?

9 january

it's clear i cannot have a 50 minute phone conversation with my mom in the morning, or all heck breaks loose. i burned the chicken for dinner on the way out the door for ballet. we didn't go back in for awhile once we got home. we rode bikes.

8 january

kylie started voice lessons today. korinne started back with ballet. we have a singer, and a ballerina. and a boy that loves to play cards.

7 january

i spent most of the morning still feeling sick. but by late afternoon, i realized i mostly just needed a shower and these rowdy boys to be following a routine. and using their minds.

6 january

i had borderline flu this weekend. and brian worked 39 hours. we had chocolate cake for dinner. ps ... downton abbey season 3 starts in 49 minutes.

5 january

they were cracking each other up over tea, applesauce, and are you my mother?

4 january

the girls and i took the tree down today. it made me sad. and i forgot to buy a new family ornament for zach's first christmas.

3 january

using my real camera is going to take some getting used to. by me and zach.

2 january

my dad was here for new years. we ate burgers, fries, and citrus fruit. and watched a lot of football. a lot.

1 january

brian and i declared christmas 2012 as the star wars christmas. he's having as much fun as the boys.

31 december

wesley got fancy new shoes for christmas. he wore them out on the town tonight to our new years eve dinner.

30 december

he's everywhere. and, by everywhere, i mean everywhere.

stocking stuffers

Brian and I are heading to Barnes and Noble this evening. We're going to get coffees, share a dessert, he'll grab his magazine, and I'll grab mine. Then I'll spend just a little bit of time browsing the Children's Books section. My favorite. I've tried and tried to branch out into books for grown women, I'm a few chapters into the first Mitford book, but I just don't enjoy it like I enjoy my Children's Lit. (I have this on my Amazon Wish List, maybe it'll do the trick.)

Our main goal, though, this evening, is to complete our Christmas shopping. We have a few things we need at Kohl's (including black Nike socks), but the most important thing is the stuffings for eight stockings.

Here are our usuals:

Spangler's Peppermint Stick
Brach's or Russel Stover's Marshmallow Santa
Reese's Peanut Butter Christmas Tree
Red Apple
Orange
Underwear
Socks
Chapstick/Nail Polish
Toothbrush

 :: happy friday, hope you're almost through Christmas shopping too! ::

14 december

a quick shopping trip. with wallet in hand.

December Daybook

FOR TODAY, December 11th, 2012

Outside my window... it was damp, and still too warm for almost mid-December. I miss December in Cincinnati. Very much

I am thinking... that I'm really at the point where I need to teach my boys that there is a time for quiet and still. I'm actually past that point.

I am thankful... for children's acetaminophen/ibuprofen, as Zach has been battling a low-grade fever for 4-5 days now.

In the kitchen... I made Chicken Noodle Soup for dinner this evening. Everyone had seconds, some had thirds, everyone raved. I am a happy homemaker tonight.

I am wearing... grey sweatpants, and the navy blue Nutcracker tee from the girls' 2009 performance. I miss my ballerinas performing in the Nutcracker. Very much.

I am creating... I've been thinking of my 2013 Goals List. It's pretty simple. And mostly attainable. And fairly easily.

I am going... if Z's fever doesn't go soon, I will make our first trip to the doctor's office since we have lived here in South Carolina. (I am not including Judah's Nurse-Maid's Elbow)

I am wondering... how this many days of Advent have gone by already. We're behind in our reading, and I feel not very Christmas-y.

I am reading... I haven't picked a book up in a few weeks. Other than a few of the Christmas board books. -- I know. It's so weird.

I am hoping... my will to read returns soon.

I am looking forward to... my will to read returning.

I am learning... that I need to have faith like I encourage everyone else to have.

Around the house... I had a mountain of laundry to conquer today. Taking 1.5 days off is so not worth it. I mostly got it all finished ... except for all the things that go on hangers. Did I tell all of you that I made the master bedroom closet an Almost Family Closet? I did. Brian, myself, and six little boys' clothes are in there. And it takes effort to keep it organized.

I am pondering... wondering ... pondering ... isn't that the same thing? 

A favorite quote for today... Wear the old coat, buy the new book. ...or something like that. Maybe I just need a new book to jump start my will to read. NOT about homeschooling or parenting. Suggestions?

One of my favorite things... my Christmas red bird nightgown I bought myself from Walmart. I love it. I also love my Advent Centerpiece. And Kylie's Sled/Ice Skates display on othe front stoop. And my new Snowman Wreath from my friend, Cathy. And my housewarming gift of The Lord's Prayer from my mother-in-law. And the kids picture with the Mall Santa from yesterday.

