My Crazy Life

Funny Phase

2012-02-16T19:04:00.000-05:00

Enter the hilarious phase of leaving "circle yes or no" undecipherable notes around the house. I found this note on the toilet...


When asked to read this (aka translate:-), Kenna said this says "Do you like the bathroom". Circle your answer, please.

When I look close, I can see "Baf R" that is likely the Bathroom. The ending 3 letters are KBG, which is what I put on their Valentines cookies, so perhaps reminiscent of that.

Wedding Dress Fun

2012-02-16T11:06:00.001-05:00

I saw a picture on pinterest that inspired me! It was a little girl in her moms wedding dress. She was about 3, which I think would be a perfect age, Kenna is a little old now (not so chubby and baby-cute anymore:-). BUT I wanted to do it before she got any older...heaven knows she won't want to actually wear it for her own wedding, but we can work these pics into the slide show! :-D I just set her up on my bed and she held the dress up around her. Turned out really precious I think (and of course she loved it!). If you have a little girl, you really need to try this!...although it might only work if your dress was of a puffier style, I don't think a sheath or something would make quite as cute of a pic.

She has a cold, which I can see in her nose and eyes. Poor thing. Maybe I should have picked a better day.

**When I showed Kenna the pictures I posted, I asked her if she liked them and which one was her fave (as she was making faces at the screen)..."uh, number 1, because you can't really see my big nose" - I hadn't said anything to her about that, so it was funny that she saw it too. Haha.

Candy Math

2012-02-16T09:39:00.003-05:00

Candy heart math! I found some printables on pinterest (on my "schooling" board if you want to check it out) for candy heart math...perfect for this week! The two worksheets are about at a grade 1 level, as Kenna and Brooks are doing Bob Jones Grade 1 math currently, and it was stuff on par with what they are already doing. It covers counting, sorting, graphing, < and >, addition and subtraction...and eating!! It was very fun!

2011 Family Album

2012-02-16T08:06:00.000-05:00

I've finally finished my album for our family photo shoot this past year. Took me what...3 months? It's so pretty, I love it!

I designed this one by myself. It's a simpler version of the slider album (which I make, but did not design)

Opening it up...

It's a flip album!

The front is all the way open! The "tags" in the center section are still blank, I'm going to write a little "about me" thing for each of the kids for 2011. Still have to come up with what I'm going to say.

Don't you love it?! I think it turned out just perfect for immortalizing our pics:-)

Blast from the Past

2012-02-15T10:47:00.000-05:00

1998: Kaden, Jillaine & Janessa visiting me in Chicago

Necklaces

2012-02-14T14:36:00.002-05:00

The antics of Lleyton Grey! His pj pants somehow came off in the morning, and he decided to dress with them around his neck instead.

Nice scarf for a cold day...where are your pants?

Catching a picture of this goon is nigh unto impossible these days...

He can't stop moving for even a second, and that smile...oh the corny smile...:-/

On Valentines we all made candy necklaces. And even the boys wore them proudly despite their colours. Amazing what we will tolerate when sugar is attached to it.

um...gross. Between the snotty nose, sticky face and icing on/over his eye...it was a mess that only a bath could fix

Huge Cookie - Recipe

2012-02-14T14:30:00.000-05:00

Who can celebrate Valentines Day without their own massive cookie...for breakfast?! We can't! I found a large heart shaped pan (specifically made for cookies, - just a very shallow cake pan essentially), and thought that it would be so fun to surprise the kids on Valentines morning...and further the surprise by allowing them to eat it right away...or a portion of it, they are really really big! My first time trying this recipe, and WOW, it tastes JUST LIKE a massive cookie-o-gram, or whatnot. You can make your own on a cookie sheet (for a rectangle), or a round cookie sheet for a circle and it would be perfect. This pan holds the equivalent to a 9x13 recipe - a regular round cookie sheet or normal sized rectangle would be approximately the same size. Surprise someone on their birthday (or other occasion) with a giant yummy cookie. Your day is guaranteed to be perfect if it starts off like this!

I tinted some icing with pink and added some love:-)

The only tip I have is do not over bake! Mine took exactly 15 minutes and are the perfect consistency. Let cool in the pan as long as they suggest, also.

1/2 C butter, softened
1/2 C white sugar
1/4 C brown sugar
1 egg
3/4 t vanilla extract
1 1/2 C all purpose flour
1/4 t baking soda
1/4 t salt
1/2 C semi sweet chocolate chips (or I used Valentines M&M's)

Preheat oven to 350. Spray pan with vegetable spray. In large bowl, beat butter with sugars until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla; mix well. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt; mix well. Stir in chocolate chips. Spread dough into prepared pan. Bake 15-20 mins or until light golden brown. Cook on rack 5 mins. Remove from pan. Cool completely before cutting or decorating. Makes 8-10 servings.

Short Story

2012-02-14T12:52:00.000-05:00

I Corinthians 12:31 - 13:1-13

But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I unto you a more excellent way.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and angels and have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing.

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and thought I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profiteth me nothing.

Love suffereth long, and is kind. Love envieth not; Love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil. Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Love never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

For we know in part, and we prophecy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass darkly: but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

And now abideth faith, hope and love these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Valentines Day Sentiments

2012-02-14T09:00:00.000-05:00

The Valentines card I made this year. I thought it turned out pretty cool. I made the quote on the front, and had it printed at Costco. Then made my card! It's pretty big...about 7.5x7.5 or so.

I saw this quote/printable floating around on pinterest from various sources

The inside of the card! I wrote my message in the shape of a big heart, of course.

And dontcha wanna know what all that says? I love you Brian! Happy Valentines Day!
*****
I love it that you come home from work singing Gavin DeGraw...because even you are not immune to a dumb, catchy, pop tune...

I love it that you watch football games with your best out-of-town friends...while on the phone with them... for hours... running up our phone minutes, because to you, the money spent is worth the relationship. {Thank heavens for our new unlimited plan!}...

Speaking of friends, you've had good ones, and you know how to be a good friend too. Investing in people's lives goes both ways. I don't know of many men who have had the same best friends since middle school. So...

I love it that you are loyal, and faithful, and real, and that you value people...

I love it that you are occasionally tolerable of a chick flick and watch it with me...

I love how you seek counsel, and strive to follow it. You aren't too proud to be teachable, or to take the road less traveled...

Because of that, you have a lot of wisdom to share...

More than most men in their early thirties...

You aren't afraid to speak the truth, even when it's not popular...

But you have discernment in knowing when not to speak. Sometimes that is the harder way...

I love how you love our little babies, and spoil them with treats before dinner, like all the best Dads do...

I love it that you don't take yourself (or me:-) too seriously!...

Lastly {but not leastly}, I love it that you have overwhelming cravings for Arby's Shakes or McFlurry's at ridiculous hours of the night...

I love it that after all this time, and all the life we've seen...you still make me smile.

"I don't want the whole world. The sun, the moon, and all their light. I only want to be the only girl you love all your life" The Band Perry

Love, Your Girl O:-)

It snowed!

2012-02-12T20:38:00.000-05:00

The kids were completely ecstatic when it started snowing after 6pm last night. Unfortunately it was late, and slushy rain with the snow, so I (meanie Mom), wouldn't let them go outside.

SNOW can you believe it, SNOW! Why would God give us snow for Valentines and not for Christmas? Can we put our (Christmas) tree back up? I prayed and prayed for snow so God made it snow on our world, even though we're not in Canada!

A glimpse of "all that snow"...

It was pretty much gone by the morning. By the time we got home from church it was all the way gone. Oh well. It was a wintery white fairy tale, while it lasted :-)

FAQ

2012-02-11T13:18:00.000-05:00

Here are some frequently asked questions that I am asked with some frequency. I will not only provide you with the questions...but the answers as well. I'm nice like that.

What Church do you go to?
For now, Colonial Baptist Church. Although we still send the kids to Avalon Hills Bible Church for Awanas on Wednesdays so they can be in touch with all their friends. We have been loving the solid teaching at Colonial, but have not been loving the earlier service times (SS at 8:45. Yikes). We love to sleep in:-) We had been on the search for something a little bit smaller than what Colonial is, but haven't found anything, not for lack of trying. We are still very new there and figuring everything out, but thanks to our former upstairs renters (also former youth pastor there), we are aware of a few areas of service and need, so we will see how the Lord directs.

When do you ever see your husband?
Every day:-) Yes, he works a lot of hours. But *usually* he's home by 8pm. And *usually* he's off on Sundays. There have been periods of time where there is an exception to this (like...most of last year, lol!). Working in his industry means there is a lot of uncertainty with the scheduling. We are flexible and we make it work. We usually go to bed later if he's home late, so we can talk, hangout & watch a show or something like that. Those are the days when it's a little more hard on the kids because they don't get to see him. But we have lots of "us" time, and schedule in times with friends, movie nights, game night, dinners etc. It is by no means a traditional schedule, but it we make it work, so we have lots of family time, and lots of time with friends too.

What makeup do you wear?
MAC. It ain't cheap, but it is good! The exception to this is mascara. I haven't found their mascara to be necessarily superior to any store brand, so I tend to buy whatever I can get on sale. Mascara is about the only thing I need to replace more than once per year. Their stuff lasts and lasts! My blush is 2 years old and going strong! - I know they say you shouldn't keep makeup too long, but I don't have sensitive skin and have never noticed any ill effects.

When will you have another baby?
I know, I know. The kids are too dang cute not to have heaps of them. I wish that we would have another (my little Shaughnessy? :-). The balance of wisdom of this. I can't afford to have another child, literally. Our insurance is very high...when I got pregnant with Grey, the plan was for 2 babies close together again. Our deductible was lower than it had ever been at $500. Because of the changing economy Brian's company changed the plan mid-pregnancy, to a $3500 deductible (per person). Because of Grey's traumatic entrance to the world, we had to pay out all of mine, and lots of his too, I think we were at $4500+ out of pocket for that one. Which we did not have and went into debt for (paid off in October 2011, I believe). So, in short, we feel the Lord telling us if we can't pay for something, we shouldn't do it on purpose. We do not make a lot of money, and do not feel a lot of money is needed to raise a family. (We are not saying we can't afford it while chalking away hoardes in savings or anything like that). However, we do feel that the Lord speaks through finances. He is more than able to provide money and place it on our hearts that another baby should come. For now, the time is not now. But it could be later. We are just trying to be wise with the resources we have and the children that are already here. Answer? Only God knows. For now, not now. We will just keep pressing on and doing the best we can with what we've been entrusted.

