-cheaper by the dozen-

A mostly wordless Wednesday: Baby #13

2011-06-29T17:33:00.000-07:00

Introducing...

Faith Caroline

June 9 2011, at 12:51

9lbs, 21 inches

Mother's Day

2011-05-29T14:38:00.000-07:00

This is Kate, updating for Mom. This year we had a really good Mother's day, and we all had a lot of fun. We are all so grateful to have such a incredible Mom! God really blessed us :).

We love you Mom!

All of us, except Hannah who couldn't make it.

Mom's boys

Bleeding hearts, aren't they so pretty?!

Okay, this is a video I made...just for fun, and it has most of the pictures in it. I hope you like it, this is the first video I've ever made :)

(Hint: pause the music on the blog.)

for more pictures, you can go to my blog --> here.

Kate

Winter

2011-02-11T17:19:00.000-08:00

click on the above picture and it will take you to my picasa web album to watch the video, couldn't get the video to load on here any other way.

         This is what happens...when Mom is tired and goes to bed early, and Dad comes in to say goodnight to Mom before having Bible time with the kids.

                 This is also what happens when the dishes crew is tired of doing the dishes and decides to liven things up a bit....

                            Or what happens when the children watch entirely too much "jostie flicks" on youtube (another large homeschool family from Canada that our dear friends, Seven Sisters shared with us).

If you'd like the watch the original video my kids were copying off of you can go here:
Jostie Flicks Rythym & Muse

Hope you have a wonderful, terrific and silly day with your family....

Happy 11th Birthday Alaina!

2011-02-03T08:51:00.000-08:00

Baby Alaina :)

Esther & Alaina-2002

Easter 2009

July 2010

We love you Alaina Josaphine!

Wordless Wednesday-pajamas :)

2011-01-26T14:26:00.000-08:00

Tasty Tuesday ~ Brownie pudding dessert

2011-01-05T05:45:00.000-08:00

~Brownie Pudding Dessert~

*1 1/4 cups flour

*1 1/2 cups sugar {divided}

*1/2 cup cocoa {divided}

*2 tsp. baking powder

*1/2 tsp. salt

*3/4 cup milk

*3 TBL butter, melted

*1 1/2 tsp. vanilla {divided}

*1 3/4 cup boiling water

Preheat oven to 350. Combine flour, 3/4 cup of the sugar, 1/4 of the cocoa, baking powder, and salt. Add milk, melted butter and 1/2 tsp. of the vanilla. Stir until smooth. Spread batter evenly in 10" round cake pan (We use our Pampered Chef round stoneware pan) . In small bowl, whisk together remaining 3/4 cup sugar, and 1/4 cup cocoa; gradually stir in boiling water and remaining 1 tsp. of vanilla. Pour evenly over batter in the pan. Bake 30-35 minutes or until toothpick in center comes out clean. We sprinkle powdered sugar over the top and serve hot with vanilla ice cream. Yum :)

Notes: This is one of our family's favorite recipes. My 86 year old grandmother requests it when she comes.

My mom, when she was battling cancer and would come to stay with us, would request it (and after we were in bed she was caught in the kitchen eating right out of the pan with a spoon ☺).

For a period of years, when my dear friend Lorraine would come for the day to visit and help me out, I would make it for our lunch dessert (until neither of us wanted to look at it again for a while!).

Opening the tattered page to this recipe in my cookbook brings good memories from the many times we have served it.

Another dear friend has a daughter getting married this week and I just drove a hot pan of it and a carton of ice cream to her home to help relieve the last minute wedding stress ♥ (of course this friend is my self-proclaimed sister in chocolate, so it only seemed appropriate)

So, to all my chocolate loving friends near and far...enjoy!

Multitude Monday

2011-01-03T13:45:00.000-08:00

{0053}

God gives us such multitudes to be thankful for.

Our home...I am grateful for shelter from cold and excessive heat. For places for each of us to sleep, for a large table that fits all of us to eat...and another large table where we do a lot of our school. For 3 bathrooms with as many as use them! We live here 24 hours a day, and are in more than out. Everything gets used and used well. Thank you Lord we have a place to gather and have rest.

{0054} Psalm 1 tells us

1Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

2But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

3And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

4The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

5Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

What a blessing it is to have Bible's in our homes in freedom, unlike many other parts of the world. What a blessing to be able to sit in our family room and memorize scripture each morning, to hide God's word in our heart (Psalm 119, that we might not sin against thee).

What a blessing that God openly rewards us for memorizing and meditating upon His word. What a blessing it is to being going through a trial and have His word come to mind...reminding us of truth and His continual and abiding faithfulness to us.

Books ...ahhh, books can be wonderful things. From devotionals, growth in my Christian life, cookbooks, scrapbook idea books, large family help-books, storybooks to read to my children, books on herbs and plants as medicine....books indeed are wonderful. I love to learn and such a wealth of knowledge is to be beheld...thank you Lord for the multitude of books you have put in my path.

{0056} God is so good to put the solitary in families. Here I am an only child...with 12 (almost 13) children.

Quiet? Seldom. Blessed? Yes.
So many personalities, likes and dislikes, gifts and talents...that put us together like a puzzle and make us fit.

God in His infinite wisdom knew who to put here and at what timing, to create the birth order. 3 boys didn't come until after 8 girls. He has this as part of His plan, part of the tapestry of our lives He is creating. He makes all things beautiful, in His time.

Thank you Lord...for our puzzle, our lives, our plan that you are unfolding each day. I am grateful...even amidst the noise, busy-ness, laundry, dishes, toys and mess. There is no better place to be than in the center of God's will for your life.

                                                                 {0057} Many terrific and up and coming chefs in our home. I am super blessed to have a great cooking staff of daughters.

     They prepare all the meals (sometimes with a little help if learning new techniques or recipes, and sometimes totally alone) Monday through Friday.

Some show an enormous amount of diligence and are in the kitchen by 6 am making our breakfast and then want a 'real' recipe for lunch and not leftovers. So we save nicer lunch menus for her and keep the leftovers for our other chefs who are grateful to not have to make 3 'from scratch' meals a day.
                                                                  Thank you Lord for help with kitchen and hospitality responsibilities. What a priviledge it is to serve alongside the girls as they cook and learn. What a wonderful ministry they will have through their whole lives serving others in the area of cooking. No matter what your job or calling, us ladies usually get the responsibility for nourishing the ones we love with meals.

