I haven't been posting a whole lot as of late, because we are just so busy it seems. And when we're not so busy, I'm so tired.

My kids have all been taking turns feeling sick or keeping me extra busy. About 2 weeks ago, my oldest and youngest had strep throat. Then I've spent the last week or so potty training my little one. That in itself takes about half my time, although now that she's getting the hang of it, she's starting to be able to do it on her own. And she didn't have any night time accidents last night! Yay! Today, my middle daughter is home from school with what seems like a urinary tract infection. So we're drinking extra water and she seems to already be feeling better. Also, public schools are going to be done next week, and so we're getting all the end of the year stuff done, and then I will have all three of my children at home with me to homeschool! I am so thrilled!

We're also just getting through our biggest birthday season. My girls both had their birthdays within the last month, plus my brother, step brother, and brother in law all had birthdays one right after another. And then this week was my nieces birthday.

Mother's day was such a blessing to me! My husband and kids all made lunch and we went and ate at the park and just enjoyed time together.

On the housing front, we went and took my dad to look at the prospective house and he thinks it's a nice house, but found a few things needing repair. There's evidence of a leaky spot in the den, which would need immediate attention(unless it's an old spot), and we couldn't find an outdoor cleanout for the plumbing. Other than that it's a lot of cosmetic things, floors needing some repair, windows that are cracked or broken, stuff like that. We had a good rain the last couple of days and dad wants me to go look and see how bad the leak is, and depending on that will depend what our offer will be. But the good news is that we will definately be making an offer. If the roof is leaking horribly, then we're going to offer about 10,000 less than what they're asking and see what kind of counter offer they make. The realtor told us the seller is desperate to get out from under it, because they've already bought another house and are having to make 2 payments. So we're praying that we can be in this house by sometime this summer. I honestly don't remember how long the homebuying process takes, but I know it at least takes a month to two months. I know we'll definately be in there by the time this little one makes it's arrival.

And speaking of this little one...On Sunday I will be 11 weeks. I still have yet to make my first midwife appointment. I'm really not in any hurry. With my other little ones I've always seen the doctor by the time I was 8 weeks, but I guess after 3 healthy pregnancies, I feel no rush to get in there, although I would love to hear the baby's heartbeat. I'm also still contemplating which doctor/midwife I will see. I had my mind set on a midwife that's about 40 miles north of us. It would mean a drive once a month and more often as the time drew near, but it would also mean the birth that I've always wanted. Then there's the doctors here in town, but I would have to sacrifice on what I want. But then I got to thinking about gas, and the chances that I could go into labor during an ice or snow storm during December. I'm still not sure what I want to do. I'll just keep praying for now and see what the Lord would have me do.

Well, that's enough of an update for now. We've been having wonderful weather and have only had the a/c on twice for just a couple hours. I'll update again when I have more to share.

Blessings, sara

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We do programs about motherhood, and I’ve lost count of the women who’ve said, “But I’m happier in the workplace than I am at home.” I want to linger on that point because it’s legitimate. A lot of people will say, “Well, I’m a better mother when I’m happier, and I’m happier when I’m out in the workplace than I am at home.”

Our 3yo found a robin's egg that had fallen out of it's nest.  She thinks her baby brudder is inside there.  She asked if we could put it in a nest so she can have a brudder.  My mother had given us some Land Before Time tapes and I didn't realize how quickly kids can be indoctrinated to different things.  Oh, ya, I know some of it, but this little one just gleans every bit of anything out of TV and I am having to watch her so much more closely than the other kids. 

For those that don't know... Land Before Time tapes are cute little dinosaurs that teach values.  However, it also teaches evolutionism (and yes the 3yo picked that up... so I am doing reverse training now on teaching creationism which was so natural to my other kids... but not to her, she just doesn't get the confused messages... yes she's three, but the others got it by this age... Jesus made the sunshine... Jesus made the green grass...etc.).  And, they personalize the little dinosaurs, in that, my little one thinks we lay eggs and put them in a nest and watch them hatch. 

While this is so cute... she went on and on about having a baby brudder.  She even sat down with a sad look with the egg in her hands waiting for it to hatch.  She went on for several days asking for her brudder... which Dh was just at ends with because as most of you know... Daddy's like to fulfill their daughter's requests and this was one he could do nothing about.  LOL.  (Trusting God, here!) The egg finally disappeared out of the house and she then was sad that someone took her brudder and threw him out.  Guess who she blamed???  Yup... MOM!  (I didn't take it, but  she still didn't believe me). 

Anyways, it was cute, but I learned a huge lesson, that I have been lax on the training of my 3yo... My other kids watched "Little Foot" (one of the dinosaurs) but it was when they were much older and already understood about creation and basic aspects of life... So, Mom got her hand slapped and is getting on with fixing her errors.  Yes, I know the issues with TV... I also know the issues my family has with NO TV.... especially Dh.  I also know that it isn't just our family, but our entire social circle at church and extended family that also are endeared to the TV.  So I won't get away from the TV as much as I'd like to... but I know that it can be combatted with a firm stand on what is OK and what isn't OK and limiting it at home as much as I am able.  I learned that with my other three kids.  But, I haven't been watching so closely with this little one.  I need to do better. 

Warmly, ~Melissa 

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Good Morning!

