Posts filed under 'My Life'
SQUASH and other seasonal frivolities
See the picture on my header? That’s just the first of three squash shopping excursions… We have this need to eat squash at the moment, it seems… I don’t even LIKE squash. Its ok. I want to like it. I know it’s good for me…
We had had regular baked squash, stuffed squash (like stuffed green peppers kind of, but squash), a new pumpking soup which was REALLY yummy, pumpkin blondies (not that great but the frosting? oh my!! maple cream cheese), great pumpkin cookies… which weren’t great. Here’s the stuffed squash:
I have another 15 or so recipes I am hoping to try! 
So far we have eaten a small jack-o-lantern pumpkin that we stuffed (will try a different kind next time!), a blue kuri squash, a sweet mama, and another I forget…
Here’s an updated picture of the kitchen sill… check out the cool turban squash on the left… its multi colored and… turban shaped
In other news… Bryan cleaned the outside of my windows. Yes. It is news-worthy!! We’ve talked about it for a long time, he inherited the monster ladder from Big Grandpa, and I feel thoroughly loved, besides my days being literally brighter!
The garage is cleaned out and I am now parking inside… which is fabulous as it was 18 degrees this morning. Its so brown and dreary, and we are READY for some snow to brighten up the landscape!!! Anytime now!!
Yesterday, Bryan got called in to take an ‘on-call’ day. Which worked out great since Talia doesn’t sleep anymore since she has been sick… so I slept in. YEAH! Then after a late coffee, we played Farkle (basically Zilch, or Krunch… depending on what you called the dice game you grew up with). Had an early lunch since, somehow we forgot to feed the kids breakfast. (could be because they didn’t get up til NINE!! ?!?) oops! LOL. and then Bryan and the boys made nunchuks after lunch while the girls and I napped and did laundry. What a wonderful, wonderful day! I love home schooling!!
Add comment October 30, 2009
Baby Girl…
April 20, 9:48pm
7 pounds, 12 oz. 21 inches long.
LOTS of hair.
Awesome Labor, ending of course with the getting her out part, which was thankfully short!! But the whole experience was really so much better than the first V-BAC, a nurse which helped out tremendously with helping me find different positions… and my Dr stayed on even though it wasn’t his turn to be on call, he came anyway. I love my Doctor!! He was a wonderful coach through the pushing at the end part. Later after I had gotten up and showered I looked in the mirror… no pitikia! (I don’t know how you spell it – but last time I was white as a sheet and polka dot red all over my face, neck and chest, arms and back) . I felt much better than last time, and everything feels as if its healing much quicker…
OH you want a name??
I think she does too, as her brother calls her Yoda, and I keep calling her Shand (oops!)… its narrowed down now… I was going to post pics, but Shand is awake, and I bet she’d appreciate a few minutes with me without the baby awake!! Pics to come this evening… PROMISE!! Yes, those are her perfect little feet on the header.
8 comments April 25, 2009
no baby yet
each night I am SURE it is THE night!! After all, Bryan and I are doing OUR part to help it happen!! I just say I have a happy husband right now… sorry… TMI?
My back continues to ache and hurt, but after to chiro visits, I’m waiting until after the baby comes. I’m obsessive over getting the dishes done and keeping the floor picked up. The kids don’t know what’s up!!
The problem is, if the laundry is all caught up, then the baby doesn’t come, and then its not caught up again! and I dusted, and now it is dusty again… ??!?!?
This whole waiting game has given MANY opportunities for conversations about birthing with the kids. Keenan has had far FAR too much time to come up with detailed questions… not settling for anything but detailed answers… sigh.
Thaddeus asked me this morning,” Mom do you wish you were a boy so you didn’t have to have pain? Then you could just do Civil War and basketball and go hunting”. Right. I told him I’d MUCH rather have a baby than go to war, and I could do the other two things as well as have a baby!!
Here is my theme verse for the month… maybe the year… or the whole of my parenting life maybe?
James 1:20 “The anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.”
and
James 2: 12-13 “So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.”
Come on contractions!!! I’m READY!! have a good rest of your week…
8 comments April 16, 2009
A Simple Woman’s Daybook
The emotional pregnant woman’s version…
- Outside My Window… brown trees. white skies. It did dust snow this morning. Its just warm enough to make things a wee bit icy and expose the random dog poop in the yard. But not warm enough to convince me spring is coming.
- I am thinking… of the time I’ve wasted stressing and crying all week. And how I love my patient husband while he deals with pregnancy hormones. And how I can’t… but I must… but I can’t… but I must… wait for these dang renovations to FINISH already!!
