Free Dyson Vacuum Giveaway!

I've been through almost as many vacuums in my marriage as I've had children. So, this last fall, hubby and I bit the bullet and bought a Dyson. It was expensive and so the tightwads that we are fought our way through it. But, I have no regrets so far. I love that it sucks up just about every ounce of dust in our house, and how you can empty the bin with one hand! Now here's your chance to get one too, but for free!

Works for me Wednesday

Okay, this isn't really a handy cooking or organization tip but it does help for a mama's sanity. I keep an open bag of dark chocolate chips in the freezer at all times in case of an emergency mommy moment... like when husband is out of town and you're potty-training a stubborn two year old and have used up all thirteen pairs of princess underwear in one day- hypothetically of course.

"Babies are like chocolate chips...So sweet and there can never be enough of them." ;)

BIG and small...

As we remember God's love today, let us be thankful for more ways He is faithful and loving even when we don't deserve it.

First, and more importantly for my friend Karen that the radiation has removed almost all signs of cancer -- PRAISE THE LORD!!! Five months ago, things looked very grim indeed for Karen and her family but God is restoring her to health and we thank Him mightily for this.

Secondly, I got a stomach bug a couple of weeks ago and I think it is safe to say - eighteen days later, that I was the only one in the family to get it - yes this is a miracle too although decidely smaller than the previous one. I hesitate to put something so seemingly minor with such a large blessing, but I think it's important to mention because it shows that God cares not only for the big concerns of ours, but also for the little ones. And anyone who has lots of small children will know how amazing this really is!

Let all those rejoice who put their trust in You;
Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them;
Let those also who love Your name
Be joyful in You. Psalm 5:11

Valentine's

Today is the day we focus on that thing called love. It's amazing the lack of attention that we devote to the author of Love today. Too many chocolates and candy hearts giving us brain fog I guess. Don't worry, I'm thinking mainly of my own failings on this, not yours. As we eat our homemade heart cookies with pink sprinkles or open our box of chocolates may we remember that they are a gift from our God who loves us dearly and loves to give us good things. He is the one, not our husbands, children, or friends, who really gives us these presents of love today and everyday. He is also faithful and will continue to bless even when we forget to remember Him in it all. Thank Him today for the loved ones you hold dear, for the chocolate that tastes so yummy and puts a smile in your heart and on your face, and most importantly for Christ who died for us. One day we will be with Him in heaven and will rejoice in that we finally truly, truly know LOVE

Marriage

Gavin Newsome apologizes for his affair with his campagin manager's wife?! I think that this is just sick. I cannot believe that this is the man who tried to put himself in charge of our nation's marriage morals while he is stealing another man's wife and taking her for his own. This poor man was working for his wife's adulterer and has now had to resign as a result. Losing wife and job to Mayor Morality!

Today I was out driving with all the kids. I pulled out of a parking lot and was trying to get into the middle turn lane. I had plenty of time except for the fact that some punk in a Mustang decided he wanted to be ahead of me at the red light and sped up at me. I had to quickly move out of the lane so that he wouldn't hit me. Nay, so that he wouldn't hit the van full of children I was driving! I pulled around him to the other side, rolled down my window, and said, "That was completely unnecessary!" To which he answers, "Okay!" in a very sarcastic way while he pushes the buttons on his flip phone. Who is this selfish brat?! And why did his parents raise him to be so spoiled?! Did they think they did a good job because they provided him with things while letting his personality become so vile?! He had a really trendy surfer hair cut that apparently the girls his age just love, and he's out talking on his cell phone while he drives his very fast sports car in reckless abandon for any concern about the others on the road. Hey, at least he's got his priorities straight, right?

I ask myself, are these two pitiful men what the world is offering up today as examples of manliness? How sad! I hope and I pray fervently that my boys will not be like this. I am so thankful that I have such a wonderful husband and father to be an example for my children. He doesn't sit around all day watching sports, nor chase after women, nor drive a flashy car to show off his manhood. But he is a hard worker, selfless, disciplined, faithful, and more to the point today, CAREFUL on the road! I thank God for him especially as it seems he was the last good one left!!

A happy ending...

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Galations 6:7

Praise the Lord for justice on His enemies and mercy on His children.

Sing for joy, O heavens, for the LORD has done this; shout aloud, O earth beneath. Burst into song, you mountains, you forests and all your trees, for the LORD has redeemed Jacob, he displays his glory in Israel. Isaiah 44:23

Anti-procrastination challenge

Mrs. Wilt has hosted a challenge to do things that we've been putting off. My plans were to finally organize the bathrooms last weekend, but thanks to my now intimate friend Mr. Stomach Bug, that got put off. However, I can still play because I'd also put off losing five pounds, but said friend helped me get that done in less than twenty-four hours - wahoo! Now, onto those bathrooms...

Happy Robert Burns Day!

Lest we forget that my husband is Scottish and therefore I am half Scottish :), let me just wish everybody, happy haggis eating, blessed imbibing, and rigorous reciting of poetry tonight!

HT: Keziah for reminding me what today is.

34 Years of death

Today is the 34ttfh anniversary of Roe vs. Wade and Carmon has challenged all those who those who are prolife tp take a stand on their blogs. I love a challenge so here is my stance. First of all, I believe abortion is wrong not just because life is a worthy cause, but because God has ordained that life is precious. This is a distinctly Christian moral and is not arbitarily founded.

