Monday, November 27, 2006
a 4 year old and a can of paint
Rock had gotten the flu so he was sleeping and it was cold and yucky outside so the boys were in the house, climbing the walls. I had purchased paint for the boys room (because it is only fair since Izy got her room done) and placed the cans on the steps, not it their room because that would just be asking for trouble. One can of blue and one of green, the boys picked the colors. They are going for a sports/hunting theme-figure that one out.
I walked thru the family room into my craft room and not 2 minutes later Sage comes running in looking sheepish saying he spilled something. As soon as I stepped out of my room into the family room I could smell it.
Evidently he decided to play toss on the couch with the can of paint and accidently dropped it on the floor where the lid popped off spilling a gallon of green paint on the couch and on the floor.
I kinda freaked out. It's paint!!! It gets on everything so how do you clean it up? After calming myself, and I didn't yell or scream by the way, I started scooping the paint back into the can. When I was done there was 2/3 of a can left. Yes, I now have a 24" green circle on my carpet.
Sage quietly tells me at this point that he has always wanted green carpet.
Well good!!!
Friday, November 24, 2006
Learning the ABC's
Sage is my 4 almost 5 year old who is in class with the 3 cousins that he considers his best buds so it is sometimes difficult for them to really focus on doing papers, etc. One day during circle time Sage was chatting with Booker about how he could "toot the ABC's". (For those of you wondering what 'toot' is, it started when Kassidy was born and Grandma said that 'fart' was a bad word so we instituted 'toot' instead.) His teacher told him that he needed to stop talking and listen but he then decided to stand up and demonstrate how he could "toot the ABC's". Of course all the little boys were giggling and the teacher was trying not too so Sage got to have a time-out in his seat and miss 5 minutes of recess, that got his attention. Boys will be boys.
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Thanksgiving
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It was very different for me to spend my holiday this way. I have for as long as I can remember, been with family of some sort, eating until we burst and then sitting around talking small talk while listening to a game. I must say that is very fine and good but this year Corinne and I talked (we were the only ones around this year) and decided that we would just go ahead and work at the church for the outreach.
Anyway, I didn't give it much thought until I got there and I was in charge of taking pics of the event for the church. I was surprized how many people ate and they seemed so really grateful. All of those who worked ate together as well and it was just one 'really big' happy family.
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Have you ever seen so much pie! I could hardly believe the donations of food that I saw come thru the door during the preparations. So many people gave time, energy and food to make it all happen and it went off without a hitch.

This is my 'mom-in-law' Corinne at the beginning of the line serving the turkey. It was really great.
This was when the workers started going thru the line to get their food. Yes, that is Sage balancing the plate on his head

This is Joanie and our new pastor's wife Kathryn, two very special ladies that helped make the whole day possible. You guys are so awesome.

I made Grandma A stop for a moment and let me take her picture with Caden. She is such a sweetie.
And last but not least there is Rock. Yes, after it was all said and done we sat at a table together and just joked around and this is what I got. I was laughing pretty hard by the time we left. Sometimes he is really funny.

Well, today is a great example to me of how it is better to give than receive and what a blessing it can be to serve and feel like you are making a difference in someone else's life. Even something so simple as a meal. I am glad for the experience and thankful that we could share it with family and friends. Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. Much love.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Pancakes
Ok, what do you see here? A chemical beaker thing, smeary bowl, food coloring, a smaller bowl-all with goopy stuff running down the side. Yes folks, this is Izy making pancakes. I know most of us just use a regular old bowl and mix it up but not Izy. We had a few extra cousins that morning and she felt the need to make pancakes in everyones favorite color.
Where was I you ask, in the shower, at times she can work fast. Granted the mess took a little longer to deal with but that was later. The kids loved it while I kringed (sp?) inside at the sticky, goopy mess on the counters and stove as well as the multiple bowls needed to create this masterpiece. Another one to chaulk up to that creative mind. I just held my tongue and smiled alot. Oh yeah, in the background is one of the cousins making hot chocolate...another beautiful thing for me to smile about and just take a deep breath.
Post
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Who took these!!!
Monday, November 13, 2006
Explaination
My life is not always filled with a continual stream of 'sunny days', most days seem pretty grey. So I started this blog to help me, in a written sense, see those 'sunny days'. I want to be reminded to check my attitude and look at the bright side of things. It is so easy to continually be critical and negative so this is my effort to combat that in my life, thus the song...thanks for reading.
Yesterday I found
That everything I knew was wrong
It was upside down
The life I thought I had was gone
But You came and whispered love to me
And You gave me strength to carry on
Oh, the sun is shining
Oh, a new day's dawning
The sun is shining
Yesterday I lost
Everything I had and loved
Then I cried out for You, Lord
And You came and picked me up
And the sorrow lasted through the night
But the joy came with the morn
Oh, the sun is shining
There is hope for me again
Oh, a new day's dawning
The sun is shining
I will lift my voice
No, I won't be silent
For You heard my cry
And You turned my mourning into dancing
And so forever I'll sing
Oh, the sun shining
There is hope for me again
Oh, a new day's dawning
Yeah the sun is shining
The sun is shining down... The Sun is Shining is off of their "Wherever You Are" album
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Digital Scrapping
Buck fever