How do you do it all?
Do all of what?? You shouldn't be in awe of me, because you haven't seen my messy bedroom or closet, lol! Little kids take a lot of time. Six little kids take even more time:-) Oh well!! It's a phase of life. Having productively helping hands and oodles of time are not where I am right now. I have a dinner menu plan - most of my meals I can make in 30 mins or less (not incl. cooking time). It means we aren't eating fancy meals, but we're healthy and full. I do what I can to keep ahead of the messes everyone makes. Somedays I am more successful than others, because I get tired and overwhelmed just like everyone does. I don't do it "all", I just do what needs to be done. I'm pretty easy going so I don't have a problem leaving the rest for another time. I don't ever edit my pics, and I'm a horrible photographer, so I'm sure you've caught a glimpse of my laundry piles or un-swept floors. Oh well! I never ask that question. {Maybe you all wish I'd ask you, so you can give me advice on keeping my house tidier, haha}. I don't ask it, because I know the answer. You don't "do it all", and you know you don't. And I know that I'm in the same boat. We ALL have time for the things we make time for. So that's how I do it all. I don't.

How do you know how to do _____?
My mom and dad. We we raised "the old fashioned way". I can cook and bake everything from scratch, because I was taught - and it was applied - that is the way my family cooks. I am able to "can" foods because I've done it so many times. We were taught to learn new things and grow. I've had great jobs and work experience in the past, and its given me many skills that I am grateful for. And there are so many things I can't do, don't even get me started. I like to keep learning:-)

What do you think about immunizations?
I don't like them. But I do "do" them. Just much much later than the suggested time frames. Grey has not yet had any at all. Kenna and Brooks have had a few (enough to be school eligible actually, but if you wait, you only need 1 shot for X, instead of 3 etc). I do only the ones Brian and I deem to be "serious" and not the "extras" (no chicken pox, no flu, h1n1 etc). I've done a lot of research on this, and am fairly certain that NOT immunizing would be the better choice at this stage of the game. Yes, I realize I can say this only BECAUSE others have done it in the past, and we can "ride that wave" with polio and small pox being eradicated etc. So essentially we've decided on our game path, and I don't judge others for making a different choice, but if you want to know mine, there it is. One suggestion, and this is not a judgment, but a call to action. Don't do something because everyone else does. Do your research and come up with the game plan that suits your needs and beliefs. Assuming something is safe because a doctor suggested it is not wisdom. And I am in NO WAY against doctors or medicine, I believe they are useful tools and should be used as necessary and can be quite life saving (which is why I prefer hospital births to home births - another convo). Do the research that you can reasonably do, pray about it, and go forward in confidence, not fear. (Fear that if you do, child will have XX issue, or fear that if you don't child will die of whooping cough etc). God will lead, guide and give peace to you about each child and their needs. No passionate controversy, please. You do what you know is right, and I will do the same. It may not be the same thing, and THAT my friends, is the wonderful thing about the leading of the Holy Spirit. Look at that valuable life lesson, right there.

Are you wearing coloured contacts?
Yes. My eyes are really brown. Kidding. I just have really blue eyes, it's a family trait, some of us have really piercing eyes. In the words of the all too kind barely 20 year old man-child cashier at Walmart "Wow. Yo eyes is so pretty. What? They like aqua colour?" uuuh, thanks. Remind me to avoid all eye contact in the future.

We are thinking of having our babies close together, what advice do you have? Is it a good idea?
I'd say go for it! (I consider "close" to be 12-18 months apart). Each person and situation is different, but I do highly recommend it (based on my experiences of being close to my brother(s) and having my own close). Kenna and Brooks are 13 months and 17 days apart. The bummer is that you are pregnant forever! The blessing is that you have 2 babies! Once the youngest is about 6 months old, you really have 2 kids kinda in the same stage all the way along, and that is huge. Depending on how close they are (12mths vs. 18 mths), the older may not be capable of helping you out very much (getting you a diaper etc). And you learn to juggle them while shopping and such (#1 might not be walking when #2 comes, so it's a little like twins), but you get the hang of it fast. The advantage is that they both still nap all the time:-) Brooks and Grey are almost 3 years apart (Brooks was 2, but only weeks away from his 3rd birthday), and of course, the kids are much more helpful and useful to mom at that point - but they also sleep much less and "need" (so they think) so much more. So there are advantages and disadvantages to each. One of the main advantages we've experienced is the close bond Kenna & Brooks have. Life long friends. No doubt they will bond similarly with Grey, eventually, but I'd venture to guess it won't quite be the same. In their memories, they've always been a team.

Where are you from?
I get asked this all the time...people are confused! Here's the scoop. I am from Canada, generally, and the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) specifically. I am of German and Scotty/Irish decent, but Canadian pretty far back. Both my mom and my dad are from the GTA too. I lived in the same house until I got married. After Brian and I were married and living in New York, my parents and some of my siblings moved to Northern Alberta, which is in western Canada. Since then, my parents moved to Saskatchewan, which is still western Canada (prairie lands)...so when I say I am going to see my family, I am usually meaning my parents - although I am not going "home" as I have never lived in AB or SK. So my immediate family is in 3 provinces, ON, AB, and SK now. Don't worry, it confuses me too:-) If I am driving, I am going "home" to ON, it's 12hrs away. If I am flying, I am going way up north in western Canada...it would take me 2 weeks to drive there, so yah...it's a flight...and long ones at that! For the overly interested - Brian is from New York. His grandparents (one side) and great grandparents (other side) immigrated to America from Ireland through Ellis Island, and the families have remained in New York. Although he, and his parents were born in the city, and much of the family remains there, some (like his folks) have moved out of the city, and just live in the State (Albany area) now.

Why don't you ever yell?
I don't need to. My children are perfect. HAH! Well, even though I am loud, I'm really not much of a yeller, really, but I do have the "tone" and "look" of such at times, while lacking the volume. I am definitely not immune to stupidity and tom-foolery and frustration getting the better of me. My kids will bring that out of me quickly too! But I'm learning just as they are learning. So no, I don't yell, that one is "easy" for me, as it's not really a struggle for me. But did I half jokingly/half seriously call my son a Norby the other day? (family term-- when you've done something dumb, like "don't be such a Norby") Yup. I generally feel like if *they* would not do frustrating things, than *I* would never be frustrated or lash out (tone, words, yelling, glaring etc...it all counts, unfortunately). :-D They are being used by God to refine my character, as I am being used by God to refine theirs. Thankfully, they are very forgiving of their poor Momma.

Why do you love name and quotes so much?
Two random things, and two loves. I read baby name books for fun. I am pretty picky about my faves. I get lots of facebook inbox (private) questions like, "what do you think of this name or combo". People know I like names and want confirmation or inspiration I suppose. I get this "trait" from my Mom, who has a similar fascination. My love of quotes...started when I was about 15 I think...I used to save them all in a Word Doc, which I still have and draw from, it's 64 pages long I believe! I haven't added to it in years though, but anytime I come across a quote worth saving and remembering I put it on my blog, or in a new doc I have. I have a few books of quotations that I like to read. I just take quotes out of movies or books that I like, and I used to always have (when I worked out of the house) the Franklin Covey day planner, which has a quote each day on the page...some of them were definitely worth saving. But I'd say, most of them, I just 'stumble across' and save them. They inspire me, make me think for myself, and encourage me. These are qualities also found in a good friend, so I guess we could say quotes are my friends:-)

How do you not go crazy never getting out of the house?
This is a some of this, some of that answer. I truly love my home and family, and don't desire to get away from it/them for a second. So I'm happy to be here. I am content with the amazing things I have. My van is not "big enough", but it's perfect for me. And also, it takes getting used to, planning, and improvisation. Sometimes I have to have Brian pick me up a tomato on his way home from work, because I need one for dinner. Sometimes I google a new recipe because I forgot I don't have any pasta sauce (and Brian will be late). Life isn't always perfect, and for certain we won't starve. It might not be the 5 star meal I had in mind, but it'll work. I try not to make a big deal out of things that aren't a big deal. Save the stress for the things that matter I suppose. I also have a few little outlets to keep me sane. This blog, my crafts, a few shows I love on tv...stuff like that. Sometimes, I will literally not leave my property in 7 days, and I don't even notice. It takes getting used to, but it's not a big deal. Or maybe that just means I already am crazy, and I don't know it. oh boy...

Why doesn't your husband ever answer his phone?
He's busy. If your number is not in his phone he won't answer it, so send him a text with what you need. If your number is in his phone, and he sees your name and can't think of a reason why you might be calling, he won't answer it. Send a text. That is my suggestion. He doesn't listen to voicemails:-) Calling me and asking me to ask him to call you won't work. When he's busy, he's busy.

I could never do what you do.
You probably don't want to. I probably don't want to either. You could do it though. Anyone can do anything they want to do, or need to do. You'd have to "let go" a little and re-prioritize, but I'm pretty sure you could make a go of it if you had to. This applies to all women reading this. If you are a man reading this, you're right. You couldn't. LOL. That is not a slam to the male gender my any means, but little kids, and all the crying that entails...its definitely not something a man would enjoy. It's a little over the top at times. There have been days where I have changed 7 poopy diapers by 9:30am. I call those the "crappy days" haha.

Why do you spell weird, but not all the time?
I am Canadian, and thus-ly use the "real" English spellings of the words. Yes, I know that you all don't spell colour that way. So when I talk to you Americans, say, on facebook. I try to remember to spell things the way you are used to seeing them. But my fb status or this blog are my spaces. And this is me. Saviour, behaviour, neighbour, honour...they just look "right" with a U. Sorry. Old habits die very hard. I'm teaching my kids the "real" way too:-)
**One exception: Centre/Center...usually I just do center. Shame on me. Sorry Canada!

Is your real name Darby or Darla?
This one cracks me up because I get asked this by people who I assume should know. My real name is Darla. My nickname since birth has been Darby (or just Dar). My middle name is Janette, so the Jane is short for that. Should I ever be famous, I think I'll go by Darby Jane as my first and last name. It just sounds cooler than my real one. :-)

Heart Song

2012-02-09T18:37:00.004-05:00

This song by Corb Lund is hilarious. I know I mentioned before on here, but it was before I had all my "heart songs" documented, and this one deserves to be in there.

It reminds me soooo much of my Grandpa and all his advice growing up. "It'll make you a man before your mother", the food left on your plate could "...feed all of Africa", "It'll stick to your bones", "It'll put hair on your chest" And on and on we go! His advice was undoubtedly the best preparation for all the uncertain vague-ries of life. Especially as they pertain to food. :-)

Always Keep An Edge on Your Knife - Corb Lund

My Diet

2012-02-07T14:05:00.000-05:00

So I started a diet a few weeks ago. I was waiting until Christmas was over...and then after Christmas came the news of TWO upcoming family weddings, so whats holding me back?! For Christmas I even got a gym membership to Planet Fitness (open 24/7 fully staffed, and the one near me is brand spanking new...for $10p/mth, cancel anytime!). The time is here to lose (current goal) 20 lbs...(ultimate goal) 40 lbs.

