College

Gabriel  signed up for classes at the local community college today; he brings the grand total to three people in our house currently enrolled in college classes.

It's been really great having him home (and I'm not just saying that because he does children drop-off and pick-ups for me.) It's really nice that the little people get this extra time to get to know their big brother after he spent all last year in Colorado. 

These are the times I really feel the age span of my children - I did Hooked on Phonics today and then ran out the door to sign papers at the college. 

Still Doing Soccer

 I thought yesterday was the final two soccer games of the season, but no, James and Ben had a make-up game this afternoon and have one more next Saturday. We generally do not participate in any Sunday sports, but this game was on our way home from church at just the right time, so we stopped for pizza, ate at the park and then attended their game. 

Elijah loves the playgrounds; he is really devastated when it's time to leave each and every time.

It was pretty chilly outside, but Julia kicked off her church flats to run wild in the mulch. 

Today's game wasn't as impressive as yesterday's when Ben scored nine goals, but we still enjoyed it. 

Shots of Today

We are really enjoying the nice fall weather, so today I got my camera out to document it. First, however, I need to show one picture of Julia and Elijah with their severely over-due birthday cake. We lit five candles on one side and three on the other and they were quite happy.

Our table area has a transformation - the Amish benches that we ordered a few months ago came in. We have been through so many cheap chairs over the years that we thought these would last the years better. I already realize how much easier it will be to vacuum under the table because the vacuum fits under them. Moving 12 chairs out and back was always the worst part of vacuuming. 

These cheap NY mugs ($2.50 each) were the only souvenirs I bought my children when we went to NY city. I think it should be enough to take your children on a trip without having to buy them something from there; anyway, when I saw these, I knew it would help the winter go more smoothly. I was tired of making children hot chocolate and they would argue over which mug was theirs and that someone took a drink of theirs, (problems adults just don't seem to have.) So, everyone now has their own color mug and it's already decreased the hot chocolate confusion. 

Now out to the nice weather - we got this sturdy trike at the thrift store for $5; it is exactly like the ones that Elijah loved so much at the pumpkin farm. Two of the tires are not staying inflated, so I'm going to have to hunt them down, but I think he'll be able to ride it through the grass once he can reach the pedals well. 

The frost killed off my pumpkin plants, but my broccoli is still growing nicely. See those little heads starting to grow? I'm definitely planting a lot more of it next fall because it's been so easy to grow and it's so easy to freeze. 

Elijah and I followed the guineas around for a while and tried to get a picture of the two babies that the momma guinea hatched herself. They are so cute running behind here everywhere, but they bolt when I try to get close enough for a picture. 

Here's a picture of Lincoln dog. He is posing in front of an eye-sore in the side yard that I think needs to come down. It was a "house" that Moriah and Alyssa built years ago, complete with plastic kitchen, but has been abandoned for the last few years.

I'm including this picture to demonstrate how Elijah climbs everything - and I mean everything! We did an ER run about a week ago to x-ray his foot to make sure it wasn't  broken after he fell off the front flower bed,  but it really hasn't slowed him down much. 

The kids have been playing soccer everyday. I think two goals would be a great group Christmas present. 

I hope that you are enjoying the fall as much as we are; soccer ends this weekend and I'm hoping it stays nice enough for a while to do some outside activities.  

Craziness and My Pet Peeve of 2011

This weekend has to be the busiest of the year. We had our entire Bible study group and their families here on Friday night for a pot-luck and bon-fire. Today we are having a very, (very) late Julia and Elijah birthday party. In between those two events, my children had about six other events which kept me running like a crazy woman all day yesterday. By evening I was stressed and exhausted and announced that no one was adding anything to next weekend's schedule, which is currently just the last two soccer games of the year. 


Speaking of soccer, I don't know why this season has seemed so long and miserable, especially since Gabriel did all of the boy's practice runs for me and a few of the games, but it has. I did not sign anyone up for indoor winter soccer but am thinking that next year we may skip fall soccer altogether and just let everyone play indoor soccer since it's not interfering with our fall outside projects and it's played much closer to our house. Poor Tori wants to play so badly but I couldn't stand to even try to add it to our schedule this fall. 