- I am thankful for… maybe we should have started with this one… there is so much, REALLY, I’ll have to erase all my whining if I start. I’m thankful for frozen blueberries that feed my sweets craving. (don’t admire me… I already ate chocolate, marshmallows and drank hot chocolate)
- From the learning rooms…ummm. Leap Frog DVDs. Mia Math CD Rom. Does that count? Its been a hard week. We did get a castle made and some books read about castles…
- From the kitchen… oh yes. the kitchen. Let’s list what is NOT in the kitchen. Dishwasher. Sink. COOKTOP!!! Since Saturday. I am so tired of toast and cereal. And washing all my dishes by hand (The other side of that should go in the thankful paragraph – also very thankful for my electric griddle I got for Christmas this year… it is WELL worn). BUT needing to cook something other than pancakes, quesadillas and grilled cheese… I guess I will start digging into the cooking I’d been freezing for when the baby comes… Fajitas tonight. From the freezer.
- I am wearing…Black yoga pants (pregnancy happies) and my pink t-shirt that makes me look like a big pink marshmallow. Not pretty.
- I am creating… lists of totschool type activities for Shand so she gets a little quality time with mom.
- I am going…insane. Oh, I don’t think that means mentally…
- I am reading…A book about a Spelling Bee. Really good actually. Bryan found it at the hospital and brought it home for me. Just finished Irresistable Revolution… LOVED it…
- I am hoping… to have a stove top this weekend. for Bryan to miraculously make a bunch of extra money to cover the hearing aids and the ridiculous number of extra costs and extra time everything is taking on the renovation end. And miraculous intervention from the Spirit to take thoughts captive, whether they are hormonal or not, and bring this woman to PEACE.
- I am hearing…thumping of downstairs music. (this is when it’s not fun having a triplex) and Thad playing On the Bubble (Trouble) by himself, waiting for me.
- Around the house… we’ve covered that. piles of stuff waiting to be installed. piles of tools waiting for Shand’s fingers to discover. piles of stuff to be taken to the dump.
- One of my favorite things… the technology of texting we recently discovered… It is so great on hard days… Bryan and I text each other constantly. Sometimes desperate for prayer. Sometimes flirting and making each other laugh and blush. Sometimes udpating on the routine aspects of life.
- A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Its almost over… My plans are to get through it loving the littles, and hope for something better next week.
5 comments March 13, 2009
Pregnancy and Renovations
I think I am the puffiest I have ever been while pregnant. I have my first… VARICOSE vein!! My dr says its because this is the first pregnancy I have been on my feet for most of it.
Whatever the reason, I’m really, REALLY looking forward to having this baby. As long as my bathroom and kitchen are finished.
We’ve been without a cooktop and sink since Saturday. The counters went in yesterday, so hopefully I’ll get a cook top in today. Last night I went to Home Depot and bought a new sink, because the original one has a bunch or rusty stuff that we can’t get replaced… so I get a white cast iron sink after all. I would rather have NOT spent the money. We are feeling WAY over extended. Sigh.
We get the final fittings for Keenans new hearing aids. We just got the ‘medium’ quality ones for $4500. That’s all. I still can’t get over the fact that insurance doesn’t cover any portion of hearing aids… Do they think they are cosmetic or something?
And and the glass block in the bathroom will hopefully be finished today.
Floors go in Monday.
It’ll be so nice to have my bedroom back… all the cupboards and drawers back in and the tools out, and the be able to take my 3rd trimester naps on my bed!!
It really will look nice, even though it has taken twice as long as they said, and I cringe to think at the final total! But I keep reminding myself, we got strong leading that this WAS the time to go ahead… and we scrimped in every area we could, which meant when upgrades were necessary because of available materials, etc.
Oh I am rambling. I’ll just be glad to have it done.
and to find my ankles again.
3 comments March 12, 2009
rescheduling… finding the balance
I find it quite absurd that I’m making new schedules and new curriculum for Thad and activity plans for Shand when come the April I’ll probably throw it all away after I die trying to do it.
Until then… oh yeah… the schedules and plans and routines are rocking in a laid-back, take-the-day-as-it-comes way. Most days.
OK. Some days.
Once again. Finding the Balance.
I was singing to Jesus in the car my own little made up song. It went something like this.
I’ve tried schedules and new shelves
I’ve tried internet and self help guides
I’ve tried chocolate and too much coffee
But only You can satisfy.
Only You are what I need.
THAT is why I don’t write songs! But when you are singing to Him in the car, rhyming and rhythmic meter doesn’t matter. The words work only in the context of my life. I just thought it was rather humorous, so thought I’d share.