Now, of course I know you all are going to say that I'm nuts, and why would I ever want to be that skinny. Etcetera. I know this because that is what you all actually do tell me. And I tell you, losing 40 lbs would still have me 5 lbs HEAVIER than I was when I was 5 months PREGNANT with Kenna. I am not trying to get back to my 14 year old body or weight. I'm aiming for my 27 year old weight. Not even. But I'd be exceedingly glad with a ball park number. Basically you are all telling me I wear fat well. Complimented as I am, I've decided to put in some serious work and watch that number fall.

Problem 1. I hate exercise. Problem 2. I love food. So I am working on the exercise thing with various methods (Jillian DVD's, the gym, my treadmill). My first goal is to run 30 mins solid (at a pretty good pace) without stopping or slowing down. So far I can't, but I'm getting close. I'm a terrible runner.

Food. I am trying to stick to a paleo/caveman style of diet. So fresh fruits, veggies, nuts, and meat. I also allow myself kefir yogurt for breakfast b/c I believe it is so healthy, but otherwise, no dairy, grains, pastas, sugars etc. I've allowed a few cheats of course (trying to limit that to 1 per week).

Anyway, it's been an adjustment for sure. Much of my standard fare for a snack or lunch is a smoothie. - I really want to get into green smoothies (with veggies), and will start with my first tomorrow (with spinach) - we'll see how that goes! Anyway, I usually just dump fruit in the blender...sometimes I have a great smoothie, sometimes not. Because I am not sweetening it with anything I find it sometimes hard to get the right balance. Today I decided no more! I tinkered with my smoothie until it was perfect. Then I wrote it down. Then I made quite a few baggies for the freezer, ready to pull out and dump in the blender.

Add 1 Cup of water, and some whey protein if desired.

1/2 C blueberries
1 banana
6 strawberries
4 pineapple chunks
4 mango chunks
2 peach slices

Add 1 C of water and protein powder, (if you want). Makes 2 smoothies. I am using frozen fruit. If not frozen, perhaps less water, and add ice. Love it. A perfect blend of flavours I think! I'll have to tinker with adding in other fruits too, as I have them. And the veggies...can't wait to see if I can disguise them!

This is the whey powder I've been using. I don't have it everyday, but I really don't mind the taste at all! (it's vanilla bean)

Yum!

So far, I've lost 2 lbs. Which ain't much, but it is something!!

My Craves

2012-02-07T11:46:00.000-05:00

...this is what Kenna calls crafts...craves (like leaf, leaves) :-)

I've had it on my to-do list for awhile now...make an album for our winter 2011 pics. Oh to find the time! In pulling out all my stuff to do a handprint craft for families in our little homeschool group, I decided to get some of my stuff done too. I made a great Valentines Day card, but you'll have to wait until the 14th to see that one:-)

Here are the handprint things I made. Super cute! Took forever, but worth it in the end:-)

So then I decided to make my album. I've had the idea for awhile. Similar to my double slider album...I literally created this one myself from scratch, figuring out my own measurements. I used the general idea of the slider...

...but it's a flip album, not a slider album. It is SO CUTE it makes me smile ear to ear just looking at it. Can't wait to get the pics in it (they're being printed). I won't bore you will all the pics of all the sides here, but they will be on my Stamping Blog.

Ew, Dirty!

2012-02-07T11:04:00.001-05:00

Grey enjoyed his chocolate cake and tried to run off without being washed up! I showed him the pic on the camera and he said "eeeeww!!! Dirty!". No kidding.

Oh La La

2012-02-05T12:11:00.000-05:00

Another fantastic shoe stealing...haha!!!

Chocolate Cherry Cake - Recipe

2012-02-04T11:54:00.000-05:00

This is an ah-mazing recipe. So amazing in fact that I am surprised I haven't shared it before. It's the best chocolate cherry cake ever. Ev-ah, for appropriate emphasis:-). It's easy too! It's like a dump cake kind of thing I guess. If you're into chocolate, cherries, and cake {and really, who isn't?}, you have to give it a try!

1 chocolate cake mix (do not mix according to pkg directions, only use ingredients in recipe)
1 can cherry pie filling
1 t almond flavouring
2 beaten eggs

Stir all ingredients well by hand. Bake in greased 9x13 pan at 350 for 25-30 minutes.

That's it! Just stir it all up!

ICING - this is my own icing, the original recipe calls for a milk, butter, sugar, chocolate chip mixture...but I find it's a little finicky, so as not to end up with a "grainy" icing. So instead, I make a chocolate ganache.

1 C heavy cream
8 oz (which is 8 squares Bakers chocolate) Semi-Sweet chocolate, finely chopped

Heat cream on stove top whisking until warm/hot (do not let boil). Add chopped chocolate and whisk until melted and smooth. Pour over cake before it's completely cooled (doesn't have to be right out of the oven hot, but still warm...within 10-20 mins after removing from oven)

It's so shiny and beautiful!!

This cake will stay moist and keep weeks in the refrigerator, if it lasts that long!

Big Foot

2012-02-03T09:16:00.001-05:00

Someone is into shoes. These steel toe boots are so heavy he can barely shuffle along!

XOXO Cupcake - Video

2012-02-03T09:12:00.001-05:00

We made these little gems for a homeschool Valentines party (more on that in another post), red velvet XOXO cupcakes! Sooo absolutely adorable!

Yesterday for snack, the kids finished up the last two leftovers. Kenna says "can I show you something?" And then shows me whats in this video. I just had to have her repeat it for the camera and show you all the official way to eat a cupcake, according to Buddy from the Cake Boss. (I didn't have another cupcake for her to do, since she was eating the very last one, so this is a re-enactment of sorts). Maybe she'll have a food network career in her future:-)

Heart Song

2012-02-02T15:28:00.000-05:00

I sang this song years ago at church as part of an Easter presentation called He Is Able. It was a remarkably well written dramatic narrative, I guess would be the best way to describe it, written by a family friend, Blair Pike. Anyway, I forget about it now and again, and then the lyrics will come back to me and I am reminded of how much I love this song.

If you want me to - Ginny Owens

Birthday - Video

2012-02-02T09:19:00.001-05:00

Happy Birthday to me! Still don't know what my plans are for the day...since Brian's mom is in town (to watch the kids), we may go out to eat...I'm saving my cake for Sunday at the Superbowl party...trying to limit cheat days on my diet, and also, with lots of people to consume the cake, there will be no leftovers to tempt me later. Perfect plan.

So, for any curious folks, I'm now 33 years old. I don't really feel any older than 18 in certain ways. But in other ways I suppose I am light years from 18.

Speaking of 18...when I was 18, I had a surprise birthday party. Here is some footage from the VHS tape. They planned this party to happen upstairs, while I was downstairs. So my house filled with people, and I had no idea! Also, at the beginning of the tape was my birthday breakfast...it was a Sunday that day, so we're in church clothes (but I don't have any makeup on yet!). So hilarious to see HOW YOUNG we all were, Lehman and Maryn weren't even born yet. I got a pair of gold hoop earrings from my parents as my big gift that year.

Quotes Archive 2012

2012-02-01T14:39:00.004-05:00

I've always loved quotes, and have quite a collection of them. I love to share one per month on my blog.

"I have gathered a posie of other men's flowers, and nothing but the thread that binds them is mine own" John Bartlett
Sense shines with a double luster when it is set in humility. An able and yet humble man is a jewel worth a kingdom. William Penn

Resolved, To ask myself, at the end of each day, week, month, and year, wherein I could possibly, in any respect, have done better. Jonathan Edwards, (click here for more)

Girls Room

2012-01-31T10:33:00.000-05:00

Here is another version of this one for boys, that I made for Kenna's room. I decided to try a different background colour this time, and it's at the printers, so we'll see how it turns out! What do you think? I really like it. Brian did, but likes the boy one better, he says. He kind of balked at the "learn to sew" line, but I think it's wise advice for a young girl/woman.

Pinning

2012-01-29T16:50:00.001-05:00

I saw something online, and I liked it, so I pinned it (on pinterest, of course). It was this pic:

Source: studerteam.blogspot.com via Darla on Pinterest

I really liked it, but it wasn't perfect for me...I'm inspired! I began working on my own, and came up with this: Words for my boys to be encouraged by. Wisdom for boys, wisdom for men.

By the time I was finished and checked my email...WOWSERS. My pin of the original pic had been posted 433 times in less than 3 hours. I call that being EXTREMELY popular with people I don't even know. I had a brief moment of proud pinning! Never before has anything I've pinned been re-pinned more than once or twice. So yay. I can cross something off my bucket list. I managed to find something that was interesting to all! I'm gonna pin my new version too, and see if it gets any love, :-D

My new version is at the printers, and I think I will antique it, as I did the word art, and will put it in the boys bedroom.

If you would like a copy of the one I made for your own home, comment with your email address and I'll sent it to you. It's made to be 11x14. I'm working on a girls version for my daughter too.

Word Art

2012-01-29T14:28:00.000-05:00

This is a "word art decor" type of thing (my mom makes these). All of these places are special to us...our first date, where our kids were born, where we got engaged, etc. Such great memories. I had it printed at my local photo-printing store, in an 8x8 size. It was printed as matte, but still had that "photo/picture" look, and wanted something a little more authentic...

It started like this. A black and white photo.

It ended like this. I love it.

I used spray adhesive (Brian's, in the garage:-) to stick it to chipboard. Then I took a craft sanding block from Stampin' Up, and starting sanding it. It started revealing the colours "underneath" that the black is comprised of. As I rubbed away some of the black, blue, turquoise and brown came up. I love love LOVE it!

The sanding block. It got stained a little from the blue coming out of the picture.

A close up so you can see the detail of it. Pretty neat, right? It definitely has the painted and aged sign look that I was going for. The random blue was unexpected and couldn't be more perfect (I thought it would just dull the colour, but this was way better than I could have guessed)

Special Day

2012-01-29T14:17:00.000-05:00

Brooks had a "Special Day" with Dad on Saturday night. It started out with Brian wanting to take him to a game and invite a few men/friends along too. It morphed into wives also coming, so it was 4 couples, and Brooksie!! The girls had a blast talking, visiting, and sorta watching the game. The men...I don't know what they were doing, but they seemed to have a good time too:-) I snapped a few pics down the row of Brooks and Daddy enjoying some manly time together.

It was Brooks' first time at a hockey game, (we don't have the NHL here, but we do have an AHL team). We forgot to mention to him how LOUD it is there, but he did ok. No tears, and only a few shocked looks and covered ears:-) He loved it!

Licking cotton candy off his fingers

Wearing his Flames jersey, with Daddy in his Rangers one (and "Uncle" Sam in his Flyers jersey too)

Crazies

2012-01-29T14:06:00.001-05:00

We start off with a nice group hug

And a picture with hats...and it all goes downhill from there.