{0058} A dear older Mom who comes and helps us each week encouraged me in my 'food gathering' practices. She mentioned how the Proverbs 31 woman brought her food from afar, and as she was reflecting on the meaning of the verse, she immediately thought of me.

Which brings me to why I am thankful to God. As I read (see books ☺), I learn about what our family should and should not be eating...and that motivates me to do the very best I can for them, to give them the best possible health.  I am so grateful that God has put in my path, places to go and buy healthy food at good prices that I know is better for my precious bunch.

                     We are blessed to live close to Amish country and I have several kind Amish friends who sell their milk from their cows to us. We also are able to get fresh farm eggs each week...from multiple local sources. The beef we get each year is from a homeschool family we know that raises it (and then on top of that, God has provided a gift each year for the past 4 years to pay for it...no small expense). I belong to a organic produce co-op and a health food co-op where I get great prices for well grown and processed food.

Thank you Lord for opening doors and windows to show me where to gather our food 'from afar'. Even so, we are one sure reason our Wal-Mart stays in business. ☺

{0059} Love...a wonderful thing.

    I have a super husband that absolutely loves snow! So this picture if perfect for him.

Love...God is the author of it. And what a mighty fine job He did of showing it to us.
        John 3:16; for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life.

Other thoughts that come to mind when I think of love...3 young adults from our church that have been in courtship relationships have all gotten engaged in the last 40 days. So wonderful to see these happy engagements and how the Lord is working in their lives.

                 Love. I remember when I was younger and read the paper (time?), there used to be a little comic that I believe was precious moments. Each day it said "love is..." and had a cute picture below and the rest of the saying. I cut those out ALL the time, I just loved them. Now where they are today...probably long lost in the trash.   Anyway, those little comics come to mind as I think on "love is"

Love is...going to sleep with little baby James next to me having to hold my hands(I am his blanket ♥). When he is sleepy he climbs on my lap and grabs for my hands and lays his head down on my chest. Aren't babies the absolute best ever?

                  Love is...secret servants. In our house around Christmas time, we start drawing names for secret servants for each week. You never know what you'll find done for you; hot tea made and left on the counter with a sweet note...your bed made with a cute picture and piece of candy on your pillow (who needs fine hotels?)...a note on your pillow with a poem leading you all over the house on a scavenger hunt that winds you up at an empty 5 gallon brown rice bucket (yes, we buy brown rice by the 25 pounds) with a pair of 'fuzzy socks' in it...the very think you *really* wanted. Secret Servants has helped us get our eyes off ourselves and thinking of what would be a blessing to those we live with and how to make them smile.

Love is....a wondeful husband and daddy who goes to work each day so I can be a stay at home mom managing the very full household we have. And being understanding when (even as frugal as he is)  sometimes a mom just needs ice cream or oreos for survival. ☺

               Love is...a darling firstborn son who draws me an endless stream of pictures. Most of them are him and I. And an equally darling 4 year old son who also loves to give me pictures and sweetly asks "mom, is it okay if you don't have one of your arms and James doesn't have a leg?"
*smile*
                                            and finally....Love is...this super 16 year old daughter who keeps my blog going by continually taking, editing, and putting pictures on it for me and then says "mom, it is minimized on your computer so when you get time you can go write"

{0060} I am grateful to God for Hannah being able to go work in Chicago for 2 weeks a month for a Chiropractor who treats her scoliosis in exchange for her work, and the for the wonderful family who takes care of (and pampers) her and lets her stay in their home when she isn't working. I am also thankful she is willing to do the hard work it takes to help, putting her school work to be done late at night or on the weekends. God always provides and has so much to teach us along the way. I know this is valuable training for Hannah in many areas.

Wordless Wednesday-snow

2010-12-29T11:17:00.000-08:00

Scandinavian Kringler ~ Tasty Tuesday

2010-12-07T05:30:00.000-08:00

This pastry is wonderful...almost beyond words. I do love my Italian roots, but this makes me *almost* want to be Scandinavian!

Scandinavian Kringler ~ a most delightful pastry

Crust:

1 c. flour

½ c. butter chilled

2-3 Tbs. cold water

Topping:

1 c. water

½ c. butter

1 c. flour

3 eggs

½ tsp. almond extract

Frosting:

1c. powdered sugar

1 Tbs. butter softened

½ tsp. almond extract

2-3 Tbs. milk or cream

¼ c. sliced almonds or chopped nuts

Place 1 cup flour in small bowl. Using pastry blender, cut in ½ c. butter until mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle with ice water 1Tbs. at a time. Stir with fork until soft dough forms. form dough into ball. Divide dough in half. Form each half into 12 inch rope. On ungreased cookie sheet, flatten each rope into 12x3 inch strip.

Heat oven to 350. In medium saucepan, bring 1 c. water and ½ c. butter to a boil. Remove from heat. Immediately stir in 1c. four until smooth. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating util smooth after each addition. Stir in ½ tsp. almond ext. Spoon half of batter over each crust. spreading to within ¼ inch of edges. Bake at 350for 50-60 minutes. or until golden brown. and puffy. Immediately remove from cookie sheet; cool. Sprinkle with Almonds.

Tasty Thursday? ~ Java Chip Frappucinno's

2010-12-02T14:27:00.000-08:00

Well, this was supposed to be this weeks tasty tuesday recipe and was scheduled as so, but it disappeared into computer no where land. Thus....tasty thursday

Java Chip Frappucinno's ~ cheaper by the dozen style

I will put the main way we make them at our house now, plus a couple of variations.

2 shots of espresso ( or 1/4 cup strong coffee)

1 cup milk

2 to 2 1/2 cups ice

1/4- 1/3 cup hershey's syrup

2- 3 heaping tbsp hot cocoa mix

a handful of mini chocolate chips (regular size just isn't as good)

big, fat straws (for the chocolate chips to go through ☺

Blend all in the blender until ice is well blended. Makes 2 good size cups.

Variation #1 (I made the java chips this way before I got my espresso maker)

1/4 cup french vanilla cafe or cafe mocha (from General Foods International Coffee or the wal-mart version or cappuccino mix)

1 cup milk

2 to 2 1/2 cups ice

handful of mini chocolate chips

a few swirls of hersheys syrup

Blend all until well blended in blender.

