Bedtime Stories

I was going through Sabine's projects and school work tonight. I have been letting it pile up for awhile now. So due to the fact that we are headed back to visit family I decided to prepare them for the trip. We will bless the lives of our family with her beautiful works of art. Anyway, separating the save from the recycle and ran across this:







I laughed so hard I almost wet myself!! Pretty much every night after I put them to bed I hear them jabbering away. I can't really hear what they are saying, just that they are talking. So apparently, this is what has been going on.

On another note. I got my haircut on Wednesday. It's shorter then I usually get it. I also trimmed Anika's hair. It seems that Anika must be cuter than myself because everyone seems to be noticing Anika's cute haircut, but not mine. But that's okay...I'll get over it. Maybe next week they'll notice.

A couple of things

So here is another masterpiece by Sweetie Heart. It had water spilled on it, so some of the color ran. Curse you washable markers. I love you...I hate you...but mostly I love you. I forgive you...this time.



I do need to say that she is not coming up with these ideas and drawing them all by herself. Yes, she has natural ability. It is being enhanced by taking a drawing class after school. It is called Young Rembrandt's. It teaches the language if art as well as technique. She loves it! And it really is getting her out of her art"box."

Here's a picture of Sweet Girl. Isn't she adorable. And she loves her some books.



Yes, those are football helmets on her pajamas. She calls them her cookie jammies. And, no I am not a football fan. I am a cheap fan. Girls pajamas on eBay cost a lot more. I could get 4 pair of cute girl color feetie jammies for what I paid for 8 pair of boy feetie jammies. Besides she just sleeps and them and doesn't know the difference. I do admit that I put her in the red jammies (also with 2 small football helmets on the chest) for Christmas. Because, you know, pictures.

Lastly, I was tagged by my sister to do the book tag.

Here are the rules:

1. Pick up the nearest book (at least 123 pages)
2. Turn to page 123. Find the 5th sentence
4. Post the 5th sentence on your blog
5. Tag 5 people

Believe it or not, I had to get up and grab a book from the bookshelf. I picked the first one on the top shelf. This is a kids' book of miscellaneous information. It's called The Knowledge Factory: A lot of facts about a lot of things. The 123 page is about motorcycles.

It works: but wear on the rotors, poor fuel consumption, and high emissions counts against it.

I don't think I have enough reads to tag people specifically. So I'm tagging anyone with a blog who hasn't done it yet. Cheers!

The Artist

No not that one. I think this one is much better. Of course, she is mine. So let's just set back and enjoy a few of the amazing pieces of art that have been created at the hands of my amazing Sweetie Heart.







And here she is. Isn't she beautiful?!



Let us not forget that she's only 5 3/4 years old.

Hey old lady!

The other morning sweetie heart was getting ready for school. It was raining a little bit and I told her to get her umbrella. It's one of those kid sized umbrellas with a hooked end.


Sweetie Heart: (hunching up a bit with umbrella hook side up) I'm an old woman.

me: Put on your backpack.

SH: But old women...yeah old woman wear backpacks.

me: They do?

SH: Yeah, you wear a backpack.

me: (chuckle) So...I'm an old woman?

SH: Well... you're an old lady.

me: Thanks, young lady.


So I guess to a 5.75 year old, an almost 34 is an old lady. So here's to all you old ladies out there. May you become an old woman in many years. Of course, to my daughter that might be next year. Here's a picture of the old lady now, taken by the young lady (if you couldn't tell by the angle.) That's her art in the back ground.

WFMW: Best Ever Measuring Cup

Every kitchen should come equiped with one of these. It is a must have! I know it is a little weird to sing the praises of a measuring cup. But look at this thing! It is awesome! My grandma gave me one of these when I was a teenager. I loved baking even then. I fell in love. I don't think I could live without one of these.
It is perfect for oil and honey and all those other sticky things that are impossible to get completely out of your normal measuring cup. You just push it and it scrapes down the sides. You can also measure multiple ingredients at the same time. Plus as an added bonus you can also use it to convert cups to tablespoons, etc. Awsome! And that's what works for me. For other helpful hint visit Shannon @ Rocks in My Dryer

Tribute

I love BNL! this is a really great video. One of many on youtube. Check them out!

WFMW- Delicious Turkey

Tired of the same old turckey every year? Tired of dry turkey? If you like garlic, you will love this easy recipe! I found this recipe for chicken so I increased the recipe. Everyone raved over it! This recipe is for a 3-4lb chicken so increase it according to the size of your bird.

Delicious Turkey

1 teaspoon dried Rosemary
2 teaspoons Salt
1 Tablespoon coursely chopped Garlic
2 Tablespoons Extra Vergin Olive Oil

Mix together and rub between the skin and flesh. It's a little harder to get to the legs and thighs, but if you cut the skin a little you can use a spoon to get some in there. If there is any left over throw it in the cavity of the bird. If there is time to let it marinate great, if not no problem. Cook your bird as you normally would. This makes the meat nice and moist and very flavorful. I hope this will make your Thanksgiving even more tasty!
For more helpful hints visit Shannon @ Rocks in my Dryer

What about Christmas?