It's not a picture, it's a movie - Video

2012-01-26T20:17:00.000-05:00

Sonny & Grey were having so much fun jumping off the potty...Mom grabs the camera. It's all over. It's worth it to watch and see them pause, cheesy grin, say "cheese" and do everything except jump off the potty! Add Kenna and Brooks to the mix and yikes! Then the end clip...again, playing nice, until I grab the camera. Then they have to fight, yell, hit...time to shut it off and deal with Grey! (By the way, we have the potty out because Grey is starting to sit on it! Yay!)

Fashion Accessory

2012-01-25T10:14:00.001-05:00

Well, for the past few years (during and since my pregnancy with Grey) I have been experiencing throbbing in my lower legs, sometimes thighs, and sore tired feet, and itchy, itchy, constantly ITCHY calves. Also, I have a "bruise" looking spot on my left shin thats been there for over 2 years (appeared during pregnancy). I guess I never really thought much about it all, I just assumed I was too tired, or it would go away over time or ??. I don't know. It really didn't concern me much until recently, when suddenly it struck me like a ton of bricks...

Why am I putting up with this? Why don't I get it checked out? What could it even be? Note to self: Never type random symptoms into the computer. So, after Google confirmed that I was dying, rapidly, I decided I should likely book a doctors appointment and get it checked out.

My symptoms were actually similar to those of vericose veins, except I have no bulging visible veins at all.

So a trip to a vascular specialist - I have a hereditary breakdown in the valves in the veins of my legs. Compression hose for awhile, and if that doesn't fix the problem, we can consider an ablation laser surgery. The "bruise" is just a cluster of veins close to the surface. If I don't like the look aesthetically, they can inject some meds into the vein that irritate it and shut it down. No blood in vein, no bruise-look. I don't know if I'm really that vain (haha vain veins:-D). We'll see. It's been there so long, that I don't really think about it. I have a follow up appointment and ultrasound of my veins in April.

Well at least I'm not dying! And let me tell you what, as un-sexy as compression hose might be, wow, do they ever work. After wearing them for only hours, I could see a remarkable difference. And let me tell you, its been been YEARS since I have gone an hour, let alone a whole week without pain in my legs. It is amazing how much low-grade annoying pain wears you down without your knowledge. Once it's gone, it's like WHOA! I have so much more energy and haven't put my feet up once since I got them. Really amazing. Also, no more itching. Incredible!

Thankfully it's winter, so they only look like trouser socks under my pants (they go up to about an inch below the knee, and they are black). They are my new fave fashion accessory. I wrestle them on every morning and couldn't be happier about it. I guess after the ultrasound in April we'll see how everything looks and if the laser surgery will be recommended or necessary.

Singing in SK

2012-01-24T15:10:00.001-05:00

Check out a family rendition of the song I posted earlier this month, Blessings (by Laura Story). My brother Logan and his wife Kari were visiting Mom & Dad in Saskatchewan, and Mom recorded them for us to see. I truly love this song, the lyrics are outstanding. You can see them play and sing it here .

And if you know anything about my family, you know that guitars are as plentiful, and as important, as people. Check out Logan's alternative way of playing a catchy little tune on a Taylor right here.

Random Thoughts

2012-01-24T10:00:00.000-05:00

Ideas or quotes I come across that I find funny, silly, inspirational, true...and just plain random!

I was and am determined not to be tempted into controversy seeing that I am far from claiming that my view is infallible. I only wish to present what I think to be the clear teachings of the New Testament. The Scripture is the final judge. G. Campbell Morgan

Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude. A. A. Milne

I define pretty as a mutually enriching balanced combination of beauty and projected innocence....That special combination of beauty and innocence, the pretty inspires men to protect and defend it....Young women today do not seem to aspire to pretty, they prefer to be regarded as hot. Hotness is something altogether different. When women want to be hot instead of pretty, they must view themselves in a certain way and consequently men view them differently as well. Pat Archbold

I believe that prayer is the measure of a man, spiritually, in a way that nothing else is, so that how we pray is as important a question as we can ever face. J.I. Packer

Brother, there is the tree of good and evil and we are not to eat from it. Therefore, I cannot say that what I have done in my Christian life was good or bad, a success or failure, productive or not, expansive or not, or that people were trained or not. Eating from the tree of life has freed me from such thinking. I only want Him. Michael Wells, an excerpt from one of the last letters he wrote, before he went to Glory.

This recession won't be over till we raise a generation that knows how to live on what they've got. Anon

Men and women, let me tell you something. God is not like anything. He is His own standard. And the tragedy is that you are going to build your little theological boxes around what you think God is like. Someday when you really need Him, you're going to race to your box and open the lid, and He won't be in there. God does not allow us to continue to reduce Him to a size and shape we can manage. He moves in our lives in ways that burst our categories and overwhelm our limits. When we realize He is bigger than anything we can get our minds around we can begin to relax and trust Him. Unknown

I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, and that His justice cannot sleep forever. Thomas Jefferson

My concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is alright right. Abraham Lincoln

I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me. Max Lucado

The reason most people fail instead of succeed is that they trade what they want most for what they want at the moment. Anon

Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid. Albert Einstein

God has appointed fathers to lead their children. Not for someone else to come and do it, just because they've had a college degree or some seminary training. That does not qualify someone to, all the sudden, become the spiritual leader of your family. Boyd Dellinger from a very good and thought provoking movie on youth ministries

You should try to avoid confrontation with your kids, but when you do have to go head to head over something, you don't lose. Dr. Phil McGraw

When you are younger, you worry about what people think about you. When you are older, you realize that no one was ever thinking about you at all. Anon.

For an encouraging list of "12 Things Happy {Christians} Do Differently", check out my Mom & Dad's new blog!

In my experience, evil is not a cultural phenomenon, its a human one. Jason Gideon, Criminal Minds

I must confess that I'm driven to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I have nowhere else to go. My wisdom and that of all about me is insufficient to meet the demands of the day. Abraham Lincoln

Live Simply. Love Generously. Care Deeply. Speak Kindly. Leave the Rest to God (quote on a plaque at my parents house)

Never make a principle out of your experience. Allow God to be as creative with others as He is with you - Oswald Chambers

The young man who wants to marry happily should pick out a good mother and marry one of her daughters - any one will do. - J. Ogden Armour

If you have not chosen the Kingdom of God, it will make in the end no difference what you have chosen instead - Thomas More

The way I see it, my son can go to therapy later if my strict rules have scarred him. But I have peace knowing he'll be able to afford therapy as an adult because I didn't allow him to wear or do whatever he wanted as a kid. - LZ Granderson (CNN contributor)

The primary goal of parents should not be to trust their children, but to understand them. The more parents understand their children, the more children will trust their parents. - the Power for True Success, The Institute in Basic Life Principles.

It should be your care, therefore, and mine, to elevate the minds of our children and exalt their courage; to accelerate and animate their industry and activity; to excite in them an habitual contempt of meanness, abhorrence of injustice and inhumanity, and an ambition to excel in every capacity, faculty, and virtue. If we suffer their minds to grovel and creep in infancy, they will grovel all their lives. - John Adams, 1756

The happiest people don't always have the best of everything; they make the best of what they have.

Ultimately, you are responsible for your choices. Your circumstances are as responsible for your character as a mirror is for your looks. What you see only reflects what you are. - John Maxwell

When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it. If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant.

We say, "Come and listen, play under the table or at our feet. Come and listen to us talk. You will learn, my son, how the men think and speak." But you say, "Go outside and play so the adults can talk". You say, "I'm on the phone, go away while Mommy's talking". I say, "Come here my son , sit on my lap. Daddy's going to be talking on the phone. Listen and hear how a Jewish man talks." - A Jewish Rabbi

The pursuit of happiness is the source of all unhappiness - Anon.

Reading is one form of escape. Running for your life is another. - Lemony Snicket

This is a good thought in light of Halloween "...You shall not learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead..." Deut 18:9-12

Weekends don't count unless you spend them doing something completely pointless. - Calvin (Calvin & Hobbes)

I have no way of knowing whether or not you married the wrong person, but I do know that many people have a lot of wrong ideas about marriage and what it takes to make that marriage happy and successful. I'll be the first to admit that it's possible that you did marry the wrong person. However, if you treat the wrong person like the right person, you could well end up having married the right person after all. On the other hand, if you marry the right person, and treat that person wrong, you certainly will have ended up marrying the wrong person. I also know that it is far more important to be the right kind of person than it is to marry the right person. In short, whether you married the right or wrong person is primarily up to you. - Zig Ziglar

Content whatever lot I see...since 'tis my God that leadeth me - Joseph Gilmore

Dear Jesus, how foolish of me to have called for human help when You are here - Corrie ten Boom

I know you shouldn't judge people based on their appearance, but when your body looks like a dirt-bags binder from seventh grade metal shop...it doesn't bode well for your character - Tina Fey, on tattooed girls

I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king. - Queen Elizabeth

I really liked this blog post. Enjoy! - (love this blog in general:-)

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight! Woe to those who are heroes in drinking wine and valiant men in mixing strong drink, who justify the wicked for a bribe and take away the rights of the ones who are in the right! - Isaiah 5:20-23

Someone asked John Wesley's opinion, after touring the beautiful grounds of an English Nobleman, and he said "I too have a relish for these things, but, there is another world".

Drink Coffee - do stupid things earlier and with more enthusiasm!

Light and darkness are not equal forces. Darkness only comes when light allows it. A .29 cent flashlight will split the darkness in two, and nobody has developed a black beam you can shine in the daylight. It's not there. Because light is so much more powerful than darkness. - Mike Wells (Bury Your Marriage)

The grass is not greener on the other side of the fence. It is the greenest where nurtured and cared for. If your grass is not green, what are you doing - or not doing - to have it that way? - excerpt from a wedding ceremony sermon

After I'm dead, I'd rather have people ask why I have no monument than why I have one. - Cato the Elder

Give a man a fire, and he's warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he's warm for the rest of his life.

Jump & Dance - Video

2012-01-22T18:39:00.000-05:00

A little sample of the jumping-wiggling-head-shaking-dance. Brought to you courtesy of Lleyton Grey, 22 months old. We feel like he takes his moves from all the best. Elvis, Beyonce, move over, here he comes:-)

Buds

2012-01-20T08:47:00.002-05:00

Watching a show! Kenna's little buddy, May

May looks soooo much like Sonny, it's uncanny!

Weddings galore

2012-01-20T08:44:00.001-05:00

We got a very "suspicious" call from Lauren (aka Auntie Noni) at 10:30pm on Wednesday, asking if she could come over...

And guess what? Dale proposed (apparently with the help of Train, and the "Marry Me" song), and she said yes. So sweet! We are very excited for another wedding. Congrats to Dale & Lauren!! Let the planning begin

Her gorgeous ring! Dale did a great job picking it out without her input. I love it!