Noah is FIVE!

Today we celebrated Noah's fifth birthday! He got a Lightening McQueen and Mr. The King cars which he has played with nonstop today. Tonight we'll have dinner out and come home for cake and ice cream. Noah is a great kid who loves all things boyish including, cars, bow and arrows, guns, light sabers, and my personal favorite - cuddling with mom :) He's super sweet and super strong as seen by the car door handle he pulled completely off with his bare hands last week. He also loves helping his dad around the house as seen by the big paint splotch in his hair :) Noah is a great young man and we are so blessed to have him!

Gracie

My oldest is becoming such a young lady! I've been having terrible back pain for the last couple of months. Some days it is worse than others and today was a bit of a bad one. Gracie worked really hard to help me out. She cleaned up underneath the kitchen table and helped me put away dishes. She also surprised me by cleaning her room up. Notice the great detail of the neatly placed shoes, the duck placed atop the pillows, and the book nicely displayed on the bedside table. She made up her little sister's bed too. She also made herself a snack of hot chocolate as you can see by her shirt :) That girl is something!

Homeschooling

Kendra posted this on Preschoolers and Peace. It was so right on! Judging by the comments, I'm not the only one who thought so. I especially liked #2 which explains why I get easily frustrated with cleaning a house which is constantly being messed up again! Just today, I've picked up, or rather made the kids pick up, our wooden puzzles at least five times. Somebody keeps thinking it's fun to carry all the pieces around in a basket like they're cookies or something!

2. Unlike homes where the children are gone for eight straight hours, her home is in a constant state of activity. Her children are not only home, they are home making messes. All day long...

Snow!

I love winter!! We're having an arctic blast today and actually got real snow! The kids went outside for a while jumping up and down and sliding all around. Then they came in with pink cheeks and frozen hands :) We had so much fun snuggling up inside, drinking hot cocoa, and watching movies. What's your favorite thing to do on "iced in" days?

So much to say...

There's been lots of activity these last few weeks around here. We've had a whirlwind of a visit from my in-laws in which Colin and the three oldest visited Galveston, then he and his brother went to St. Louis, we began the kitchen redo, and all of us went to San Antonio for a visit. Oh, and Gracie got her first loose tooth! Tomorrow is back to the old routine for me and the kids and Colin goes back to work after a nice long vacation time. Here are some pics of our fun but crazy times. The first is Gracie wiggling her tooth for you in front of the old cabinets. Pic two is of the newly painted cabinets. We still have to finish putting the doors on, then we're going to tile the counter and backsplash and add a new sink and faucet. The last pic is of course Mercy - I don't think I can blog without showing her off at least once :) What a cutie and four months old already!

Testing, testing, 1,2, 3....

I switched over to Beta Blogger a few weeks ago and haven't been able to log in until now. I think it's working now!

Blankets, dresses, and heroes

Mercy being adorable on a blanket that was knitted for me when I was her age.



















Dresses my mom helped me make this week. I love this corduroy fabric that I got for a great deal at the fabric store - I never find great deals so that is really exciting for me :)















I needn't fear any bad guys with these two around! They are always practicing with their light sabers and Noah's getting really good at twirling his around as if he's been trained by a real Jedi. On the right is Annakin and on the left is Obi Wan Kenobi.

Overheard...

The boys were really rowdy this evening so I tried to calm them by teaching them a sit still game of thumb wrestling:

Mama - See you go like this...One, two, three, four, I declare a thumb war.

Noah - Haha, mom. That's good. Umm, how about we just punch each other?...smile...

Ice storm

This is waaayy late but I thought it was good to keep for posterity's sake.

Last week we had our first real cold front come through and we got snow! Okay, it was ice, but the kids didn't know the difference and, let's face it, any cold weather here is really great.

The table is covered in ice!














The slide is iced too?! What will we slide on?















Icicles!!

Three month old

Mercy will be three months on Monday. Yesterday she started arching her back showing the beginnings of wanting to roll over. She's getting so big! I thought it was about time for some pictures. Here's Mercy with her brothers. She's warming up to the exersaucer but still needs watching closely because her head wobbles about and her arms easily get stuck in front of her leaving her face down sucking the toys instead of playing with them.














Here's a closeup.She was giving me this great dimpled grin, but everytime the camera flashed, she'd get scared and, well, what you see is what I got :) Still not bad, but not what I was going for.

Best Ever Pumpkin Bread Recipe

With a title like that, do I really need to explain? :) I got this recipe from my neighbor back in California, and it is without a doubt the best pumpkin bread I've ever had. Whenever I give it away as a present, I am always asked for the recipe, and believe me it's NOT because I'm just such a great cook. Just ask my family! This is a great seasonal dish, but I love it so much I make it year round.

2 cups pumpkin puree
3.5 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 cup oil
3.5 cups flour (I use whole wheat and it works great)
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. each - cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves

Mix together the first four ingredientsin a bowl. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, soda, salt, powder, and spices. Then mix together the wet and dry mixtures. Grease and sugar two loaf pans and bake at 350 degrees for about an hour.

Enjoy!