A few plans for the rest of the week:  my mom will be here Thursday, Brian and I are going on a date to have dessert and coffee and buy stocking stuffers Saturday, we are visiting a new (#7 in the 4 months since we've been here in SC) church on Sunday.

A peek into my day...

7 december

they are entering hyper space. no worries. they came back home.

what Christmas is all about

Our Christmas Tree has been up for almost two weeks now. We went against my better judgement to hold off until December 10th, in order to save the tree from little boys and drying out.

It's still there ... giving the family room a Christmas-y glow, cheering us up when the afternoons get tiresome, and reminding us that this time of year is special.

However, I'm fairly certain that it will resemble Charlie's Brown's Christmas Tree by Christmas Morning. Which is perfectly fine with me.

"'And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and goodwill towards men.'"

"...And that's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown." - Linus, A Charlie Brown Christmas

advent is here

Advent begins today.

We are reading Good News of Great Joy by John Piper and Bartholomew's Passage by Arnold Ytreeide. We read the first chapter of Bartholomew's Passage just a few hours ago, and Connor was already anxious over the cliff hanger in the very first chapter (we've read Jotham's Journey, and he knows he will continue hanging over the cliff for the next month).

After our reading, the kids started placing their "straw" in the manger Brian made us last year, to prepare it for Baby Jesus on Christmas morning. We're doing this a little differently this year ... instead of cutting straw for kind deeds, we're just having each child cut a piece and place it in the manger after our Advent reading each night. Simple.

I didn't get our Advent Wreath made, so we just lit a green candle and set it in our Nativity. I looked around on Pinterest, and I think I'll skip a wreath all together this year, and just make a small centerpiece of candles and leftover Christmas Tree branches. Simple.

I also splurged a few months ago on this Journey to Bethlehem Advent Calendar, and the kids seemed pretty excited to be adding something new this year. It's very pretty, and each door opens to reveal another small picture and just a bit of the story of Mary and Joseph's journey. Simple.

O come, O come, Emmanuel.

30 november

wesley. and me. and chutes and ladders.

28 november

I am not a nurse-maid. I surely am not "employed" to look after my own children, and I certainly to do not tug my kiddos around by their tiny arms to get them to walk more quickly (rarely are we ever walking anywhere, and I gave up getting to those rare places quickly long ago).

Yet ... I found myself in the Emergency Room with Judah this afternoon, watching a very nice Emergency Room Doctor "pop" his nurse-maid's elbow back in place. 

And I was reminded.

Reminded to be  more careful. Eight children has made me quick, and I'm resolving to slow down. I was also reminded that I love my loud, rowdy boys much more than I love quiet, still boys.

Here's to a tomorrow filled with working elbows, noise, and rough and tumbles.

19 november

Bright and early this morning, Benjamin was making a book for Uncle Tyler. Benjamin is almost more interested in learning and writing his letters than Wesley is. Wesley is more concerned with doing his Math packets. The boys opted to do their 'letters' with Droids and Troopers. They are big into the Star Wars action figures and Legos right now. Santa's got it easy this year.

Kylie made bread late this morning, so our PB&J sandwiches were warm. And soft. And yummy. She's made bread almost every other morning for a month now. She has pretty much perfected this recipe, and loves her bread guide and electric knife, she says they make bread making so much easier. She has her eye on Pioneer Woman's gorgeous Kitchen Aid Mixer ... not so easy for Santa.

Someone mentioned yesterday that both Zach and Judah were looking so big. They are so big. Zach turned 9 months yesterday (and has 7 teeth). Judah is 3. Which means he's not a baby anymore. He's a Little.

For tea time this afternoon, I made Cambric and Chocolate Dipped Holiday Pretzels. Yes. Homemade bread every day, and chocolate dipped pretzels. And I wonder why I look so very healthy. Ha! The kids enjoyed them just as much as I did, and there were chocolate-ly faces and fingers and lots of plate licking going on.

The day went so slowly and uneventfully (and mostly calmly) by that I almost forgot it was (Mon)day. Which is big.

12 november

... after a four-day-long, busy weekend ... we are ready to relax. He came home with

autumn flowers

coca ~ cola

rich chocolate, creamy caramel, smooth nougat

and

October Baby

... off to spend some time alone with the world's sweetest husband ...

veteran's day parade

Happy Veteran's Day