Organize 2012

2012-01-19T08:54:00.000-05:00

Things just eventually go downhill. It's the nature of things. One of my goals in 2012 is to work on all the problem spots and improve them in some way to make them not such a problem,resulting in a more organized and functional home. We don't have a lot of space, so we have to make it count! Of course we know I have very little cabinet space in my kitchen (2 sets of uppers, this is one of them, the other holds dishes). Anyway, this one is always kind of a disaster!

The bottom shelf is the main issue. YIKES!

All beverage only items removed from the cupboard. TONS of stuff. Yikes. I gave away 3 boxes of brand new, unopened tea, and condensed the rest (different brands, but all peppermint tea, for example)

Now it all fits in reasonably and isn't mixed with the spices. And I'm not buying any more tea until the tea we have is gone. I've decided I can still be a good host without an infinite number of choices. Since we are limited on space, we have to limit our stuff too!

Done! I put all my spices in a basket, so hopefully that will solve the problem of them spreading out and tipping over etc. I sorted through all our meds and vitamins and threw away the expired things, and was left with an amount that fit nicely in the space I had leftover.

Randoms

2012-01-19T08:08:00.001-05:00

Lunch for five! Ready to go! Depending on what we're eating, Ardyn joins us for a "grown up" lunch.

"Nya Ning" (Lion King), with his pillow pet. He loves to snuggle it, but wouldn't let me snap a pic of the love

"Mom, come look at this! I made a great trap!!" Well sure enough, she did. I don't know how he even got in there, but I could barely get him out!!

Banana Bread - Recipe

2012-01-16T20:41:00.000-05:00

Can't you just smell this?? Four mini loaves of delicious banana bread - in a very handy stoneware from the pampered chef, given to me for Christmas, by the way. The whole thing make me HAPPY!

I have tried many recipes, but have settled on this one as my fave (from Betty Crockers cookbook), it just turns out every time! Don't throw away those nasty old brown bananas, make this!

1 1/4 C white sugar
1/2 C butter, softened
2 large eggs
1 1/2 C mashed very ripe bananas (about 3 bananas)
1/2 C buttermilk (*see bottom for how to make this easily)
1 t vanilla
2 1/2 C all purpose flour
1 t baking soda
1 t salt
1 cup chopped nuts, or chocolate chips, if desired

Move oven rack to a low position, so that the tops of pans will be in the center of the oven. Heat to 350. Grease 2 regular sized loaf pans (or 4 mini sized), with shortening or cooking spray.

Mix the sugar and butter in a large bowl. Stir in eggs until well blended. Stir in bananas, buttermilk, and vanilla, beat until smooth. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt until just moistened. Stir in nuts or chocolate chips. Divide batter evenly between pans.

Bake 8" loaves about 1 hour, 9" loaves about 1hr 15min, and 4 mini's about 45 min. or until toothpick inserted in center come out clean. Cool 10 mins in pan on wire rack, then remove, cool completely before wrapping. Wrap tightly and store at room temperature up to 4 days, or refrigerate up to 10 days.

**HOW TO MAKE BUTTERMILK

For 1/2 C buttermilk, place 1 1/2 t of lemon juice or white vinegar in the measuring cup. Add enough milk to equal 1/2. Do this at least 30 mins before you need it and let it set on the counter, it will thicken up like thin yogurt or old milk. (I tend to use the lemon juice)

For 1 C of buttermilk, do the same as above, with 1T of lemon juice or vinegar, and enough milk to equal 1 C.

A Lazy Weekend

2012-01-16T20:17:00.003-05:00

We had a peaceful weekend, full of love, laughter and each other! Brian did have to work some on Saturday, but we did manage to have a date night sans children, I think for the first time since dear Janessa left us (sniff sniff). And we did lots of movies, snuggles, stories and games too.

Making some orange juice...

Wearing pj's all day!


We've entered the phony smile phase. Great. My fave:-/

He's a very handsome little guy...thanks to the long hair (to cover up those ears:-), he gets called a girl fairly often. He is mystified as to why. I tell him he's just too adorable, so don't worry about it. We're gonna take him to a place and get him a "skater style" hair cut that Brian can then maintain.

This picture was actually taken by Grey. He is a camera and phone expert. He actually answered my ringing phone the other day with a "Allo?" and seeing what he'd done, I accidentally hung up on them trying to wrestle the phone away from him. This is my kitchen table after lunch:-)

It Is Good

2012-01-16T19:00:00.000-05:00

Isn't it interesting how God orders a family?

If I'd (we'd) had a choice, we would have chosen a boy. First. Oh how wrong we would have been! God knew what we needed first. Our girl. From gender to personality, she's just what was missing in our family.

These thoughts come to me, as Kenna & Brooks especially have been going through a "hard time"...for really the first time in their little lives. They've always gotten along famously, but now with getting older and more aware...Everything is a competition. Who is smarter, faster, bigger, stronger, the nicest, the best, the fave, the cutest, who has the darkest hair, who has the bluest eyes. "Lets race!" declared by one, out of the blue, "NO! I'm not going to race. NO RACING!" declared by the one caught off guard - seeing their sibling take off running, knowing they can never catch up, declaring an unfair start and refusing to try seems the best option to avoid the humiliation of being beat.

These are very emotionally charged competitions - usually resulting in tears from the "loser". I really try to stay out of their conflicts, and let them figure out their place. As long as they are dealing kindly and respectfully with each other, I suppose these are things you have to discover about your place in the world, and come to terms with - by yourself. It's not going to help them if I declare the "winner" and "loser". Keeping in mind they are about 13.5 months apart in age, so the equal-ness that they are trying to balance out is really a pretty big deal to them. When they look at each other, they DO see equal, they don't like it, and are fighting for top spot. Kenna, because she deserves it as the oldest, and Brooks, because he's not one to take second place.

What I am trying to guide them toward is accepting - who you are. Kenna will always be the oldest, Brooks will never "catch up". Brooks is rapidly outgrowing her, and it's good for girls to be cute and tiny compared to their younger, bigger brothers. Each one is smart in their own way. We are all capable of different things, and that make us a perfect team. It's good for each person to be who they are and not worry about what they aren't. It's good for us to be genuinely happy for other people, when we see in them what we lack in ourselves.

One thing which being a parent affords you - a chance to see what God is like. In only a very very small way, but the comparisons are enough to really send you running back to God in gratefulness for all He's done for you!

As a Mom, who has seen these kids grow and develop from day 1 - I know them so well. I know everything about them. And as, (at this point anyway) I am infinitely smarter than they are, I can see so much more than they can. I can see how they fit together. How, as they've aged, their lives have molded to each other and they really need each other. They are not as similar and equal as they think they are. But I, seeing the overall picture, can see how perfect they are as individuals, and how life is coming together for them.

As they grapple with their unchangeables (parents, time in history, mental capacity, brothers & sisters etc), I can see the end already, and how it fits together so well. SO God, being infinitely smarter than me, can look at my life and all the things I grapple with, and see how perfect it is, even though I would consider it terrible perhaps. But seeing the bigger picture, He knows that my life includes everything I need, whether or not those facts are observable (or believable) to me in the moment.

I am grateful for many things that I have been blessed with. I am grateful to be a parent, and to have given life to such amazing little people. I am grateful for the opportunity to parent both genders. I am grateful for God's guidance in my life, and working all things together for my good. Whether or not I can see the end game, I can trust the Lord, as children trust their loving parents. So I can say, through all the sunlight and the storms of life, "This is good for me".

Blast from the Past

2012-01-15T10:56:00.000-05:00

Year unknown: Guessing at 1948. My Uncle Cliff, Grandpa Kennedy (Harold Leslie), Grandma Kennedy (Mary Francis, nee Lehman), Auntie Lois & Auntie Elva. Before my Dad (Dave), Donna & Faith were born.

Deep Thoughts

2012-01-11T08:36:00.000-05:00

Put on your thinking caps - it's about to get all serious up in here...with no pictures. gah. I hate those posts. Even when I'm the one writing them:-) Please note, I do not like to - or intend to - stray from the purpose of my blog - which is capturing our life and loves. And I don't want to be getting all bossy and preachy on you - which is NOT the intention of what I will write in the future.

Deep Thoughts. Or something like that. I will label these posts Christ in Me as we go along for ease of searchability. (In the very rare event that you actually want to search for these posts). I decided on that label - "Christ in Me", even though the posts may not be of a super spiritual nature per se, because I have Christ in Me, and He has brought me here. To the exact place I am right now in life. I won't always be here. The thing about life and the Lord is you are always learning, changing and growing. I've been a Christian coming up {rapidly} on thirty years. Which sounds insane to me! How much have I grown in those years? How much have I refused to grow? Oh how much further I have to go!

So these posts will be observational, and testimonial, of sorts. Testimonies are grown over time. And I think it's important to keep it all fresh, so you aren't learning the same lessons over and over. I've had lots of time, and my faith (and my testimony) have increased much.

"When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. " 1 Corinthians 13:11-12

I was reminded of something via a sermon recently...Isn't it interesting that the difference between "milk" and "meat" is me. All of the whole Bible is both milk and meat at the same time. The difference between the two is found in the person reading and applying it. When I was a child, there were portions of scripture that were as milk to me, nurturing me along. And as I grew became meat as I grew in a deeper understanding of my faith. And Christ in me makes the difference.

Anyway, the thoughts and observations that will be forthcoming are really for my kids to read someday, as they grow from the milk and into the meat. With the rapid decline of my memory {thanks to said children}, I figure I should document a few things for the future - and they will be of a deeper nature than my normal everyday ramblings and postings. So be warned:-) I cannot promise with what frequency they will occur...only as I have the time, and inspiration - I would guess every few months. As I write this, so far I have only two post topics coming to mind, so we'll see.

Get to the point already!

2012-01-09T12:12:00.002-05:00

This is guaranteed, well lets just say, if you're the type of person who... no, you know, sometimes, when you think about life you, well, if we were to ask everyone here what they thought...

they'd laugh. Enjoy! This one gets me everytime!!

For all my Canadians, check out short clips from me taping the tv, haha. Sorry hulu doesn't work in Canada:-(, it's not the whole of the skit, but a major part of it anyway. Too funny!(and no, he never does actually get to the point, he just goes round and round:-)

Lion King Roar - Video

2012-01-09T08:50:00.002-05:00

The kids got the Lion King for Christmas, since it's "out of the Disney vault" or something. Anyway, I *think* they saw it on tv ages ago, but basically, this was the first time they'd ever seen it. They love it, especially Grey. Now he crawls around like a lion, and rawr...you can hear him coming. So cute.

Heart Songs

2012-01-08T19:01:00.001-05:00

Blessings - Laura Story

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise

Week in review

2012-01-08T17:18:00.001-05:00

I was unintentionally quiet this week! We spent the week getting back in the groove of school and schedules with all the kids, including Baby May (already nicknamed, Maisy Daisy...it doesn't take us long:-) Every one is in love with her! She was a perfect little {sleeping} angel this week. Hopefully that's a trend that continues!