With all the recalls I'm afraid of what is already in the house let alone bringing more China made palstic or lead filled paint into our home. Thankfully we tend to not give too many toys and other gifts at Christmas. I absolutely love Magic Cabin but they are a bit expensive. However, if you plan to buy less then you can spend more on better toys. I tend to give clothes, pajamas, books, educational games and a toy. Here is a great list of lead free retailers or you can look at my side bar for a list as well. You could also make some gifts. I found some cute ideas at Angry Chicken she also has a list on non China made toy retailers. Look at the cute home made toys. They look like they are pretty easy to make and inexpensive too. I'm thinking about making the super simple doll house and the clothes pin dolls. Maybe we can get ideas from others. Over here Don't Try This At Home will be hosting a holiday shopping carnival next week. so check that out too.So what are you going to do about Christmas, or any other gift giving holiday, this year?

And the Winner is...

Valerie at comcast. I had so many responses, I wish I had more to give away. Of course, now that I'm blogging I give things away whenever I want.

One Year...

One year ago we made a tremendous leap of faith. We sold our home and moved. We didn't just move, we moved away from our families. We moved away from our friends. We moved away from what we knew. We moved to New England without my husband having a job. We didn't have an apartment until a week before we moved. We sold our house even though we lost money. Why? you ask me. Well, that's where the faith comes in. We moved here becuase we were supposed to. It isn't that we didn't have the desire to move here, we have wanted to move to New England for five years. Whenever DH said we should move, I reasoned that now was not the time. Whenever I said we should move, DH reasoned why we should wait. Like I said this went on for 5 years!

A year ago this past April, we began to really feel that maybe it was finally time. We came for vacation and we knew! We just knew it was time. And why not now? Our children weren't in school yet. We finally realized that we don't have to retire to life the life we want. We want to raise our children in a small town. We want to live a slower, simpler life. When we lived in Ohio, or any other of the bigger cities we've lived in, I felt so busy. I was driving somewhere practically on a daily basis. I went to 2-3 grocery stores each week because I had about 10 within a 5 minute drive. There was always something to do or some where to go, and I went and did.

When we moved here we sold my husbands car. I completely shut him down the first time he suggested it. How could I get around without a car? How would I survive? The second time he suggested it I shut him down again, but then decided to hear him out. He reasoned that I was too busy. That I was too busy because I could be. We had been making inspired decisions since deciding to move so I agreed to the sale of his car on two conditions.... First, we had to live in town, a town with a library, grocery store, a bank...all the necessities. Second, if it wasn't working out with one car we would get another. I was skeptical that it would work. Do you know what happened, I found out that a simpler life is so much better. This past year I have walked with the kids pretty much every where. We live in a small town, blocks from town so nothing is more then a 20 minute walk. I've been cold, I've been hot, I've been wet with rain and sweat, and I have gotten exercise almost everyday. I've stayed in shape. I've gotten out in the sun and soaked up the vitamon D. I've stayed home and gotten things done and done nothing but play with the kids. I have realized that there are very few occasions that I have actually needed a car.

We came home from vacation and I started to pack up the house. We put our house on the market and waited...and waited...and waited. We came to a stand still. We questioned why it was taking so long. When the buyers walked in the door, I knew they would buy our place. When they withdrew their offer, I still knew they were our buyer. I have always been the one in the backseat when it comes to this kind of thing. Tell me when to show up to sign the papers and I'll be there. Do not ask me to negotate. But in this case, my husband worked at night, so I had the relationship with the other realtor. I had been prepared to make the negotations. The Issue? A furnace. If you've ever replaced a furnace you kow how expensive they can be. It was replaced and I called the realtor. As DH says, I have a more calming disposition (when I want to.) So I was able to get things Back on track. Yes, we lost money on the sale, not just from the furnace but from renovations. Was it a tough decision, yes! But when you know that you are supposed to do something you have to do it. When the path has been prepared, you have to walk it. Sometimes it's about walking into the darkness, in faith, knowing that you are being lead into the light. I lived a year being so inspired. It was wonderful. I am not as inspired now as I was then, but I don't need to be. I was filled to over flowing when I needed it the most. And now I am reaping the blessings of following the path our Heavenly Father knew we needed to walk. I can see why we have lived every where we have lived. I see how the Lord used me to help others who needed me and how others have helped me. I have walked some very dark paths with friends, only to have come with them back to the light. Most of all I have learned and experienced the things that will continue to bless my life and allow me to bless the lives of others. I do not pretend to be perfect. I am very far from that. I am trying, though, to be the best I can be. I make mistakes and I repent and try to be better. May we all live the inspired lives we were ment to live.