What we woke up to this morning!

A Teapot, a cup, and a tree!

I forgot to add these pictures!  I got these in September, but put them up in the china hutch and haven't even used them~does that mean I am a hoarder?  Oh, I hope not.  Now I am going to have to get rid of some things so that I don't get overrun with stuff!

Here is our mostly decorated Christmas tree.  I just couldn't put all the ornaments on it this year, because I didn't want to take them off later!

Sleepover pictures

Don't ask me how I know that a WHOLE BOX of pancake mix WON'T fit into this bowl!!! HEEHEE!

This is only some of the trash that was generated from only 7 girls!

The girls!  They are a wonderful group of young ladies that I enjoy having around.  I can't wait to see what God will do with their lives.

Random pictures

The tree is put up, but all it isn't completely decorated yet!

Craft Day...

The plates we made, a stone that was painted, fried pickles, scenery.  Yeah, that about covers it!

Catching up on pics

 

 

I know some of these are blurry, but I like the action of the picture!

We finally got her on video!

Our oldest dd has been singing since she was born practically!  She has an amazing talent that comes naturally and from the Lord.  She blesses us daily with her voice.  Someday we will get her to sing in public.  This is just a step in that direction!

Another year full of blessings

On Sunday our third dd celebrated another year.  She turned 8!  I can't believe that she is that old.  I vividly remember the day she was born.  We were scared for her and I because our second born was an emergency c-section.  We were being monitored carefully by the doctor.  She caused a lot of pain due to facing the wrong direction.  We should have known right then that she would be her own person!!

After she was born, she was so quiet and still.  I told Steven to stay with her because I thought something was wrong with her!  She wasn't wailing like the other girls had; she was just watching everything around her.  She would quietly study anything that came close enough for her to see. 

Her sisters fell in love with her instantly and didn't want to put her down.  :)  She continued to be a quiet baby and only cried for her basic needs.  She was doted on by her sisters and smothered in love.  She walked around 10 months but only said a few words by 1yo.  We grew concerned because the other two were talking in complete stories by 1yo.  So, we taught her sign language.  She picked it up quickly and still refused to talk.

By 18mos I was freaking out.  She would only say basic words like Mom, Dad, and cup.  I thought maybe she was delayed and prepared to take her to the doctor when she looked at me and said, "Mom, would you get me some milk?"  Just like that she was talking.  She just waited for the right time! 

She is such a quiet, reflective soul.  She is patient, kind, loving, gentle, funny, unique, tender-hearted; the list could go on.  She is also wierd!  Really.  She has a unique sense of humor and quietly sneaks her comments in just under the radar.  She can reduce her father to laughter with just a look.

We are so blessed to have her.  She brings more to our family than I could ever imagine that we needed.  Her gentle spirit blesses me daily.  I love my quiet, quirky girl!

The Holidays...

This year for Thanksgiving, we were having FOUR dinners.  Yup, FOUR.  Now, one of them was for our small group; but it counts when you have to get everything ready and kids out the door!  That one went pretty well.  There are a bunch of kids in the group and so the food went pretty quickly.  ;-)

The next dinner was the weekend before turkey day.  It was at my dad's.  We haven't had a turkey day with Dad in I don't know how many years.  On top of that, all of my siblings were there; togther, in the same house.  But the reason that is so monumentous is another story and frankly one I don't have the heart to drag out again.  I don't think my heart could handle it, so we will leave it at that.

The evening went well and there was too much food!  I tried to control myself and just have a little of each thing.  I did pretty well, but there were other people, who shall remain nameless, that had to undo their pants to get comfortable!  lol

We got to wait a week for the next dinner.  On Thanksgiving, we went to Steven's parents house.  It was loud and full and fun.  There are ten grandkids between four families.  (we have the most kids!)  Two more are on the way.  (no, we are not one of the expecting couples.  that's not even funny.)  We didn't do too much snacking, but we completely pigged-out on the dinner!  Then, the desserts were brought out and then I had to undo my pants! 

Two Pumpkin Rolls was devoured in about ten minutes.  That doesn't include the Pumpkin Pies!  We rounded off the day with football.  It doesn't get better than that.  Well, okay it would have had the Cowboys lost.  But, you can't have everything!

The last dinner was at our house with my family. (my mom and step-dad)  I have hosted Thanksgiving before, it's not usually a big deal.  This year, however, I had to cook the turkey.  Seriously.  Every year, we alternate the buying and cooking of the turkey and each year I have successfully given the job of cooking it to someone else.  They finally caught on to me and I was stuck.

I bought the turkey and was proud of myself for buying the biggest one I could find-23lbs!  I talked to my mom every day leading up to the big moment for advice, instruction, and encouragement.  I really didn't want to mess up the main dish.  On top of that, Robin, was demanding to have copious amounts of turkey!  No pressure.

I set the turkey out to thaw, put it back in the fridge overnight and prepared the kitchen for the next day.  The older two girls were spending the night with friends until we got a call at midnight saying that our 10yodd blew chunks all over their carpet!  Yum!  Steven went and retrieved the offending child and I proceeded to stay up all night holding her hair back. 

When 4am came I decided that I would start the turkey on low and try and go back to sleep.  Steven could take over barf duty for a while.  I called my mom at 5am(she said I could) to make sure that I remembered everything and to warn them about the barfing.

Sleep came very quickly and I woke to the smell of turkey.  mmmm  It was 8:30am and I had just enough time to get the rest of the things before everyone got there.  Or so I thought.

I was on a roll, when I noticed that the turkey was really smelling...done.  There was no way.  We had worked out the time and it was supposed to take until noon to get done.  It was only 9am.  I picked up the lid and was greeted with the bare bones where turkey meet used to be.  I froze.  What did I do now?

Mom showed up and I quickly ushered her over to the turkey.  She immediately pronounced the turkey done.  We could have Thanksgiving breakfast if we wanted.  ugh

How in the world did I cook a 23lb turkey that quickly?  Who knows!  We finished up all the rest of the food and let the turkey rest.  It all worked out and if I do say so myself, it was delicious!

Now, that all of the turkey day celebrations are over, I realize that Christmas is fast approaching and I don't have anything done.  I'm not ready; at all.  Do you think they will postpone it for me for a few more weeks?   Nah, I didn't think so!

Soccer Pictures 2009

Not so long ago...

I found these pictures recently.  I had forgotten all about them!