To keep warm we wear slippers and scarves...with our sundresses:-/

Baking cookies and using up Auntie Noni's "squeeze tube" icing. I divided each cookie in quarters and had them fill in 1/4, 1/2, 1 whole, etc. For practice with fractions and also for beats/music notes. The kids thought it was great fun!

Everyone needs a pic with the baby!

Grey Wolf

2012-01-08T17:10:00.001-05:00

The Grey Wolf is our favourite wolf...

...for obvious reasons:-)

The Extras

2012-01-08T13:49:00.000-05:00

Many times people are confused as to who is in my house on a daily basis. Here's the scoop on "the Extras" as I affectionately dub them. With a house full of 6 kids, ages 5 & under...there is NEVER a dull moment, and always a poopy diaper to change! It's definitely a full time job (plus some, really!), but I wouldn't trade it - it allows me to bring in a paycheck (which we need), but also be home with my 3 kids, and homeschool 2 of them - while attempting to control the mess and clutter. We love our Extra kids!

Sonny aka Sonny Bunny and Son

He was born Jan 2010. He's a pretty easy going kid - has a cry that will rock your world and send you running for the hills:-) But as long as he's happy, he's a gem. He can be a sneaky one, you have to keep your eye on him or he'll quietly run off (which I am not used to, as my kids do nothing, I repeat, nothing, quietly). He's not a big eater, but loves his milk and Capri Suns! He is a very obedient little boy, and we're hoping that rubs off a little on his play-mate, Grey;-) Sonny is here Mon thru Fri, Sept thru June, from 7:45am - 4:30-45pm

Ardyn aka Ardy and Arda

She was born Dec 2010. She is the baby sister of Jack, who we used to babysit, until he started school. She is cute as a button, and full of opinions. Although she can't talk yet, she "yells at me" or the other kids to let us know exactly what her little heart desires. She's not really fond of sleeping, and eats like a horse! She started walking over the Christmas break, so it has been fun to watch her toddle around! Ardyn is here Mon - Fri, Sept thru June, from 8:30am-5:00pm

May aka Baby May May and Maisy Daisy/Daisy Maisy

She is Sonny's baby sister and was born Oct 2011. She is calm, quiet, sweet and cute. It will be very interesting to watch her personality grow and see what she's like. For now, she's the perfect little newborn. She's so cute and chubby, we love "pinching" her chubby little thighs. Ah! We love fat babies! She of course, is here like her brother, Mon - Fri, Sept thru June, from 7:45am - 4:30-45pm

Word Art

2012-01-01T20:55:00.001-05:00

Some more "homespun" crafty Christmas coming at ya!

These were made by my Mom! How perfect. My only regret? I don't have one for ME! I sooo want one! But they made a wonderful gift for a few people on my list, I hope they love them as much as I do.

Framed and ready to wrap

This is what mine would look like...with some minor changes:-)

So cute!

Tea Wreath

2012-01-01T20:53:00.000-05:00

This is a tea wreath I made for some friends of ours who love Tazo tea. It conveniently comes wrapped in Christmas colours! I got this idea from my childhood friend, Lauren's site...and I think she saw it on pinterest! In any case, this is my wreath, that the kids and I worked on. It was really, really easy!

I used my Creative Memories Circle Cutting system to cut the circle/wreath shape out of designer (12x12) paper, and chipboard (a stiff, dense cardboard). I used sticky strip (the double sided sticky tape with the red backing) to adhere the paper to the chipboard. We used old/leftover spray paint to paint the clothespins white. We used sticky strip to adhere paper to the top of the clothes pins, and a hot glue gun to glue down the clothespins to the wreath. Add your tea, and a ribbon to hang it by, and you're done! It was a cute and easy Christmas gift from the kiddos! Love it!

I debated leaving the clothespins white, but thought it added to the whimsy to put on some different paper. This could be as whimsical or as plain as you want, depending on your tea and paper choices!

Elmo Cake

2012-01-01T18:18:00.003-05:00

Nothing like squeezing in a little party at the end of the year! Ardyn (girl I babysit) turned 1 year old on the 31st! I made her a cake to go along with her Elmo/Sesame Street themed party. It was pretty cute, and pretty tasty!

Vanilla cake, stacked, with Vanilla buttercream (and coconut dyed red stuck to the icing, for fur)

Extra cupcakes to spell out happy birthday!

Goodbye 2011

2012-01-01T18:13:00.001-05:00

...we rang in the new year at home, with quiet fanfare. Although it may seen boring to most, it was most needed. No parties, no people, no staying up late (well, until exactly midnight, and then it was lights out!). We've been busy busy busy recently, and needed the break! It's the first time we've done a quiet new years in 7 years!

Party like it's 1899...with these throwback Cokes I found. These are the first bottles of Coke to have the insignia impressed into the glass. I guess that's not bad for 113 years ago...crazy how far technology has come!

For a movie night, and to watch the ball drop we made some popcorn...and turned the loveseat to face the tv directly, and then reclined it all the way back. Perfect!

Short Story

2012-01-01T09:00:00.000-05:00

Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards

Being sensible that I am unable to do any thing without God's help, I do humbly entreat Him, by His grace, to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to His will, for Christ's sake.

Resolved, That I will do whatsoever I think to be most to the glory of God, and my own good, profit, and pleasure, in the whole of my duration; without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence.

Resolved, to do whatever I think to be my duty, and most for the good and advantage of man-kind in general.

Resolved, Never to lose one moment of time, but to improve it in the most profitable way I possibly can.

Resolved, To live with all my might, while I do live.

Resolved, Never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life.

Resolved, Never to do anything out of revenge.

Resolved, Never to speak evil of any one, so that it shall tend to his dishonour, more or less, upon no account except for some real good.

Resolved, To study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly, and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive, myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.

Resolved, Never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession which I cannot hope God will accept

Resolved, To ask myself, at the end of each day, week, month, and year, wherein I could possibly, in any respect, have done better.

Resolved, Never to give over, nor in the least to slacken, my fight with corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.

Resolved, After afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them; what good I have got by them; and what I might have got by them.

Resolved, Always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it.

Let there be something of benevolence in all that I speak.

Sweet Endings, Happy Beginnings

2011-12-31T20:20:00.001-05:00

To end 2011 on a sweet note - one of my brothers, Davis, just got engaged to his lovely girlfriend, Danielle! To read the story and see the ring, check the blog post. Congratulations guys, this is great news to end the year on! Plans are undoubtedly already brewing for a very happy 2012 wedding!!

With Davis' wedding coming up that leaves...only 5 more weddings to go for my siblings (he's turning the tide, with 6 married and 5 not, we're heading downhill now!:-) I have a feeling I will be attending weddings all the way up until it's Kenna's turn, hah. Lucky thing that I *adore* weddings (who doesn't?!). We're so happy for you Davis & Dani - congrats and happy planning!!

Vacay!

2011-12-30T12:54:00.000-05:00

Time off can not be underestimated! I am feeling so rejuvenated!! We are not really doing anything at all...Brian is still working, but his jobsite is close by the house, so he can pop in for a little bit and take his breaks, which is sooo nice (and rare!). With all this spare time I'm finding...the house is clean and organized for once...and has stayed that way for a whole week so far. Talk about RARE. (It is incredible, by the way, the speeds at which 5 small children can destroy a house. I literally can not keep ahead of them, try as I might!...But I CAN keep ahead of 3!!) I've stayed up too late...but slept in everyday. WOW. We've just been having family fun, and fun with friends too...it's nice to get a break and recharge a little. It won't be but a few more days and we're back to crying babies, messes, schedules and school. C'est la vie!

Brooks' Angry Birds game arrived. They all love it! Here's Grey, playing "a-gah buh-ds" while holding the "a-gah buh-d". Still in his pj's, cause that's how we roll

What happens when you leave your kids to eat their dinner while you go do your hair and makeup. Less eating, more playing. Thanks Kenna!

Crafty Christmas

2011-12-29T12:36:00.002-05:00

Leave it to me to make Christmas a little bit homespun. Just because I feel like it keeps the holidays real and homey...and gives the kids something to do. And I like real creative things, cute things, handmade things, original things...THINGS! So I'll give you a few posts of things I did this year. You can stash them away in your mind for next year. This is something I saw on the Martha Stewart show, a la, The Letter 4. What a brilliant idea. I am in love! Let me 'splain this gorgeous, yet easy craft. Kid friendly too, if you don't mind glitter mess.

Cut citrus fruit in slices. I opted to only use limes, but any and all fruits would be delightful!
Pat juices off with paper towel, and bake in oven on a cookie sheet for 2 hours at 200 degrees, turning (and patting dry) about every 30 mins. This will dry them out. Once dried out, and cool, paint on some mod podge where ever you want glitter, and go to town!! Let dry, and tie with ribbon.

Can you tell which ones I've not glittered up yet?

Getting all the ribbons and messages tied on! The camera does not adequately capture the beauty and sparkle of these little ornaments. I will be making many more next year. I got to it late this time, and didn't finish with adequate time to give one to every one I wanted to. Spoiler alert for everyone next year, haha!!

"In debt, Amy? What do youmean?" and Meg looked sober. "Why, I owe at least a dozen pickled limes, and can't pay them, you know…"
"Tell me all about it. Are limes the fashion now?" and Meg tried to keep hercountenance, Amy looked so grave and important. "Why, you see, the girls are always buying them, and unless you want to be thoughtmean, you must do it, too. It's nothing but limes now… If one girl likesanother, she gives a lime; if she's mad at her, she eats one before her face,and don't offer even a suck. They treat by turns; and I've had ever so many,but haven't returned them: and I ought, for they are debts of honour…" Little Women (Louisa May Alcott)

Merry Christmas Friends! I owe many debts of honour, of which I cannot pay. I love you all forever!

Love Grows

2011-12-28T10:20:00.002-05:00

It's the 9th anniversary of our engagement. Time has both stood still, and flown. One thing is for sure, I love that man more than I did 9 years ago. And 9 years ago, I would have sworn to you that that was an impossibility. You can't imagine the way love grows until you experience it.

The footbridge in Central Park, NYC, where Brian got down on one knee in the snow and asked me to be his wife

Although this is a "real quote"...maybe someones quoting us. We had pretty much this identical conversation.
I dreamed of a wedding of elaborate elegance, a church filled with family and friends. I asked him what kind of wedding he wished for, he said one that would make me his wife - Author Unknown

Engaged!!!

He's also said that his only regret in the whole situation of falling in love, is that he didn't marry me sooner. Je t'aime.
When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible. - When Harry Met Sally

Engaged for 1 day! In Battery Park

I had this 8x8 made of special places to us. I have it printed, and will be framing it! Each place holds memories, like our first date, places we've lived, where our kids were born and stuff like that.

Check out my mom's site if you'd like something similar!

