MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!! We had to catch a moment to get a family picture this year. This was taken at Mama's house and she managed to get one of all of us looking in the same direction!!!
Such a hard thing to do with all the little ones. Maybe one year we will have a portrait done with us all dressed up and looking glamorous....but this year we are just blessed to get a picture where all the kids are dressed...and we are thankful!!!! Blessings to all of you this Christmas!!!!!

A few changes have happened in our house in the last week. The first is that Robby has started at a new school, which he loves. The second is that I have decided to go back to school!!!! I am excited and anxious at the same time. I will be going to evening classes for Massage Therapy. I am still waiting to see how this will all work out. I will be on the go from 6 am till whenever I can fall into bed. And yes the reason I have a picture of white shoes is becasue I will have to wear them to school, along with white scrubs.....hmmmm white and little children....should be fun!!!
Here is a picture of Robby all ready to go to school this morning.

It was actually cold for a change!

oh and hey does anyone have a clue where I put my highschool diploma???

apparently they need that......oh dear.

SAY PLEASE........

Bethany is our quiet child. In fact it isn't unusual for us to still here people say they have never heard her speak. Which is funny because she can talk my leg off when she wants to. 2 nights ago we were out Christmas shopping and it was getting late. I was starting to sense that if we didn't get them all home soon, that I would lose it. You know that frantic count down in the back of every mom's brain that starts sounding the alarm that a melt down is coming. Troy had Jack with him in the cart and I had the other 3 in the ornament isle trying to not let them touch everything...HA! So I said to Bethany " Bethany, hold my hand" and I was ignored, a talent she has down to a science! So I repeated myself 4 TIMES!!! Finally she looked up at me with her big blue eyes and said with all seriousness "Mommy I am trying, but you haven't said please". sigh, mommies....practice what you preach!!!!!

Oh well, I’m tired and so wearyBut I must go aloneTill the lord comes and calls, calls me away, oh yesWell the morning's so brightAnd the lamp is alightAnd the night, night is as black as the sea, oh yes
There will be peace in the valley for me, some dayThere will be peace in the valley for me, oh Lord I prayThere'll be no sadness, no sorrowNo trouble, trouble I seeThere will be peace in the valley for me, for me
Well the bear will be gentleAnd the wolves will be tameAnd the lion shall lay down by the lamb, oh yesAnd the beasts from the wildShall be lit by a childAnd I'll be changed, changed from this creature that I am, oh yes
There will be peace in the valley for me, some dayThere will be peace in the valley for me, oh Lord I prayThere'll be no sadness, no sorrowNo trouble, trouble I seeThere will be peace in the valley for me, for me

My week has been anything but fun. We had a scare with the possible mumps....
thank goodness it wasn't! However all the kids are snot nosed and cranky and
my poor immune system finally gave in and I felt really awful for a few days.
By the way, as I am writing this I am hearing all the toy bins being emptied
one after another on the wood floor...sigh, but I have no more energy to bother
with it right now. Yesterday was a "sneak outside and cry my frustrations out
then back in before any kids noticed I was gone" kind of day, to change another
diaper and wipe another nose. This morning was the icing on the cake...loaded 4
children into the van...and what do you know, I think we might actually make the
doctors appointment on time...but the van won't start!!!! So back out of the car
with Robby trying to diagnose the problem... which I admit at that particular
moment was NOT helpful. So back into the house, which is a total wreak....if I
could find the phone number of our maid...I'd call her and give her a piece of my
mind. (HA!)

Always thinking of the bugs....Robby seems to have a love hate relationship with critters. He either wants to put them in his pockets or he is having nightmares about them crawling in his bed. This morning Robby came to me and said "mommy I needed to get this toilet paper " then he held up a handful of crumpled toilet paper "so I could get the bug so the spider wouldn't have so much work to do". huh????? was my reply as I was still working on my first cup of coffee and still trying to wake up from the pm cold medicine I had taken last night.
So of course I asked him to explain how exactly he was "helping" the spider. Apparently he saw the bug and thought that he'd help out the "spiders of the world" because it is, after all their job to rid his bed of bugs (can you hear a mommy midnight "everything is OK go back to bed the spiders are our friends" talk in there somewhere???!!!) and he was going to "take care of this bug" so he could give the spiders a break from their "hard work"!!!!