Variation #2

this is how I make it to be 'healthy'-avoiding corn syrup and trans fats

1 cup milk

2 shots of espresso

2 to 2 1/2 cups ice

3- 4 tbsp of ghiradelli chocolate powder (presweetened)

handful of mini chocolate chips

Blend as above.

Enjoy!

Tasty Tuesday ~ Biscuits and chocolate gravy

2010-11-16T16:07:00.000-08:00

Tasty Tuesday

While we were in Alabama this summer, our dear friend Betty made us biscuits and chocolate gravy. We had never heard of such a thing...but we were sweetly surprised. Yummy x 100! The gravy is so good, it doesn't even need biscuits ☺. The girls eat the leftovers for dessert and snacks throughout the day, not just breakfast.
Without further ado....the recipes

Flaky Quick Biscuits
8 cups flour (we sometimes use unbleached, and sometimes use 1/2 unbleached and 1/2 whole wheat)

1/3 cup baking powder

2 tsp salt

3/4 cup shortening (I use coconut oil)

4 cups milk

Mix together dry ingredients, cut in coconut oil with 2 knives until crumbly. Then add your milk. Roll into a log about 3 inches thick and cut into 1/2 inch slices OR roll out and cut with a biscuit or cookie cutters. Bake on an ungreased baking sheet (we use a stone) for 12 minutes at 450. These are yummy too.

Chocolate Gravy

1 1/2 cups sugar

6 Tbsp cocoa

6 Tbsp flour

pinch salt

4 cups milk

4 tbsp butter

2 tsp vanilla

Stir dry ingredients together in a medium saucepan. Mix in milk slowly. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thick and smooth. Add butter and vanilla. Serve over hot biscuits. ~NOTE: this is big happy family size. If you don't have a big family and don't want leftovers, you might want to cut it in half.

If you try these out, let me know what you think!

Multitude Monday

2010-11-15T12:31:00.000-08:00

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I am grateful for our Keepers at Home group. We have participated for 10 years, since Kelsey was 9. Hard to believe how much we have learned and how much fellowship we have been blessed by. Here are Kelsey, Kate, Mary and Emily at "The Chocolate Thimble" in Churubusco, Indiana for a chocolate making class. They made caramel and chocolate dipped apples, white chocolate pretzel drops, and white chocolate dipped oreos. What a fun day.

0046

Tea Sets lots of lovely little tea sets. My dear mother-in-law gets each child a tea set around their 3 birthday. We have a beautiful collection of them. To make sure they get used and enjoy the blessing she has given us, we have each child's birthday breakfast be a "tea party breakfast". The child picks whose tea sets we will use in addition to their own (since it takes several to 'tea' us all), and which foods they would like the most. Then we hang up their birthday flag (another gift made by mother-in-law) and make the special breakfast with lots of tea (and lots of sugar). The tea pot above is Valerie Hope's, who just celebrated her third birthday with homemade caramel rolls and homemade turkey sausage (thank you chef Emily). Thank you Lord for many tea pots, many children to have tea parties for, and many good chefs to make the meals special and unique.

0047

Byron Thanksgiving. Our church meets in a nursing home named Byron, at state run nursing home with many severly handicapped people as well as elderly . Each year our church makes a super sized Thanksgiving dinner and serves it to all the residents in the activity room of Byron. It takes two nights for us to feed all the residents. What a blessing we receive in serving these special people. I'm guessing most don't see relatives for the holidays and they show such joy at the big meal they are served. It is a blessing for our families to sit in their midst and share in their joy as we serve them. It is our hope that they will see the light of Jesus and learn how very much He loves them and how important they are to Him.

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Matthew 25:40

0048 The best daddy ever...the leader of our wonderful 'cheaper by the dozen'. He deserves way more numbers in my multitude Mondays than one. He loves all the children, great and small, and always welcomes another with great delight.

He doesn't mind the noise (and very much helps create it), the commotion (well, he helps with this too), and the work. He is seldom in the door before being requested for many different things-and they even meet him at his car at times..."dad, will you hold the baby?", "dad, can I have water?", "can we go to the park?", "did you hear what I did today?", "look at my bruise, scrape, bump, etc...". And he smiles, and is glad to be home. He puts on his comfy clothes and shoes and gets ready to be messy, if needed (with 4 six and under this is often). Since Mommy is often tired and tapped out, he willingly jumps in and helps. He is even patient with us when he gets home late from work and the many eaters have eaten it all and didn't save him any (sometimes the table clearers will munch on what remains, forgetting some haven't eaten).

He is a great husband too. In 19 years, we've had 12 children. That means lots of morning sickness and tiredness for me. In my early pregnancy he offers 10pm runs to subway or pizza hut or whatever place he think will help me to feel better and forget the yuckiness. And he willingly puts everyone to bed so I can get in bed myself sooner. He doesn't act like a tornado hit, when indeed it does look like one did at times. I am blessed and I am loved. Thank you Lord.

And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. Luke 1:17

0049Fall, leaves, sunset. God's creation is a work of art in every season. Beautiful handiwork. Hard to describe His infinite-ness with our tiny little comprehension. But...none the less, I am grateful. And He is good, all the time.

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1

0050 many, many, many Tomatoes! Our amish friend called and offered me 5 bushels of tomatoes for $5 a box. I said "Doug, what do I do, I'm deathly ill with morning (all day) sickness?" to which he replies "$5 is a really good price, and we do love salsa". SO...with children still groaning, I picked up our tomatoes, peppers and onions and away we went. The children and our friend Anna made the work much easier than the days when I did it alone. We made one fresh batch of salsa to eat all day as we made our canned salsa (fresh salsa is incomparable, you absolutely must try it sometime). We cored, peeled, chopped, and mixed our tomatoes into a delightful salsa potion in our most giant stockpot. And we munched, and filled jars, and canned them outside on our turkey propane burners in canning pots.

Yum, and whew, and wow, my tongue is on fire, and can you believe how many bags of tortilla chips we have eaten today, and isn't God good to get me through this with many able daughters and a very sick stomach. What a beautiful day of hard work and more of God's amazing creation to enjoy all year long. Now where on earth are we going to put all these jars?