So, here's my pet peeve of the year...and I think it's more than legitimate. In fact, it made me so annoyed that I am labeling it "this is what is wrong with Americans." Moriah played on a different league this fall that is an all girls league instead of our normal county league. So, I payed more to sign her up and drove farther to the games; it was worth it since we know and trust the coach and the practices were actually closer to our house. So, one of the moms on the team (don't know her) sent out an email that said that she was working on what gift we could all order to reward the girls for playing. What? Seriously? I pay, drive and provide snacks and now I'm supposed to buy my daughter a $37 monogrammed bag to reward her for playing soccer! (To make matters worse, I believe the mother sells for the company that she choose to have us all order our $37 EACH bag from so that she gets a % of it.) Well, guess what? I'm not doing it. I think Christmas is approaching and if Moriah is really dying for a $37 monogrammed bag, she'll have to put it on her list. Quite frankly, I think her father and I deserve the gift since we were the ones who sacrificed to allow her to play soccer like she desired. No wonder people think they can only afford two children; it's true with this mindset!  I'm scheduling my talk with Moriah about why she may be the only one who isn't presented a bag at the party (because we also have to throw them a party to thank them for playing soccer!) Get a grip people!


I'll end with a positive; the deck now has rails and no one fell off of it the few months it didn't. The wood needs to cure a few months before painting and putting on the screen, so it may be early spring when JD and I do that. 

There's one white rail up also - a few more days and it'll be child safe other than the small stair section.

I guess my next post will be party pictures!

Dear Orphan

I read the following on two different blogs today and loved it, so I clicked over to read the 
author's blog and was thrilled to find that it was a lady that I took pictures for in Liberia. 
She was in process of adopting a 10 year old girl when we traveled so we took pictures 
and took measurements for her. She is a remarkable lady who has adopted several 
Down children from around the world. This sure makes me think! 

Dear Orphan,

I saw your picture today and heard about your plight. Your face is so beautiful and sad, 
and it tugs at my heart.


I hear you don't get enough to eat, and that there isn't always medicine if you get sick. 
You sleep in a room with many children, but you still feel alone.


You have never had anyone wish you a "Happy Birthday", give you a gift, or even sing 
you a lullaby goodnight.  No one has ever told you about Jesus or that He loves you.


I wish we could adopt you, but....

It is such a long way to travel, it would cost so much money, and it involves so much 
paperwork.
Our home isn't very big, and we already have children. Adding another child to our 
family would mean they would have to share a bedroom as well as our love and 
attention.
What if you have health issues or special needs that are not yet diagnosed?
You might have a hard time adjusting to a family after never knowing one, or have 
"issues" from years of neglect, malnutrition, mistreatment, or abuse.

I'm sorry, it just feels like too much of a risk and sacrifice.  Adoption doesn't really
 feel like our "calling".  Maybe there is another family....


Written by Amy B.
http://justamomofseven.blogspot.com/2011/11/i-wish-i-could.html 

Eggies and Such

 I have been meeting a friend at the Y most weekday mornings at 6:00 a.m.; since I'm more of a night owl, I thought it would be rather painful, but it has been great overall. The frustrating thing is that Elijah has woken up at 7:15 like clockwork most of the summer, which is why my plan was to be home by 7:00, but now he has started getting up earlier before I get home and making the rounds to get his sisters up. I have really prayed that he would just sleep until 7:00 and this morning I came flying back into the house at 7:03 and he got up at 7:08! I then let Moriah and Alyssa sleep until 9:00 to make up for their earlier in the week 6:30 wake up calls. 


Today was so beautiful that I let the kids play outside this morning while I baked. I finally bought the ingredients for Ezekiel bread at a Mennonite grocery store on the way to the mountains and made it this morning. (I made it in a cake shape to try and fool the kids that it was a treat instead of bread.)