Oh the mind of a little boy is such a wonderful thing! Do you think God made them that way so just when you think you might really lose it on them they say something so cute and amazing that you just melt all over again for them?

I think a bird flew threw the house, at least that would explain the looks on their faces!!!
sweet cousins, dear friends.
brotherly love!!!! my boys
Madelyn playing outside before the feast.
More Brotherly love.......my dear brothers!

A slight glimpse of our Thanksgiving day.....we are SO BLESSED!!!!

A little taste of home.
As a young girl I used to talk walk down to our local sari-sari store (a little shack type building with candy and soda and other misc. things) one of my favorite breads could also be bought there, and if you got there early enough you could buy them while they were still warm.
I was reminded of Pandesal when I was eating a roll last night, don't know why then...but it got me thinking that I wish I could have a warm pandesal right out of the oven...so the search began for the recipe....and I found it!!!!




Pan de Sal
1 tbsp. vegetable shortening1 tbsp. salt1 tbsp. sugar1 cup boiling water1 tbsp. active dry yeast4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour4 ounces plain crackers, crumbled (about 40 crackers)

Combine the shortening, salt, sugar, and boiling water in a large mixingbowl. Stir and set aside to cool to a warm temperature (about 110-115F).
Combine the yeast and warm water in a small bowl, stirring until yeast isdissolved. Set aside for 5 minutes. Gradually mix in flour to make adough.
Turn out on a lightly floured surface.
Knead for 8 to 10 minutes, untildough is smooth and elastic, adding flour as necessary to preventstickiness. Return it to the bowl.
Cover with plastic wrap and let rise ina warm place until doubled in bulk--about 45 minutes.Preheat oven to 425F.
Flour two baking sheets.Gently knead the dough again. Divide into 16 pieces and shape into buns.Roll the pieces in the cracker crumbs and place on the baking sheets, spreadwell apart. Cover and let rise 20 minutes. Bake for 15 minutes.
Transferto a wire rack to cool.

I had the chance to go to a WOMAN OF FAITH conference at the beginning of this month. It was so much fun!!!! Here is a picture of my friend and I sitting in the sun finishing our lunch. It was such an amazing time, we already have our tickets for next year!!!

Jack is now 18months old. He is into everything and has some spunk that the others didn't have at this age. He is our first to do an "all out temper tantrum". Yesterday I had to take something away from him, and he ran into the dining room and threw himself on the floor and started screaming and kicking....which I IGNORED.... So when that didn't work he pick himself up and ran over to me, threw himself at my feet and proceeded to kick and scream....someone tell him that he is number 4, and he'll have to try a lot harder than that to get his way.

I came across this old poem I had written in high school. It was tucked away in an old sketch book in a box in the garage. I found it while looking for our expired passports...but that is a whole other story. I read it over and it reminded me oh how easily out faith can be questioned and how frail the human mind is. I don't think that my original thought was to express that, but now that I am in a different place in my life its meaning changes. My children are all sick, except for Jack, we are approaching thanksgiving day and my prayer is that they will all be well by then....but in the midst of the crying and coughing and sneezing and did I mention crying...it is sometimes hard to see the sun. So I think I will put on some sweet music and forget the piled laundry that is overtaking my house, over look the daily grind and spend a moment warming myself in the warmth of the SON who gives me strength.

Tomorrow

I open my eyes to the breaking of dawn, I sense the warmth all around,

safe inside its soft rays.

The peaking of the sun lite sky, over taking my loneliness

Leaving no trace of it behind.

I laugh and celebrate in its warm caress.

All the time believing that I'll forever be free, happy and safe.

The it happens, all to quickly, I cry and beg it not to go.

But unaware of my plea's it fades into the far distance.

As I sink to the ground and hold my own trembling body,

I close my eyes to the cold night air.

So scared, so alone.

Only if we were to see that tomorrow holds a better, brighter sunlight for us.

But in our nature we cannot see, but only wallow in our own misery.

Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

I feel lately that I am having an inner struggle, well actually it is probably very evident on the outside as well, with myself. I feel like I am always saying one thing and then asking for the opposite. Mainly in the subject of my children and having them grow up. Go to bed, oh let me snuggle with you a bit longer. I hope they sleep in, I can't wait for them to wake up to see this...

Won't it be great when he is in school ALL DAY LONG, I miss him and wish he were here to help me like he used to...by "matching" all the socks. I can't wait till they sleep though the night, where did that sweet baby smell go? I wish they would color in the lines, or anywhere but on the walls....why are you so worried about every little detail? (that one would be for the first born perfectionist). Grow up, where did my baby go? My guess is that I am not the only mom out there feeling this odd pull. One day when my sweet hubby and I are on our in a quiet neat house, and all the children are grown and off on their own we will look back and say how much we miss that....... a little to close to it today, but I know one day....one day!

Feeling like I was about to loose what little sanity I had left today, I thought I'd do what I love and paint...it worked....I'm still hanging on by a thread!!! yeah for me! it's a bug a blue bug, and I love him. :)

I know these are late but they are still cute.
I will have to wait for family to send the other pictures of the kids, but these
are they ones I have been send so far...I need to get my camera back. :)

I have another quote from Robby...it was just to funny not to share.
Last weekend I ran to the store to get a cooked chicken for dinner and I
had Robby with me. I placed the chicken in the cart and Robby looked at
it and asked me "mommy do they tie the legs together so the chicken
doesn't flop around while it's cooking?" - I almost died laughing, so I had
to make a quick call on the matter and either become a vegetarian and put
the chicken back, or say "no honey" in my most controlled "mommy voice"
and ramble some short explanation about cooking and change the subject.
Oh he makes me laugh!!!!

BOOOOO!!!! We all had so much fun creating our

first jack-o-lantern as a family. The kids were elbow deep

in pumpkin slime, but it was worth it!

Look - Pictures!!!! My dear sweet hubby was kind enough to figure out how to load the pictures from my phone to the computer...isn't he sweet! So here are some of the many hot banana peppers that came out of the garden this week. I was at somewhat of a loss as to what to do with them, due to mismarked seedlings I was "blessed" with more than enough peppers. So I chopped them up and froze them.... and I'll let my imagination take over one day while making dinner. Maybe stirfry or chill?! Any thougths?

I have decided to be creative in sharing with you all. There are ways around the lack of a camera to still share with you all what my latest plans are. I wanted to find a way to share a little bit of love with those I know, and maybe those I don't know this fall season. I came across this beautiful idea this morning and love it! Now sorry but most of you that are reading this will not recieve this little bundle, but it's not that I don't love you or didn't think of you, it's just that well...I don't think the postal service will be delicate enough with them. What am I talking about? well hold on, be patient. First you have to imagine a leaf cookie with fall cardstock. Totally confused? Well follow this link and you will understand.

http://www.justasiam.typepad.com/

Take care!

My dear faithful readers,

ha ha ha
I bet all of you have wondered where I have been. I am sure it keeps you up at night, tossing and turning. Well it's nothing to traumatic just need new batteries for my camera. We had the nice rechargeable batteries, but I think I recharged them past their life time. They should call them temporary rechargeable batteries. misleading advertising. humf.

So that's is that's why there hasn't been any new crafts posted, and new pictures of the munchkins. No pictures of my blooming cucumber plants. sigh, I know very sad.
I have been contemplating starting a second blog for my gardening adventures......but not sure if I would have enough to write about, so maybe I'll start by combining the 2 and see how that goes for a while.

love to all,
Heidi

So here are some key instructions for eating a cupcake....now pay attention because it take a lot of skill and concentration.

First place cupcake directly in front of you.

Then while holding your hands slightly out to the sides, for balance, place your face into the cupcake.

Finally sit back up and savor the sweet treat!

Hmmmmmmm - yummy!

Bethany had her 3rd birthday party on Saturday.

It was still hot outside, but a nice breeze made it seem okay.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BETHANY!

Anybody wanna go sailin?!

The other day I asked Robby if he thought Jack was cool, and he said "no, why?"

I told him that when Jack got a little bigger that they would have so much fun building forts and riding bikes, legos, etc... and he just smiled and said, "you mean we get to ride all by ourselves?"