Eclectic #VI

2011-12-27T12:49:00.000-05:00

Starting about 7 years ago or so, Meghan, harnessing the power of iTunes, has made us an Eclectic Christmas Music Collection each year. We are are on the VI edition. That's the 6th, for those not so good at the roman numerals:-) I think last year maybe she was lacking inspiration and didn't do one. But the break afforded her ample time to come up with 15 more songs we have not yet had on our Christmas CD's. We love all these CD's and play them every year, they truly have the very best of Christmas music, all in one place. So here is a small sampling of the music we listen to this year, only 6 of the 15:-) Thank you Megs! The Eclectic Christmas Music is a highlight of the season!!

Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella - Downhere

Remember Me - Joey & Rory

Christmas and Me are Through - Your Vegas (She included this one for Brian. He loves this song, depressing as it is:-)

Christmas Eve With You - Glee (it's Puck and Rachel)

The Earth Stood Still - Future of Forestry

Song for a Winter's Night - Sarah McLaughlin

Christmas Video Montage

2011-12-27T12:33:00.000-05:00

Instead of 7 separate short videos, I combined them all into one, so it's longer (4mins), but not all of the same scene/thing. (The extra people you might see are our good friends, Tom & Chae, who opened gifts with us in the morning too:-)

So Very Merry

2011-12-27T11:18:00.001-05:00

We had a wonderful Christmas! Here are a few pictures to share with all our out of town family! We spent the holiday at home, due to Brian and Lauren's work schedules...so the rest of the Bolger side came to us! On Christmas eve we enjoyed lots of yummy food, watched A Christmas Story, read the Gift of the Magi, played games, stayed up until midnight, and opened our adult gifts from the adult gift exchange. We gave to, and got from, Ann & Mom.

Christmas morning we opened the last day of advent, and put baby Jesus on the manger. The kids got 1 piece per day to build the nativity over the course of the month

We opened gifts and had brunch starting at about 9:30-10:00. It was some YUMMY food...crumb cake, cinnamon rolls (best I've ever had!), quiche, tea cakes and curd...the list goes on...it was amazingly good. The funniest part of the food was the rice porridge. Which was apparently delicious. I did not taste it, and all who know me, know of my absolute disdain of porridge. So I had to give Ann a hard time when she suggested eating this for breakfast on Christmas morning, using leftover rice. I guess really it's more rice pudding-ish (another *fave* of mine, ack), but I thought it was funny anyhow. All the porridge lovers liked it!

Here are some of our "prezzies", as Grey calls them...

He received gifts from Keaton (cousins exchange), G&G Kennedy, G&G Bolger, Mommy&Daddy, Noni, Ann, & Meghan!

He received gifts from G&G Kennedy, G&G Bolger, Mommy&Daddy, Noni, Ann, & Meghan!...his cousins exchange gift is still in the mail...from Vienna. He will die when he receives it...it's his very own handheld angry birds game! He does not know he's missing a prezzie yet. He'll be thrilled!

She received gifts from Marshall (cousins exchange), G&G Kennedy, G&G Bolger, Mommy&Daddy, Noni, Ann, & Meghan

Chilling with "Meemaw. No no no no no no! Meemaw! No no no no no no" Grey thinks it is hilarious fun to NOT call Grandpa "Papa", but rather his Grandma word, "Meemaw"

It's a Charlie Brown Christmas...on Brian's brand new Blu-Ray player!!! Our regular/good DVD player broke early this year. We replaced it with the backup DVD player...one I've had since before we were married. It basically was not cooperative technology with the new style of tvs and stuff, so all the movies sounded awful and were very dark (sometimes almost black). But we were living with it. Until I saw a steal of a Black Friday deal and HAD to snag him a new LG Blu-Ray/DVD player. It is truly amazing:-) The price was about 80% off too, so it was amazing all around!

The biggest family photo yet!! Including Ann's new husband, Jacob, and Lauren's boyfriend, Dale.

A wonderful gift...to me, from Brian. I LOVE it!!!!

Backstory: When I was getting married, my mom gave me her Kenwood mixer...it was dying, and she got a new Bosch or something. We'll the Kenwood's still going! You cannot however, raise it beyond halfway way to level one...one at the MAX. It grinds and whirls and makes atrocious sounds. But it goes fast enough to kneed pizza dough, which is all I use it for...I have a hand held mixer for everything else. Enter my wonderful mother in law who took pity on my mixing plight! (when she tried to use the machine when I wasn't home she got the scare of her life. I'm not kidding when I say do not raise above level one:-)! Guess what I happily threw in the garbage on Christmas Day?? RIP Kenmore, you've served 2 families very well, but your time is up! I now have a phenomenal KITCHENAID. Wahoooooooo!!!

Trying out a gift - Wii "attachments" to make the remote look like the actual sports equipment

Dale and Jake, a friendly rivalry going on! Dale sacrificially bought Jake a Cowboys backpack for school for his birthday (on the 26th) :-)

Another post with video coming soon!

Short Story

2011-12-26T12:15:00.001-05:00

We read the Gift of the Magi together on Christmas eve this year: This is one of my favourite parts of this precious story about sacrificial giving. May we have hearts that strive to give out of our need, and not out of our abundance alone...
***
The Gift of the Magi - O. Henry, an excerpt. Click here for the whole story

Della finished her cry and attended to her cheeks withthe powder rag. She stood by the window and looked out dullyat a gray cat walking a gray fence in a gray backyard.Tomorrow would be Christmas Day, and she had only $1.87 withwhich to buy Jim a present. She had been saving every pennyshe could for months, with this result. Twenty dollars aweek doesn't go far. Expenses had been greater than she hadcalculated. They always are. Only $1.87 to buy a present forJim. Her Jim. Many a happy hour she had spent planning forsomething nice for him. Something fine and rare andsterling--something just a little bit near to being worthyof the honor of being owned by Jim.

There was a pier-glass between the windows of the room.Perhaps you have seen a pier-glass in an $8 flat. A very thin and very agile person may, by observing his reflection in arapid sequence of longitudinal strips, obtain a fairlyaccurate conception of his looks. Della, being slender, hadmastered the art.

Suddenly she whirled from the window and stood beforethe glass. her eyes were shining brilliantly, but her facehad lost its color within twenty seconds. Rapidly she pulleddown her hair and let it fall to its full length.

Now, there were two possessions of the James DillinghamYoungs in which they both took a mighty pride. One was Jim'sgold watch that had been his father's and his grandfather's.The other was Della's hair. Had the queen of Sheba lived inthe flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hairhang out the window some day to dry just to depreciateHer Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been thejanitor, with all his treasures piled up in the basement,Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he passed,just to see him pluck at his beard from envy...

Christmas & Food - Recipe

2011-12-24T08:25:00.000-05:00

In getting ready for Christmas Dinner, I'm making our holiday jellied salad today - the best one you've ever had, I promise! I looked up the recipe in this book: My mom and Grandma worked on compiling all the best family recipes and food related stories right before Grandma passed away. It's full of old time family recipes, pictures, and funny stories!

My Mom, Beccy, is standing in the back beside my Grandpa

Reading and reminiscing through the book, as I dallied on getting to my cooking, I read that Grandpa Sylvanus Shantz (my Great-Grandfather - who passed away before I was born) hated carrots. REALLY?! See, ever since I was a kid, I have been unable to eat fruit cobbler. It literally makes me barf. Apparently, just like my Great Grandpa, who had the same problem, my Mom and Grandma would tell me. Now reading that he hated carrots too (as I do. Fresh is ok, cooked is OUT. I wonder if he was the same way?)...how strange is it the things that runs in our genes!! I think we would've got along just great at family functions, my Grandpa and me!

Anyway, here is a Shantz family favourite guaranteed not to make you barf. Delish!!!

Apple Dream Salad (family favourite for special occasions)

1 pkg lemon jello
Make jello. Chill until like "egg white" consistency.
Add and then let set:
1 unpeeled apple, cut in chunks
1 banana, sliced
1 can crushed pineapple, drained (reserve juice)
Topping:
4T sugar
1 egg, beaten
1T flour
reserved pineapple juice
Cook until thick. Cool. Add prepared Dream Whip (1 pkg). Spread over jello. May be garnished with walnuts (optional).

Aaaahhhh! - Video

2011-12-20T12:57:00.001-05:00

Something I can pretty much tune out. Five kids, ages 5 & under. Riding happily in a van. Don't be fooled, happy can still drive you nuts! They have quite the knack for noisemaking! Sorry it's sideways, I just held my phone up behind me while driving, and had it upright...I guess it needed to be sideways for video. So many learning curves with a new phone! Anyway, the picture is really not the point as much as the sound!

Random

2011-12-19T11:42:00.002-05:00

They were jealous of Ardyn's hair do!

21 months, almost 12 months, & 23 months old!

Grey, Ardyn & Sonny

We're getting ready for Christmas...it used to be such a quick and easy thing. Now, because I don't want to be a loser mom, were baking kid messy stuff (dipping pretzel rods in chocolate today), making crafts, gifts, messes. Oi! Our first Christmas together consisted of wrapping about 5 gifts. Done. Those were the days!! BUT - on the flipside we are having lots of fun and I hope the kids will remember our fun holiday traditions forever!

Although easier, I do suppose it was slightly more boring:-)

Between giving and getting, we're starting to overflow the tree!

Also cleaning the house really well for the holidays too. Yay. However, it makes me realize we have too much stuff - like, it's sitting out, because I don't have a place for it!! Where to put it all, or throw it away?! When we moved from New York to Virginia, this was all we owned (plus couch, loveseat & bed). Those were the days!!! Its not hard to clean an empty house that's for sure:-)

Loving the crazy, can't wait for it to all be over and enjoy the holidays with family!!

Blast from the Past

2011-12-15T11:01:00.000-05:00

February 1999: When there were only 10 of us!
An embarrassingly long time ago!
L-R, Bottom - Top: Darla, Brent, Lauryn, Jared, Davis, Logan, Kaden, Janessa, Jillaine, Lehman
Christmas '99, our last baby sister Maryn joined the family

Indian Boots

2011-12-15T10:56:00.001-05:00

So, a friend of mine Teresa, found this "modest" clothing company. As a former small chested gal (and now quite the opposite), it is very hard to find cami's and so forth that give adequate coverage. I've tried these items and love them! As part of a promo/fashion show I was able to get a cami for $11, and this dress (normally $65) for $20! The neat thing about the clothes is that they are fully reversible with a "high" side and a "low" side. Not sure if everything they sell is reversible, but I think so...the cami and the dress I have certainly are! Anyway, it's called Molly's Clothing, and is made so that regular clothing items purchased at the store (which may be very low, or too short etc), can be nicely adapted.

Anyway, on to the funny part...{and for background, First Nations, is what Canada calls the "native indians", just in case you have no idea what we are talking about - and this was the first time the boots have been referred to in such a way!}

Brian and I were going out last night...as we are getting ready...