How many of you have this sitting on your counter? Not many of you I am sure. How many of you have never seen nor knew that something such as this even exsisted?
I bet no one ever hears their spouse yell from the shower, "could you get my scent killer soap!" Welcome to archery deer season...
I accepted this phenomenon years ago, you know, make peace with the reality of it. I don't fight it as some wives do nor do I join in. I realized long ago that there could be worse things for him to be obsessed with. This year he does seem to have the bug worse than usual. Oh well, it only lasts a month or so or until he 'bags the big one'.
I know you are wondering so yes, there is a mount or two on the walls of my house. The are just not in the main rooms and you probably wouldn't even notice them if you were here. I have found that this technique works well to not drag the season out too long and he seems to work himself up for it and hunt so hard during that time that he gets sick of it. The result...he doesn't do much other hunting during the year.
This week is the peak of the whole thing. Our friends from Colorado come and stay with us (a dad and his 5 sons). This year just the dad, 3 sons and a grandson came. Half of them stay with us and half stay with Robb and Teresa so it works out well. Teresa and I split the meal making so we aren't cooking the whole time. It's alot of work but I must say that listening to them and getting to know them these past years has deepened my appreciation for these 'real' hunters. Men that do it for the sport and the joy of it not just to 'kill something'. I love to listen to their stories about hunts in the past and stories about family time.
They are a wonderful group of guys (and families).

Hunting season 2002
Friday, November 10, 2006
embracing the "space"
I would like to work some kind of theme into it but Izy has a very specific vision so I am trying to very carefully work with that. I will post the pics when it's finished. Thank you so much Joanie!!!
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
the "not so good" surprise
I must say that I was extremely excited over my clean house (I am still fighting to keep it that way) but it was tainted a bit when I went upstairs. You see Rock, who I have now labeled a “Disneyland Dad”(at times), decided to let Izy paint her room.
"Why not?" he says "we have to let her be her own person" For crying out loud! Why do you think I let her go around with pink and blue hair and re-design her cloths on a regular basis! That is letting her "be her own person".

Yes, I know, what’s so bad about painting your room your favorite color of turquoise and pink? Nothing I think. The bad part is to tell your 10 year old that she can paint her room with the help of her 4 and 6 year old brothers while you go hunting until after dark!!! And then her 4 and 5 year old cousins came over (while the parental guidance was sitting in a tree stand) to help the whole process along. Yes, this is fortunately not what I came home to but the aftermath of the fun-filled evening was.
Now in the morning when I snuggled into Sage’s bed to wake him up I asked him what happened to his room since it looked like a ‘girl explosion’ (pics to follow) and he immediately brightened and said “Sissy moved all her stuff into our room but have you seen what she did to her room?” Oh yes, I surely have.
Hallway and boys room
Apparently, no one in my house has heard of drop cloths or the proper placement of masking tape so this mess is the result. I also discovered that we no longer have a need for carpet in this room or oak trim!!!
Yes, I do consider myself a fairly patient person and a fairly calm and collected person but I needed some back up on this one. Fortunately for me all who listen to the story or viewed this lovely room have offered many ‘colorful’ suggestions so I feel better about what I think. Now I just have to figure out the best and quickest way to fix it.

So have a laugh or gasp on me today and think of Izy sleeping in her room the color of a fake ocean picture. Woo-Hoo!! Later
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
The Pocket Knife
We have had our share of haircuts and clothing alterations without parental permission. I have tried to maintain an attitude of control when dealing with these issues but sometimes it can be challenging.
This morning I saw Sage getting his pocket knife down from the fridge (its his secret hiding place) and drop it into his pocket. Later he came back into the kitchen to get a bandaid and that's when I noticed the sleeves.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, he turned his shirt into a "pipe shower". This would be a shirt that shows ones "pipes" or arms. When the boys were little Rock always asked them to "show me your pipes" and they would do the whole big muscle thing for us. It was cute. Well, I guess he still needs the "pipe shower" because he's now making his own. What's a mom to do...take pictures and blog about it.
(I also took the pocket knife away) Have a great day.
He also gave himself a few paper cut size cuts on his fingers in the process. And no, he does not look sad because I yelled at him. He felt guilty when I asked him about it-score one for mommy.
He's so darn cute!!!
Monday, November 06, 2006
Indy pics
Ben, Julie and Parker with their dogs Maggie and Sophie
Parker
and more Parker

Got back from Indy late last night and I had a great time. Here are a couple of pics from my visit with my parents and my brother and his awesome wife Lisa. She's great! I am so thankful for such a great addition to our family.
It was all good. We ate ourselves silly and slept in and played with Parker and who knew, I am tired. I am going to blame it on the airplane travel, yeah that must be it. Anyway, all is well and I am home.
Rock and Joanie surprized me by cleaning the house while I was gone. Sweet!!! Joanie is such an awesome friend to do that for me. (I will get you later Joanie) Many of you know that cleaning is not one of my favorite things so this is a very sweet surprize. Very nice to come home to that.
I also got another surprize that I wasn't as excited about but I will have to write about that later. Hope you all had a great weekend. Get out there and enjoy this warm spell. Winter is coming...