Then he ran off to play. Later that day Robby came over to me and said. "Jack is so cool mommy!" I pray that these two boys will be the best of friends thoughout thier childhood and for a lifetime.

I miss you Aunt Sonya, Uncle Andy, Charis, Micah, Joel and Eden! I love you!!!

I have been thinking alot lately about how I can manage to raise 4 children and keep my sanity.
(rabbit trail : had a teacher once who said you raise cattle you rear children....or did he say you rear cattle and raise children??? I am so worried I say it wrong, but can't remember the right way to say it!!!!) Ok back to my original thought, how did my mother do it?! Still baffles me that she is as sane as she is (wink wink mama) and survived all 4 of us kids. I feel sad that I can't just let my kids got outside and play...it just isn't safe anymore, or the fact that I can't just throw them all in the van and run around town. Those of you with 4 or more know what I mean.
I mean how many verses to "the wheels on the bus" can one handle before having a total mental break down, how many knock knock jokes will it take. On a good day I know they don't conspire to drive mama mad, but on a bad day...I'm not so sure. We had family night last night and after a really nice dinner we watched "Chicken Run" it was so cute and the man kept hitting his head saying "it's all in my head" becasue he was sure the chickens were "organized" and trying to escape.... raise your hand if you ever feel like that! Ok now if you've raised your hand, look around and make sure no one saw you, and put your hand down!....don't worry I'm sure you aren't the only reader of this ramble that raised your hand. All this to say, I am sure, or at least I hope and pray that I will make it threw these years with my babes, and that everyone will come out of the other side of it all with all limbs intact and by the grace of God a willing spirit to serve HIM. And at the end of the day, after they are all tucked in AND ASLEEP, I am so thankful for my sweet family and all the blessings that they bring to me. phew, what a ramble.

My garden got started late this year, but it just couldn't be helped. I am blessed in the fact that I have more days before the first frost...lol - in florida - ya right! I am praying that I will see some results before the "winter". Here are some, well alot of pictures actually of my little garden. Next spring will be twice as big, so this is really just my practice run.
Peppers
Blue bells (above) just getting started. They really need a better home and something to climb on before they take over the ground!
This beauty is in the front next to the mail box.

Above are the beans (in front) and cucumbers (in back)
Herbs and peppers
more peppers and tomatoes
These purple flowers are in the back corner of the backyard.

It's he beautiful?!

Jack Ryan 16 months

I came across this funny story on the web today while sitting in my room attempting to get 2 of my kid-o's to sleep. It gave me a good chuckle, and no they are not alseep yet. Enjoy!

Hi all, Just thought you all would get a kick out of Mommy's Potty Training mistake today. It all started with getting up this morning to a dead fish in our fish tank. I explained to all the kids that things like this happen and that it is natural for things to only live for a short time. I not thinking decided to flush the fish down the nearest toilet. Where I'm trying to potty train. We proceeded to give the fish a water burial (toilet) and they all flushed it away. I made the statement that now the fish was in now in heaven and we said a quick prayer.10 min went by and we are all going about our business of getting breakfast and stuff. I proceeded to ask Joshua (who is trying to potty train) "Do you need to go to the bathroom and go pee." He looked at me with a bewildered face and stated, "But mommy, there is a fish in my toilet." I explained that the fish was gone now to heaven and it is swimming in the crystal pool now. "Then mommy, does Jesus need my pee too?" No son, we flush your pee and it goes down the drain. (I realized I was in trouble) But mommy, you said that the fish went to heaven, did he go in my pee? No son. (Joshua calls for reinforcements......) Then here comes Jacci (who is also trying to potty train) and looks at me and says, "Mommy, fish in toilet?" No sissy, in heaven. You could tell that she was thinking... then Josh pipes up.."Sissy, fishy went in my pee to heaven. I don't know why Jesus needs my pee?" By this point I could tell that I had lost the battle. There was no recovering my blunder. The worst part is that it took me a couple of min to realize that we have TWO BATHROOMS and asked them if they would use my potty. "Does it go to heaven too?" No son. Ok mommy, but...........HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!