You TOO can write your own songs to Jesus!!
3 comments March 1, 2009
And the award for “fastest butt wiper” goes to…
MYSELF!!
Yes, it’s true, apparently, according to my 5 yr old. As I’m sitting on the tub while Shand has a bath and Thad ‘does his thing’ on the pott… he compliments me… no, he SHOWERS praise over me for my fast and proficient butt-wiping skills. “You’re the fastest butt wiper in the ‘whirl-erd) (world)” “You wipe butts better than anyone that I ever knew!!”
And my heart melts and I offer to wipe his butt for yet another year. KIDDING!! We ARE still encouraging COMPLETE independence in this area… even when it results in clogged toilets…
4 comments February 1, 2009
The Unbalanced, Chaotic and Tired Woman’s Daybook
Here’s today’s version
SNOWING… we should be out in it. That’s for later. Right now, we’ll enjoying it falling from inside, and enjoy the cozy feeling it gives!
The kids play Go Fish. How did I manage to get Keenan to take over my hand?
And a tape of a concert Bryan and I went to whiel we were in college of Lemonade Stand. The probably never ‘made it’, and I doubt are together anymore. But they were awesome. The kids danced non-stop for three songs. (Ska… LOVER OF SKA… that’s me!)All the bathroom / kitchen decisions made yesterday during the Hardware Store 5 hour marathon with children… hoping we made good choices! Prepping for dinner, prepping for leading worship at Prayer Mountain tonight, what to pick up for a 1st b-day party this afternoon, whether to continue doing school work or skip due to all the prep work I need to do!
Jesus, and his gentle, if painful at times, purifying process. I am thankful for pajamas. And microwaves to warm up coffee!
Grilled cheese and tomato sandwiches about to be made, dishes pretty much finished. chicken thawing on the counter in hopes of me doing something creative with it. (don’t count on it, chicken!)
***
space in our day for play. time to read and time for baths. more fat and cellulite.
pajamas. still. Sorry Fly Lady, I am NOT your girl!
to a 1st b-day party. Then on a walk in the snow… got to get that outside time!!
Then home for dinner. Then to pick up babysitter and off to Prayer Mountain.***
We picked out some fabulous inexpensive lovelies yesterday for the bathroom… Wait till you see the before / after pics.
to continue my relaxed attitude towards school, and that it won’ t result in unlearned children… just a more relaxed home
The laundry is put away after almost a week. Guess its time to start washing again. Our bedroom has all the master bathroom stuff in it, and there is a thin layer of dust everywhere from all the gutting…
***
One of my favorite things …
fresh snow covering dirty snow.
Soccer. Pick out music to play for a friend’s wedding. Choose set for Sunday’s worship gathering. clean enough of the house and then find time to read and relax in that portion of it.
2 comments January 30, 2009
new inspiration
My problem with new inspiration is going beyond being inspired to ACTING OUT the inspiration.
I’m inspired to simplify. I’m inspired to get outside every day. I’m inspired to create with the kids… or at least provide a good place for THEM to create. I’m inspired to read and read with my children. I’m inspired to observe my children and respond accordingly. I’m inspired to make three meals a day most days, and eat nutritionally. Heck, I’m even inspired to exercise!! kind of.
And then there’s reality, where I’m stuck in my rut. STUCK IN MY RUT. And I wonder if third trimester pregnancy is the best time or the worst time form new paths. Will the new baby help that all along (since supposedly the result is happier house, children, etc.) or will I long desperately for my old ruts.
Just thinking about my inspiration. And writing about it. And still not acting upon it.
2 comments January 21, 2009
In-laws and Crockpots
And they are related how?
Just in case anyone was wondering how I was doing in the cooking department… Got it today. (thank you MIL for finding the sales!!) its a 6qt programmable one. LOVELY ! And a great price.
Around Christmas time we decided we needed to spend some more time with the in-laws… geared around the kids, but we’ll be there too, so they aren’t overwhelmed with the babysitting and unable to enjoy the time. Especially when number 4 comes along!!
SO, once a month, on a Monday, (unless we change it, which is allowed according to the rules!! ) we have a grandma-grandpa play date… followed or preceded by dinner. This month we were supposed to go bowling, followed by home-made pizza. But a certain little girl who was desperate for a nap, napped a REALLY long time, and then we realized we’d be in rush hour traffic, etc. SO we switched it to Wii racing and home-made pizza.
It was a lovely time, and we are looking forward to this new tradition each month, coming up with some creative things to do together.
It warms my heart to see them interacting. Its good…
2 comments January 17, 2009