0051

I am so grateful for my Grandmother Carmen. She is wonderful,and this is the shore of the lake she lives on, right by her dock. She lives 'up north' in the upper peninsula of Michigan.

She is one of my favorite people ever. Energetic, a server, fabulous cook, caring, creative, resourceful, quilter, knitter, crocheter, woodworker, gardener, nurse, cross-stitcher, needle worker, outstanding mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She is one of the most hard working people I have ever met. If she isn't working really hard with her hands she is sitting in her chair, with her lap desk, drafting ideas, jobs, plans, quilts, etc... Amazing, and a true Proverbs 31 and Titus 2 woman. I love you Grandma and am so grateful God put me in your family.

The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness. Proverbs 16:31

0052

Alaina J...10 years old. Big smile, the only child of mine that looks like a 'good, hearty Italian', like her heritage. Did I say big smile? She is silly & crazy and loves to play outside with all the things most people throw away (and *should* throw away, thank you). She takes odd scraps of wood and leftover containers from restaurants and cottage cheese containers and big swiss miss cartons and builds what Doug calls 'shanty homes' all over our back yard. The littles all adore her, who wouldn't....a big sister who helps make a mess ☺. Oh yes and the mud, I didn't mention the mud pies and cookies and ...well, you get the idea. She is darling, and I love her to pieces. She is also a big help in the kitchen, and with James and at doing her school. We have definitely decided to keep this one. Thank you Lord for our dear Alaina.

Tasty Tuesday ~ Tuna Noodles Romanoff

2010-11-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

Tuna Noodles Romanoff

serves 10-12

16 oz cooked egg noodles

3 cups sour cream

1 tsp garlic, minced

1 tsp salt

1 cup shredded cheddar

3 cups cottage cheese

3 tsp worcestershire sauce

2-4 cans drained tuna (we use 2 to be frugal)

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix noodles, cottage cheese, sour cream, garlic, worcestershire sauce, salt & tuna. Put into greased 13 x 9. Sprinkle cheese over top and bake 30-45 minutes or until hot throughout.

This recipe is one that our family has made for 20 years. It is out of my Mom's old recipes. It is also very yummy with buttered, crushed crackers on top.

~Enjoy~

The Common Room's Potluck Saturday

In Memory of my precious Mom ~Happy 59th Birthday

2010-10-29T17:52:00.000-07:00

Today...my mom, my precious mom, would have turned 59. She died 4 years ago, in September, of lung, brain and breast cancer. It was a 7 month battle. She found out in February, right after being here for Alaina's 6th birthday, and a month before Paul Robert was born.

I miss her...it sounds small. It is such an understatement. It has been 4 painful years.
My memories, our memories...of her, are many. and precious. But it still hurts. She was a part of our life, daily life, in so many ways. Even our children who barely knew her, or didn't get to know her, talk of her as if they did.

I miss...her loving all her grandkids,even when she didn't think she could love more than one.

I miss...her daily phone call to see what was for dinner.

I miss her making me go to the mall the day after I had a baby, just to get it a beautiful new gymboree blanket and outfit...promising me I could just sit on the bench while she and the kids shopped and then calling me in the store to help pick out one.☺

I miss all the special things she did for me as a child...making me coconut custard pie as an after-school snack...or orange julius's...or golden graham mix.

....for never letting me have the stomach flu alone, she was always by my side, rubbing my head, pulling back my hair (and I had the stomach flu *alot*).

......for tucking me in everynight (even as an adult when she would come to visit) and tucking all the sheets in the mattress once I was in bed like I was in an envelope (which I promptly undid when she left the room)

....how she would have me sit at the kitchen table after school while she showed me all the things she got at the grocery store with double coupons that were free, or almost free.

And how she told me to enunciate every morning as I headed out to the bus stop.

She made each of my children feel like queen or king on their birthdays. Using all her vacation days to come for them. Letting them pick where they wanted to eat for lunch and dinner.

I miss some of the funny things she said...calling the kids "slackers" when they were slow with dishes....telling them it was time to "shake and move" to get us out the door sooner if we had somewhere to go. Looking at my large brood of kids, ages 8 and under and saying "come on guys, let's kick butt and take names". ☺

She may not have agreed with everything we did, or said, but she didn't let on. She loved us, accepted us and gave to us beyond generously...even when she wouldn't buy herself anything. It was how she was. She gave...and gave and gave.

My children learned from her how to work hard, and not complain. How to get things really clean. How to be the most diligent employee an employer could ever have. How to give of yourself, even at the cost of self-sacrifice. How to love way beyond yourself, even when you think you can't.

She may be gone from our lives, but she left a legacy that none of us will forget. And memories for us to hold in our hearts and our hands. Blessed memories.

I love you Mom....

Grandma Lannoo visits

2010-10-29T16:52:00.000-07:00

We were all very blessed to have my dear, 86 year old grandmother here for a little over a week. It was sad to see her go back home.
She is so very grateful for all the ways our family shows her love; making her tea, helping her with her 'stockings', cooking her extra special meals that she doesn't get at home, showing her our scrapbooks, and spending time with her.

The discussions we have with her are lively and interesting and vary from herbs to history to Christianity to her childhood. We all learn new things while she is here and she brings many smiles to our day.

Once upon a time, grandma had many children, small and great, all over her lap and beside her for story time. Someone was always bringing her a book, either to read to them, or to see what we were learning or one we knew she'd love. Grandma loves to learn (I can see an inherited trait here), she still loves to learn how to take care of herself naturally. She was reading several herb books while here and wanting to try new things. I hope I still want to learn new things at 86, if the Lord grants me the years.

The highlight of her trip for most of us, was taking Grandma to the zoo. She had never been before in her life. She was exclaiming and thrilled the whole way through. I know the wheel chair ride didn't feel all that good to her, especially the bumpy terrain of some parts, but she was a trooper. I even got her to ride the train and feed the ducks and geese. We wanted to feed the giraffes too, but they weren't interested on this particular day.

I heard a speaker at the homeschool convention in Indianapolis in the spring of this year. The thing that stood out to me the most was, not to let the years pass in our childrens lives without having them learn, really learn, who their parents and grandparents are and were. Ask questions...lots of questions and learn living history.

My grandmother lived through the depression. Such neat stories she has told us. My dad went to school in an old one room school house.

Don't let the important things of each day crowd out the relationships and the memories that make our lives richer and deeper.