Weather here is still a bit dreary, but is still quite nice.  We have been productive in the house and have tried to stay home to keep from using gas! With prices jumping 12 cents in one evening it is hard to justify going out for much of anything... but today I must.  We like our milk and I need milk so I can make bread, so we must venture out today.  That and it is our annual Antique Alley down our towns main strip and far beyond... it is always great fun and I am getting ready to head that way now.  I don't plan on buying anything unless there is something TOO delicious that I can't pass it up. I wish you all the greatest of days and that this weekend will be terrific for you as well. 

My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

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Blessings!

   I like desserts as well as the next person but boy do our daughters know how it's done:P

   Tonight our Miss Sarah made her delicious fresh strawberry shortcake! Yum! She makes her own homemade sweetbread shortcakes and makes a nice syrup on the strawberries with just a bit of sugar stirred in on them and serves it with a nice portion of whipped topping!

   Having that on a fresh, warm shortcake is so yummy! I always eat too much of it and always want more:P I'm also allergic to strawberries so I make sure I take my benedryl a half hour before she serves it:P Our Miss Mary-Ann is also allergic and she follows suit. No sense in letting that go to waste:P Some things are simply worth a few hives:)

   Here's her picture of her lovely creation.

   I love fruit season:) Can't wait for all those lovely pies and cobblers:)

God be with thee!

Sister Lori

I have alot to get done Friday, and mostly this is my list to remind myself and make sure I am accountable to get it done.  But if you read it and get anything out of it, great.  If it inspires you, wonderful.  If you are as bored reading it, as I am writing it, I am so sorry! LOL

1.  Clean off dining room table (the free produce I picked up yesterday is here)

2.  Start taking care of veggies (Freezing summer squash and zucchini and making salsa or spaghetti sauce with roma tomatoes and onions)

3.  Wipe down dining room table, chairs and highchair (while veggies are cooking)

4.  Clean off living room tables

5.  Pick up Noah's toys and put things away

6.Reorganize stuff on book shelves

7.  Put dvds and vhs tapes away

8. Dust and Windex in DR and LR (the rooms are ajoined)

9.  Spray fabrics with febreeze

10. Vacuum stairs and DR and LR

11. Wipe down brown chair and ottoman

12. Go through all magazines and purge (I will take some old ones to the Thrift Shop, and some more recent ones, I will box and let friends go through them to read before taking to Thrift Shop)

13. Put supper in the crockpot

14.  Empty dishwasher and start again if needed

15.  Go to Alltel store for a new charger (I am not sure why, but mine stopped working after a year!!)

If I get all this done, which is probable if I don't have too many interuptions, I will start in Saturdays to do list and get a few things done ahead of time.

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Hi all.  Matthew and I are still what most would call newlyweds (May 21st will be our 3rd anniversary), but we have been through more than most have been through in more than 10 years of marriage.  To just mention a few, we have had a baby (he just turned 2), buried both of my parents, buried both of Matthew's grandparents, bought a house and moved, and both of us have switched jobs (me twice before finally deciding to be a SAHM while pregnant with Noah), all within the first three years (most within the first 2 years).  We know each other better than most couples who have been married for decades (Matthew's mother says we probably knew each other better in the 9 weeks we dated before getting married than she knew her husband within the first 15-20 years. LOL), but at the same time, we are newlyweds and still getting used to communication and getting to know each other's likes and dislikes.

The weekend after our anniversary is a 4 day weekend for Matthew. He took Friday off, and Monday is one of his holidays, so we are taking a short trip to the city (Kansas City, Missouri, about a 100 mile trip for us) to celebrate.  I am so excited about going, but nervous to leave Noah behind.  I have a wonderful friend Jen who has volunteered to stay at our house with Noah while we are gone Friday and Saturday (then we will come home, and still have 2 days to spend with Noah before daddy has to go back to work), and take care of Noah.  It will be easier on Noah to go to bed in his own crib.  Of course, we will leave her with his car seat, keys to the house, etc.  I just hate leaving him is all.  I know she will take wonderful care of him though. 

I decided today to make a list of the things that need to get done before we leave (such as a HUGE list of things that need to be cleaned up on the house before leaving.  It is awful to let a guest inside your home and expect her to make any sense of it all, and I hate coming home to a messy cluttered home too!) and make a goal of getting them all done by next Friday when we will be leaving.  My list is so long, but hopefully I can get it all done and then focus on sewing curtains for the kitchen and laundry room before we leave.

While we are in the city, we will eat our our all time favorite resturant called Ghangis Khan (mongolian BBQ).  The place is awesome.  They have a bar of fresh veggies, meats, and all the sauces, etc you could possibly want for your meal.  You pur your choice of things in a bowl and take it to the front where guys cook it on a huge flat metal thing (you expect me to know what they call it?? LOL) and bat it around with large wooden sticks to make sure it cooks evenly.  It is a little expensive, so we normally save eating there for anniversaries and birthdays.  This year, we are only eating there for our anniversary only.

Also while in the city, we will be shopping for my bday present (mine was April 27th), and my Mother's Day present from Matthew.  We consider the trip itself our present to each other.  We are planning a trip to Sam's to stock up on some things, and I am in need of some new bras, so Matthew said I can buy 4 new ones.  ( I am so excited about that.  LOL)  We will be staying at a hotel, which tickles me pink for some silly reason. LOL  We are hoping to stay somewhere with an indoor pool!  (We had a hard time finding a place with any pool that was open while on our honeymoon 3 years ago because in May most pools are either not open yet for the season at a hotel, or they are closed for remodeling, but most places that have indoor pools have them opened all year round.) 

I guess I am rambling here, but I wanted to write down what my plans will be for myself as well as writing releases stresses about the out of town trip as well.

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