I also had several rotten bananas waiting in the fridge that got turned into banana bread. 

My kids love boiled eggs and I continually get frustrated that the shells often sticks to them when I boil them. While I've tried all sort of suggestions to prevent it, I read that it really comes down to how old the cheap eggs are before they hit the store. Anyway, I bought these "eggies" that you crack the eggs into and boil them. Lets just say, they don't get a great review from me. First of all, they have four parts each that you have to assemble and oil, then a few broke open in the boiling water.

Lastly, the eggs come out kind of half egg shaped. I only bought one set of six to try them out and I'm glad I didn't buy another few sets like I really would have needed to use this method. After two batches of eggies, I tried heavily salting the water with straight eggs. 

My baking break was fun, - too bad we didn't end up with any dinners from my time, so now I have to make dinner.

Weekend

 My blog is slightly neglected, as is my checkbook, laundry and cleaning. I have spent the majority of the last two days matching and submitting an  enormous pile of medical bills and their statements. We  have a supplemental insurance that often requires us to pay and then submit it to be reimbursed and we are severely behind on submitting them. After this round, I'm vowing to keep up with it better!


JD and I did go away for the weekend; I considered not going because I didn't want to leave Alyssa so shortly after losing Charlie, but she was fine with my sister. The kids all did well at home with Deb and JD and I really enjoyed the peaceful quiet. 

It started snowing right after we arrived at the cabin and by morning there was five to six inches on the ground. It was enough to keep us from hiking up the mountain, so we spent one afternoon in the historic part of Staunton, VA, which was full of history and very enjoyable. 

I am going to get back to work, but will leave you with a picture of my crew dressed for the harvest party we went to. Tori was supposed to be a cute clown, but the wig kind of made her a frightening clown. I think we'll purchase a new wig before anyone else plans on being a clown. I generally don't spend money on costumes, so it forces the kids to get creative. Tori's clown costume was made by my sister when she was six for a clown parade at her school and the Indian costume Moriah wore I made over 20 years ago for spirit week my freshman year of college!

Charlie

 We lost our dear dog, Charlie, two days ago in a tragic accident. He was actually Alyssa's dog,  but we all dearly loved him. Aside from a few bad habits, he was the perfect family dog!  I'm really having a hard enough time dealing with the reality that he's gone and I know Alyssa feels the same. It has been a long, long time since I've cried that long and that hard!


Here's the sweet stone that Alyssa painted for him. 

We also planted flowers and a Hosta at his grave site. 

Alyssa and I made a trip to Michael's craft store and bought this shadow box to display the paw print and hair tuft that the vet gave to Alyssa. I think she did such a beautiful job making it; it's now hanging in her room. 

He was one loved dog.

Oh Happy Day

 Oh happy day, it's noon and the little guys and I are DONE with school and Julia's hair! Her hair was a simple re-do using the same parts, but sometimes even that can take hours. You can see the fresh coconut oil glistening in the sun in this picture. 

Elijah spent his school time playing with trucks, standing on the dining room table pretending it was a deck and finding this cool mustache in Moriah's room. 

Speaking of deck, JD and "the builder guy" finished framing the screened in porch over the weekend and roofers actually roofed it yesterday.

Here's the view up now. 

JD only has a few more decking boards that need to go down as well; then I think he will move on to railings, which means I'll be a lot less nervous having the little people out there!

I have missed a few blog-worthy occasions this last week. One was a fun trip to a farm and the other was Moriah's 14th birthday. Happy birthday Moriah -  (and now will you update the ages on the pictures on the side of the blog?) 

Friday on the Deck

Today was the day that the "building guy" came to help JD build and tie in the screened in porch  walls and roof into the house roof-line. They made an amazing amount of progress for one day. 

Here's our back yard; good thing we have a front yard for the kids to play in . 

Our new view up - 

JD gets to continue the work tomorrow with the five youngest while I take Moriah, her sisters and a few friends out to lunch and shopping for her 14th birthday.