Thank you Grandma, we love you!

wordless wednesday-gator

2010-10-27T07:28:00.000-07:00

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Psalm 1:3

tasty tuesday ~ crepes

2010-10-26T06:56:00.000-07:00

Oh how we love crepes! This week's tasty Tuesday recipe is

Crepes

6 cups milk

6 eggs

3 tbsp melted butter

3/4 tsp vanilla extract

3 cups all purpose flour

1 1/2 tbsp sugar (we use evaporated cane juice)

3/4 tsp salt

Combine all ingredients in a bowl to form a thin batter. Spray no-stick spray in a large skillet. Let skillet heat up to medium heat for a few minutes. Pour batter into hot skillet to make a 6 inch round crepe. Tilt the pan as needed to spread the batter out. These should be very thin. Cook until edges are dry and curl up a little (up to a minute). Flip carefully and cook another 20-30 seconds. Remove while still pale.

You can butter these and sprinke with powdered sugar, although we usually just sprinkle with the sugar. Then we fill and roll up. We like to fill them with fresh berries or frozen berries made into a syrup. We also sometimes mix a package of cream cheese with a cup of powdered sugar and a little vanilla and fill with the cream and then berries and bananas. You can also serve with maple syrup or jam.

Let us know if you make them and how you like them! Our crepe maker at the cheaper by the dozen house is 12 year old Mary. Most of the other cooks aren't patient enough to take the time to cook them. Thank you Mary!

2010-10-25T12:04:00.000-07:00

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I am Very grateful for my newly cleaned out and painted laundry/sewing room. I had many diligent daughters that helped me with the project. A giant task that started as a little cleaning job. It grew and grew, and what a blessing it is to me now.

0038

DeBrands sundae. Yum. A birthday gift from one of my daughters. Tart raspberry sauce, milk chocolate sauce in a chocolate bowl with homemade vanilla ice cream. almost too pretty to eat, but not quite. Thanks Hannah!

0039

What is it about 2 year olds that is so delightful? Maybe the cheeks, or the big eyes, or the constant chatter. I know one thing for sure, you don't need tv if you have toddlers.

0040

Most of my children got free horseback rides from a friend at church as a surprise. What a blessing to them and to me. Thanks Abigail, your kindness brought such joy to so many kids that day.

0041

Katie bug was blessed by being able to be on her favorite beast. She got to have 2 lessons this summer. The next best thing to owning a horse. What a joyful day, thank you Lord for providing the means.

0042

Delighful. Busy. Beautiful. My little baby boy, 15 months, is a continual reason to give thanks. I don't deserve the way the Lord has filled my hands with so many blessings. But I gratefully and humbly take on the task each morning.

0043

Getting to spend my mother-in-law's birthday with her and all of us was a blessing. Isaiah and all the kids worked hard on art to give her. We are so grateful for all the time and love she has invested in our children. Making gingerbread houses, baking cookies, doing crafts, having tea parties...and all the special gifts she makes them; raggedy ann or andy when they are one, a birthday flag when they are two, a tea set when they are three. So many memories, one super Gramzpamz.

0044

How precious to still have my 86 year old grandmother. And how wonderful that she came to stay with us for a week. She is one of 14 children and the daughter of to full blooded Italian parents. She is such a blessing to spend time with. We had the joy and priviledge of taking her to the zoo for the first time in her life in October. I wish I had the visit on video tape. It was wonderful.

Tasty Tuesday

2010-10-05T05:43:00.000-07:00

A new idea...tasty tuesday, sharing one or more of my favorite recipes each week. As long as the Lord allows me the time, here they shall be.

Emma, my dear 13 year old is chef of the day today and has made us one of our very favorite recipes for breakfast. Lemon Tea Muffins. They are delightful with a cup of tea, and also delightful without the tea.

Lemon Tea Muffins

4 cups flour (we use 1/2 whole wheat, typically)

2 cups sugar (we use turbinado, sucanat or evaporated cane)

1 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 cup buttermilk (we use our raw milk)

1/4 cup lemon juice

1 tsp grated lemon peel, optional

1 tsp lemon extract

1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

4 eggs

1 cup oil

TOPPING:

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup flour

2 tbsp butter

Directions:

Combine dry ingredients and nuts. Then add wet ingredients, mix just until all is moistened. Put into 36 greased or paper lined muffin tins. Mix topping by combining sugar and flour and cutting in butter, until it resembles course crumbs. Sprinkle on the muffins. Bake at 400 for 12-15 minutes. These freeze well.

Enjoy!

Multitude Monday

2010-10-04T11:31:00.000-07:00

0031

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1

Fall...what a wonderful time of year. I am grateful God gives us a change of scenery 4 times a year. What a blessing to see the leaves changing colors and falling from the trees, and knowing God has a purpose in it all. What a good reminder, that no matter what we go through in our lives, God has a purpose in it all.

0032
One of my favorite times in our daily schedule is at 9 am. We gather after our quiet time, breakfast and morning chores for our Bible memory work and hymn sing time. We start with the oldest, and let them pick the hymns, and work our way down to the youngest who can read or sing. If time doesn't allow for all to pick songs, we let the next one be the first to pick the next day. We were abundantly blessed a few months ago by a local church with several boxes of hymnals they no longer used. We were thrilled! Not only enough for us and when we have large families over, but enough to share with 2 other families and still have a few extra to use in our visual journals, tore up. Thank you Lord!

0033

My precious Hopie girl, sweet sissy bear, I love her so much. She is almost 3 and not to be intimidated by having 2 brothers above her and 1 brother under her in the birth order. She can hold her own, and if you didn't know her family, would think she was a first born. She talks, and talks and talks. In beautiful little chatter. I'm quite sure she will grow up to be one of the biggest helpers I've got. We recently found out she has a heart murmur and are praying it is nothing serious and that God would heal her.

0034

Oh what a beautiful sight home canned peaches are. And they taste even better than they look. We had the blessed privilege of having Mrs Prentice help us can our 3 bushels this year. She is such a diligent server and blesses our family beyond measure with her help each Thursday. God provides in so many ways, above all we could ask or think.

0035

Here we are...on Resurrection Sunday at Grammy's house. I am grateful for our large family, with both hands full. I am grateful for in-laws willing to have us over for a wonderful meal and filling more eggs than any other human ever has in order to hide them for the children. I am grateful that we have many bouncing, jumping, running legs in our family. I am also grateful that no one got smashed in our jumping pictures. ☺

0036
Paul, darling, charming, busy, hungry, loud...repeat. I'm quite sure there has never been another like him. He is an original. Which makes every day with him new and exciting and...well...busy, and noisy. I no longer carry on phone conversations in the house. I go to the garage. You never know when a pirate, a policeman, a fire truck, an indian, or some other 'thing' will erupt into loud whoops and hollers in our home...so to be safe, I just go to the garage. And if you have ever seen our garage, well, you know that he must be very loud for me to spend any amount of time out there. ☺

Valerie Hope

2010-09-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

-Valerie Hope-

playing @ the park

2010-06-07T17:27:00.000-07:00

The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute. Proverbs 12:24

We use chore packs from Steve and Teri Maxwell's book "Managers of Their Chores". I just love them. With our big happy family, chores are a constant necessity. After a few months of doing our chore packs, the children were a little less than motivated to get their chore packs on and begin in the morning. I was talking with the Lord about this and an idea came to my mind.

When I sat down with the children at breakfast, I told them we would no longer have any desserts or treats unless it was a birthday or holiday. Then came the exception. For every chore pack card they complete, they get one point. If they do jobs over and above their chore packs they get two points, and if for every subject in school they get done, they also get a point.

I also expanded this to special events. If they get a large amount of points in a day, we can go to the park, the library, the zoo....etc... It also works in reverse, one Thursday of each month my oldest daughter organizes a volleyball/ultimate frisbee/park day for all the families at our church. The children have to have so many points to be able to attend. This week, we have a similar even and they all need 45 points to go.

Each week, Kate prints me off "chore point checksheets" to tape up on the dining room wall. Then, as the kids complete jobs, schools or extra things they put tally marks in their daily box.

Now, I my management job is a little easier and I am so grateful to the Lord for His creativity. I am also grateful to the Lord for the hands full of blessings He has allowed me to train. He must have known I'd be lazy if I had any free time ☺.

May God bless your days with creativity!

Enjoy the pictures of our park trip at the end of a high-point earning day.

yes, we stayed until dark....

Multitude Monday

2010-04-05T15:30:00.000-07:00

0021.Oh how very grateful I am for our precious first born boy. Isaiah. What a wonderful, splendid young man he is. The first boy after 8 girls, we never thought we'd see the day. We are sure glad we did. He is a delightful 5, almost 6 year old. He loves being with Mom. He also loves playing with his playmobil, his little brothers, little sister and all the big sisters God gave him. Everyone who sees him says he looks like his daddy. He looks remarkably like my dad as well.

0022.
I am so abundantly blessed by all the hand-me-downs that people have given to us. Our little James is wearing a hat and jacket given to us by friends. We have probably spent less than $50 on our 3 boys total in their lives on clothes or shoes. Isn't God good to provide for all of our needs?

0023.The first little flowers to poke their heads up in our front bed are crocuses. We have a few colors, but I'm partial to the purple ones. Aren't they beautiful?

0024. Coffee beans...beautiful little coffee beans ☺. They are the perfect pairing for chocolate. Actually chocolate, ice, milk, chocolate chips and a little Hershey's syrup...all blended together. My daughter, Kate, ground 2 pounds of beans for me to make espresso for frappuccinos at the older church kids volleyball/ultimate frisbee party a few weeks back.

0025.I have this wonderful Grandmother who is gifted with so many skills and talents. Gramma Carmen is so willing to share new things with us and even teach us to do them when we come to visit. This past fall, when we went 'up north' to visit her, she taught all of us to make hand-sewn pin cushions. Some of my daughters surprised me with how they liked/disliked hand sewing. My daughter with a custom sewing web-site HATED the hand sewing. My daughter who isn't usually patient enough for much sewing, LOVED it. Live and learn ☺.

0026. Being the mom of a super-sized family, I get the extra blessing of the many adoreable faces the kids make. 2 year olds seem to make especially cute ones...who needs tv?

0027.Thank you Lord for "chef of the day". At our house all of the girls 11 and up get a day of the week to be chef. Today is Kate's day...thank you God for Kate!

0028.Modest swimwear. I am exceedingly thankful to be able to have all my daughters go to pools and public places in modest swimsuits. One of my favorite companies is http://www.wholesomewear.com/ . They are comfortable and you actually feel dressed while swimming.

0029.We have been so blessed to attend our church, Keefer Creek Baptist Church, for 11 years now. We meet in a state-run nursing home as a ministry to the patients. This has given all of us an appreciation for all the people God has made...we are all creations of His. I am so grateful also for our Pastor and his humble, teachable spirit. He is always willing to learn from God and share with us what the Lord is teaching him.

0030.Last year at Christmas our children were all wonderfully blessed by a surprise box in the mail that contained new jammies for each of them. God gives us so much more than we deserve.

2010-04-03T12:02:00.000-07:00

Spring

wordless wednesday

2010-03-17T11:40:00.001-07:00

It is hard not to comment on this....but, tomorrow is Tell Me Thursday.

Multitude Monday- a day late :)

2010-03-16T04:06:00.000-07:00

Just because I am a day late, I am no less grateful...just busy.

0011. Paul Robert, my precious little boy, turns 4 years old today. He is child number 11 and boy number 2! He is tiny, but makes up for it with a GREAT BIG VOICE! He has a precious smile, beautiful blue eyes and this wonderful hair that looks super when it is just a little shaggy. ☺

0012. Books. I am so grateful for books and for a family that loves to read, even when they are supposed to be sleeping, or doing chores, or school. Loving to read is loving to learn. Loving to learn, and ever learning new things is the delight of this homeschool Mom. I'm so blessed!

0013. Our big family kitchen table...a gift to us from a friend's mother. Isn't it amazing how the Lord knows our needs and meets them in creative and different ways. "For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations. " Psalm 100:5

0014. Chef's of the day. At our house our oldest 5 girls take turns being chef of the day, or chef of each meal, depending upon their age, with help of youngers under them. What a joy it is to see them learning to cook new things, and enjoying the gift of blessing others with their hands. Oh, the opportunity and potential of being hospitable, encouraging and blessing our family, friends, neighbors and those who God places in our path with our cooking skills.

0015. feet. Big feet, tiny feet....lots of feet (lots of shoes to trip on if they don't get put away). God has blessed this mom above all she could ask or think with all the wonderful feet in our family...busy feet that scurry through our home from morning until evening.

0016. cloth diapers. Am I the only one that loves cloth diapers? I am pretty sure I am the only one in my family who does ☺. I really love using cloth diapers. I feel like I am doing something good for the baby as well as for creation...and it is wonderful not to have to go buy diapers too. We were blessed by a dear friend who found a whole set of them at a second hand store, many years ago, looking unused.

0017. My dad. I am so exceedingly, abundantly blessed by my wonderful Dad. He is and has always been such a good example of a kind hearted man. In business, I have seen his character being more important than a sale...in his honesty. He would give whatever he has to someone who has a need and goes to great trouble himself to help others. He even let me bring homeless people home for the holiday meals during college. Thanks Dad, I love you so much!

0018. Eighteen...I have one of those. Our first born, our first daughter is 18, almost 19. God knew exactly what go give Doug and I for our first child. She is extremely self-motivated and good at getting her 'list of things to do' done in a day. I hardly had to teach her school because she was always certain it got done and done well. She, like her mom, loves books. Or should I say LOVES books. It is delightful to see her love of learning and reading. She also is a wonderful seamstress and piano teacher. She has been doing custom sewing for 3 years and has a web-site (http://www.doodlescustomsewing.com/).

0019. Creation. As I look out the window and see the sun coming up, I am amazed at the goodness of God to give us these precious views. Precious views that change all through the day. The sounds, smells and sights of the weather as it changes through the seasons. His creation is amazing, but not nearly so amazing as He, our creator, is to me. I am humbled.

0020. Sewing. I love sewing...I have ever since I was 12. One of our birthday traditions is sewing presents for each of our children. For Paul's birthday, I am sewing him flannel pajamas. I usually sew jumpers for the girls, as they grow taller and pick their favorite colors and fabrics (aren't Joann's 50% off coupons grand?). I am also very thankful to have many sewing daughters to help me with my projects. The older daughters and I just took a crazy quilt purse making class and are finishing our creative creations. They have been great fun to make and to see the unique one of a kind color combinations and designs of all in our Keepers at Home class.

~Heather

One Thousand Gifts

2010-03-08T10:41:00.000-08:00

If you haven't been to the Holy Experience blog, I highly recommend it....fabulous...encouraging...inspirational.

One Thousand Gifts....a wonderful thought.
God has given me abundantly above and beyond all I could ask or think. I will be listing 1000 gifts from our Heavenly Father each Monday
beginning today.

0001. wonderful, beautiful, darling, handsome, oh-so-very-chubby-light-of-my-life, 8 month (today) old James...my most honest child ☺

0002. being a homeschool mom...I'm so blessed, it is hard to keep socks on.

0003.my wonderful, 15 year old, chef of Monday's in our home, Kate, friend to all creatures, great and small....today's culinary specialty from Kate will be broccoli cheese soup.

0004. God's love for me...and His Holy Spirit which enables me to pass that love on to others, by His grace.

0005. I'm so grateful for spring coming. What a blessing it is to have seasons to enjoy and a change to look forward to. Our God is infinitely wise in giving us this special gift of changing seasons.

0006. God's word...Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:105

What an incredible, unspeakable gift.

0007. Chocolate...isn't it grand...so many fabulous forms; hot cocoa, brownies, cookies, frappucinno's, Dove brand dark chocolate promises....you get the idea

0008. It is only fitting that number 8 should be my dear 8 year old Esther...who is daughter number 7. She loves books, books, and more books and has a silly sense of humor.

0009. Princess number nine (Do you remember the king of eight from Sesame Street? If you don't, we found it on a you tube search)

She has the sweetest grin, and loves it when we take her picture. She is 2, and as you can tell from her face, she loves chocolate like her mama. She is usually one step ahead of us...so we make sure we keep a close eye on her.

0010. A smile, a smile, it makes life worthwhile, a smile, precious smile Jesus gives me.

inspired

2010-02-23T17:18:00.000-08:00

My dear friend (Trisch, www.homeschoolblogger.com/neveradullmoment), sent me a blog post that absolutely *inspired* me to a higher creative level for my daily lists, to do's, menu's, antidotes, prayer notes, scripture, etc...

So, I set about to get free magazines and begin my own daily planner journal/scrapbook/homemaking journal.

Mary Elizabeth, age 11, my first recruit ☺

Fabulous!
Alaina Josephine, age 10...she especially liked the recipes and food photos.

I looked at our local freecycle and a family was giving away a big brown paper sack full of magazines, Midwest living and good housekeeping. A perfect start.

Upon bringing them home, I dumped the big stack onto our long kitchen table and began digging for that coil bound scrapbook I had from years ago, unused.

With new found journal in hand, I headed to the table to begin my crafting adventure. All my naysayer children, who thought I was crazy to do such a 'time wasting' thing, watched with interest. Before I knew it, I had several children, great and small...gathering glue sticks, scissors, Ziploc bags, and notebooks. Hours went by, snipping, smiling, laughing and exclaiming "oh, won't this be cute".

Upon gluing several treasures into my new book, I found a scrapbook pen and began my first day. Wonderful, how the daily, mundane tasks of life take on new meaning and beauty with creativity and resourcefulness stirred in. I am looking forward to making my to do lists, menus, shopping lists and such with new excitement ☺.

I absolutely adore scrap booking, and this takes it to a more daily level (for our homeschool, we scrapbook every Friday as part of art, math, Bible, history, and english...all the way down to the littlest ones who can-another post for another day). I was thrilled to see my children's enthusiasm to do this as well for their Bible journals, daily journals or five-year journals as a lovely way to record God's hand in their lives and keep precious daily memories. What a wonderful way to build gratefulness, as we see the many ways God provides, leads, blesses, and answers prayer.

What a treasure it would be to have my grandmother, or great grandmothers lists, life moments, menus. Getting a glimpse of history. Hopefully my journal will be a glimpse of history for generations to come, and my girls will enjoy creating their own to look back on as adults.

If you'd like to see where my inspiration came from check out: http://www.aholyexperience.com/2008/03/visual-homemaking-journal.html

Fun with friends!

2010-01-12T06:12:00.000-08:00

Hello! this is Mary, (5th child in the family) and I am updating for Mom. On Sunday we went sledding with our friends it was REALLY fun!! Here are some pictures =)

All of us going down =)

Valerie

Alaina

James

Getting ready to go down

Kate

Esther

Ok well thats all for now!!

Love,

mary ♥

Review: Thirsties diaper covers

2009-09-25T11:40:00.001-07:00

Review: Thirsties diaper covers

Posted using ShareThis

rose garden

2009-09-04T13:38:00.000-07:00

this is Kate again (updating for Mom). here are some pictures pictures of all of us in our matching jumpers, at a rose garden.

all of us =)

a jump pic =)

Kelsey, James (baby), Hannah, Kate,

Emily, Mary, Alaina,

Esther, Natalie, Isaiah,

Paul, and Valerie.

We had alot of fun and the pictures turned out great (I think =))

well I'll try to update again soon!
Kate<3

watermelon seeds

2009-09-03T17:27:00.000-07:00

...as I was switching the laundry this morning to wash diapers...I exclaim to all who will listen "WHY ARE THERE SO MANY WATERMELON SEEDS IN THE WASHER????" to which my dear husband immediately starts chuckling and says "that will be the title of your first book"....and Hannah says "I wondered why 3 watermelon seeds fell out of my folded shirt this morning"....welcome to my world ☺

matching jumpers

2009-08-21T16:52:00.000-07:00

Hi!

This week me (Kate her 14 yo daughter) and my Mom have been working on a set of matching jumpers for all of us girls and vests for the boys. we have about 8 done and 2 to go =) also we have to have them all done this sunday for my Dad's company picnic (a baseball game) here are some pictures!

these are a few of them.

this is a close-up of the fabric

were almost done...and alot of thanks to our friends who helped out ;) check out their blog at:
www.homeschoolblogger.com/sevensisters

well thats all for now!
Kate

the simple woman's daybook....

2009-08-17T13:25:00.000-07:00

FOR TODAY Monday August 17th, 2009

Outside my window... lots of drizzling rain

I am thinking...about how much I have to do when I am done nursing...menu plan, lesson plan, create schedules for my 12 children and I for school, clean my desk, clean my room, run laundry, start dinner....

I am thankful for...the life the Lord has given me, even if I never 'get it all done'

From the kitchen...today's lunch was chicken salad on croissants and canteloupe...still coming up with dinner

I am wearing... purple polo shirt, black nursing jumper with beautiful purple lilacs all over it

I am creating...a schedule is my most creative venture right now, besides the matching bandana jumpers we are making to match for my husbands company party this weekend

I am going...no where tonight...I already went to the midwife for my 6 week checkup and to our local amish farm for milk

I am reading..."If I am diapering a watermelon, then where'd I leave the baby"

I am hoping...to get the baby down for a nice nap and actually accomplish something besides nursing and errands today

I am hearing...my 1 year old chattering from the toilet where her 12 year old sister is taking her potty

Around the house...several of my children are in the yard picking up stuff (in the rain)that shouldn't have been left out to begin with (like diapers and shoes)

One of my favorite things...iced cafe mocha...caramel rolls with pecans

A few plans for the rest of the week:sewing, planning, cleaning, nursing and nursing and nursing

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Molly's Money-Saving Digest for August 2009

2009-08-01T08:38:00.000-07:00

I just bought and downloaded "Molly's Money-Saving Digest" for August 2009. While our budget is very lean, I knew this issue had my name written all over it.

The topic this month is organization. With a family of 14 on one income, money saving and organization are two of my favorite topics...or at least absolutely essential ones! It has 52 pages worth of helpful information covering; making your own mixes, organizing bank accounts, decorating frugally and organizing the dirty dozen (closets, garage, recipes, kitchen, mail, photos, toys, clothing, finances, school papers, bathrooms and e-books). I am anxious to get all the way through it so I can begin some organization before we start school.

Here is the link to the August Digest so you can check it out for yourself : http://www.theoldschoolhousestore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=166&products_id=11767

2009-08-01T07:47:00.000-07:00

Simple Saturday....

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

FOR TODAY -Saturday, August 1st, 2009

Outside my window...grass in our backyard that desperately needs mowed...but our family has been too busy this week with an Advanced Seminar

I am thinking...with my 3 oldest and husband gone for the day...about how challenging life was when I had 9 children ages 12 and under like I do today...especially when several have sickness and I have a 3 week old infant.

I am thankful for...precious baby James...3 weeks old and nursing all the time

From the kitchen...trying to figure out dinner right now...I am thinking pot roast, potatoes and carrots....comfort food for all my runny nose children

I am wearing... pale pink polo shirt, jumper with denim top and blue and pale pink floral skirt

I am creating...well, trying to create a new blog, not exactly sure what I am doing. Also creating birthday presents for my almost 11 year old daughter Mary....several new jumpers, she has grown out of last years birthday presents.

I am going...crazy :-)

I am reading...Eat well, lose weight, while breastfeeding, and Mummy Tummy

I am hoping...my children get better quickly, that baby won't get sick, that I can figure out a way to clean, sew, raise children, feed them, homeschool, and be a godly nurturing wife and mother before I die :-)

I am hearing...lots of children, many of who are making hot tea in the kitchen to help with their colds

Around the house...I need to go wash the cloth diapers and start the roast, my 6 year old is making the 5 and 3 year old hot cherry berry tea, my 8 year old is snuggling with the baby, my 1 year old is drinking her sippy cup of lukewarm tea, my 12 year old just got done drawing a horse picture and is going to clean the kitchen, the 10 year old is laying under all the warm towels that just came out of the dryer...trying to keep warm due to sickness, the 9 year old just jumped on top of the warm towels to join the 10 year old!

One of my favorite things...java chip frappucinos....aaahhhh

A few plans for the rest of the week:my 16 year old gets her wisdom teeth cut out (ouch), our church has their quarterly ladies lunch, and hopefully recovering from having a baby (I haven't had time for that yet).

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Greetings

2009-07-31T14:56:00.000-07:00

Hello and welcome to my little corner of the web! I didn't think I would ever blog....and now, here I am. Of course I never thought I'd have 12 children either, but the Lord knows better than I do! :-)