Brian: Arrrrrre you going to wear your First Nations boots with that?
Darla: uh, yah, I mean, they are kinda the only thing I have that goes with it
Brian: Doooo we think it goes?
Darla: Well, we love First Nation-y things, so I guess so!
Brian: So you don't have anything more...smaller?

Ok, so someone was not a fan of my choice of footwear, but given ALL my other winter shoe options, {and my new found desire to defend First Nations apparel}, I felt it really was my best choice, so I wore them anyway:-)

At the insistence of my Mother, here are some pics of the get-up. Notice all the feathers and dream catchers on my boots? yah...I didn't either:-D Kenna snapped the pics, and no, she didn't cut my head off. I did that in the editing process, as I really didn't want to redo the hair and makeup - and didn't want to detract from the beauty of the boots with my just got out of bed look.

I'll give you that I likely need better footwear, but short of a shoe shopping trip - this is where its at!

Wearing the dress on the "low" side. It has a cap sleeve.

Praying - Video

2011-12-13T20:54:00.001-05:00

Here's our Brooksie praying. I tried to videotape him on the sly, so he wouldn't see the camera and get embarrassed. I'm sure it's probably a little sacrilegious to do this, but writing out the words doesn't do it justice, for the expression in his voice and on his face:-) He's so sincere...and can be quite the long winded pray-er! I've posted some as the kids quotes on the side bar of the blog, another funny one was "thank you Lord for my excellent brain and making me so good at math". These ones were pretty short, and of course, cute as pie. He's such a tenderhearted little guy:-)

*Booka-Chooka is one of Grey's nicknames. And in the second prayer he is thanking God for stealing the power back from Satan, in case that is a little hard to understand.

Football - Video

2011-12-13T20:40:00.000-05:00

We do this a lot around here. Playing catch! Brooks gets his skills from his super athletic mother, {wink wink}. Just joking, but since Daddy is often at work, the catch playing falls to mommy. Lucky for Brian (or maybe for Brooks and Grey!), I had a lot of brothers, so know how to throw a ball:-)

Smiles

2011-12-13T20:27:00.002-05:00

These things are making me smile...

Relaxing...snuggy boots, and a lit tree

Brooks, typing gibberish for a letter

Kenna reading to baby May - Sonny's little sister. We'll have her full time in January!

Not what I meant, when I told them to put on a new roll...

That's more like it!

Cupcake Icing - Recipes

2011-12-10T12:14:00.001-05:00

Last night was the Ladies Christmas Party at Avalon Hills, and I was lucky to be in on some of the planning! I had a (hopefully) fun idea to have a cupcake "bar", where you decorate your own cupcake, a la Cake Boss, or DC Cupcakes...or something like that. Who doesn't love a cake...the size of a cup...with tons of icing...and a garnish? I figured everyone is probably like me, watching these shows on tv and drooling every week! It seemed to be quite the hit, so, at the unending request of the public here are the recipes I used for this event. Enjoy!

CUPCAKE RECIPE
I had grand and yummy ideas of all the cake flavours I would like to make for the event, but taking into consideration my real world, and not the fantasy one in my head where I bake and craft all day...I had to think about my busy schedule, time constraints, and volume of production (100+ cupcakes needed), and decided to go the easy route. DUNCAN HINES baby. This is my very favourite brand, because of moist-ness, texture, and flavour. The secret to a cupakes is not to overbake them. I made Duncan Hines Devil's Food and D.H. French Vanilla as per the instructions on the box. I am very familiar with my oven, so I knew that 17 mins was the perfect amount of time to cook them without overdoing it. They were very very moist and yummy!

ICING RECIPES
Since the cupcakes were pretty "plain" I had to make the icings fun and yummy to give it all some interest! The suggested combos were: Chocolate & Oreo, Vanilla & Cookies, Coffee & Chocolate, Peppermint, Lemon & Strawberry and Blackberry

A pre-made example of the cupcake combos! People could mix it up as they wished though:-)

VANILLA BUTTERCREAM - garnish with Mini Nilla Wafer (or big ones, cut in half)
1/2 C butter, softened to room temp
1 t vanilla extract
4 C icing sugar (confectioners sugar or powdered sugar, to the Americans who are currently scratching their heads:-)
3 T milk (I used whole milk)

Beat together. Makes enough to ice a small layer cake, or cover about 18 cupcakes.

CHOCOLATE BUTTERCREAM - garnish with Mini Oreos
1/2 C butter, softened to room temp
1 t vanilla extract
4 C icing sugar
3 T milk
2 squares unsweetened baking chocolate, melted

Beat together. Makes enough to ice a small layer cake, or cover about 18 cupcakes. This one can get a little thick, especially if not used right away. Can thin it down with a touch more milk.
********
Now I'm about to go all Rachael Ray on you, and give you un-precise recipes, using terms like "a splash" and "a zhuzh". I didn't really measure, I just did it, and it turned out...

COFFEE BUTTERCREAM - garnish with snack size Hershey bar square or a chocolate covered espresso bean
1/2 C butter, softened to room temp
4 C icing sugar
dissolve 1 t of instant coffee in 2 t of boiling water
about 2 1/2 T of milk (take away just a little b/c of the liquid coffee)
....I may or may not have added 1 t of vanilla too. I can't remember. Make it as above, and if you think it's missing something, add vanilla:-)

Beat together. Makes enough to ice a small layer cake, or cover about 18 cupcakes

LEMON BUTTERCREAM - garnish with fresh strawberry
1/2C butter, softened to room temp
1 t vanilla extract
4 C icing sugar
2 T lemon juice
zest from 1 lemon
Add enough milk to make it look "right", should be less than 1T.
Beat together. Makes enough to ice a small layer cake, or cover about 18 cupcakes.

PEPPERMINT BUTTERCREAM - garnish with a peppermint "round" or a tiny candy cane
1/2 C butter, softened to room temp
4 C icing sugar
3 T milk
1/2 t - 1 t of peppermint extract
crush peppermints or candy canes into very very small pieces

I added about 3/4t of peppermint, I think. You can always add more, but can't take it away, so start with 1/2t, then taste it and add more as needed. Beat together. Makes enough to ice a small layer cake, or cover about 18 cupcakes

BLACKBERRY BUTTERCREAM - garnish with fresh blackberry
1/2 C butter, softened to room temp
3+ C icing sugar
3 T milk
splash of lemon juice
1 or 2 spoonfuls of seedless blackberry preserves

Cut down a little on the icing sugar, as the blackberry preserves are also very sweet, you will need 3C, and maybe another 1/2 cup of icing sugar. Add preserves a little at a time, you can always add more, but can't get it back out! A small splash of lemon juice helps keep the sweetness in check from the sugar and the berries, and so cut back your milk accordingly (adding less than 3T, to coincide with the amount of lemon juice added)

To apply the icing in a fancy way, use icing tips!! (The large sized ones). I have Wiltons, 1M (x2), 2A, 2D, and Astor brand equivalents to 2A & 2D, which are slightly larger. Put these in the bottom of a disposable icing bag, snip the tip off, put all your icing in the bag, twist and hold the top of the bag while squeezing it midway down. It takes only a little practice and muscles to get it perfect every time!

Christmas Letter 2011

2011-12-09T15:44:00.000-05:00

To read our Christmas Letter this year, click here
To see our Christmas Pictures this year, click here to see the video with music, and click here to see the stills

You will be able to see it really big, zoom in as you need to or print it out. I won't be sending a copy in the Christmas card this year, just referring everyone to the online version:-)

We are surrounded by wonderful family (although physically far, they feel close:-) and have the best friends that anyone could ever ask for. Thank you all for being so good to us. We love you all, and wish everyone well this Christmas season!

Pictures

2011-12-06T08:23:00.001-05:00

This post will be a little picture heavy, so I'll keep it light on words. Enjoy pictures from our photo shoot, 2011. It was hard to pick my faves out of 200 choices!

It takes two men to make one brother. Israel Zangwill

He must be so tall that when he is on his knees, he reaches all the way to heaven. His shoulders must be broad enough to bear the burden of a family. His lips must be strong enough to smile, firm enough to say no, and tender enough to kiss. He must be big enough to be gentle and great enough to be thoughtful. His arms must be strong enough to carry a child. Ruth Graham Bell

Let us make one point. That we meet each other with a smile, when it is difficult to smile. Smile at each other. Make time for each other in your family. Mother Teresa

It takes strong marriages to build strong families; It takes strong families to build strong people; It takes strong people to build a strong nation. Gary Ezzo

I, who have no sisters or brothers, look with some degree of innocent envy on those who may be said to be born to friends. James Boswell

Certain is it that there is no kind of affection so purely angelic as of a father to a daughter. In love to our wives there is desire; to our sons, ambition; but to our daughters there is something which there are no words to express. Joseph Addison


My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard. Mother would come out and say, "You're tearing up the grass". "We're not raising grass," Dad would reply. "We're raising boys". Harmon Killebrew

My Favourite Things

2011-12-05T21:23:00.000-05:00

I'm really late posting my favourite things from November! Yikes. Been way to busy lately! So here it is! Yearly pictures. Once a year, (usually around the fall/winter) seems to be perfect for me! Find a budding photographer near you and get a few pictures. You won't be disappointed. It's SOOO worth the money, and especially if you can find someone new to the biz with a fancy camera, it likely won't cost very much. If but if you live here, I know of two very affordable photographers I'd love to recommend.

From our picture session in 2007 with Chani Rogers, she is very laid back and easy to work with. Check out her site for pricing and some cute pics!

From our photo session in 2008 with Kari Kennedy, my sister in law! At the time, she was just my brothers friend, and about to go to photography school

Photo session 2008, with Kari Kennedy. Some gorgeous all time faves from that shoot. If you live in Alberta or Saskatchewan, check her out!

Photo session 2009 with Chani Rogers

I literally get these blown up bigger when I have a coupon, and put on canvas, when I can find a deal. They are always so gorgeous, you can't pick just one. They all tell the story of us. I wish I'd done this in 2003-2006 of just Brian and I before we had kids, but I didn't really think it was important at the time. How life changes!

Photo session 2010 with Ben & Joy Hallock. They don't have a site yet, but let me know if you want to contact them, and I'll pass on their info. Remarkable photographers, and great friends!

If you've never had a professional shoot some pics of you...let me tell you, its worth every penny! I can't afford to pay "major league" prices, but by finding budding (but EXCELLENT) photographers, we keep the cost low, and still get the treasures that make my heart sing every time I see them. Since I can't take a decent pic to save my life, this is a "favourite thing" that will not go out any time soon...I'll be doing this forever!

Catching Up

2011-12-05T19:09:00.001-05:00

I've been lax in getting pictures uploaded and posted. Yikes! These are from Thanksgiving Weekend...

Getting the table set and ready for FOOD!

Eating brownies, homemade ice cream and hot fudge!

Helping Auntie Noni (Lauren) set up her little tree. We love having her as our neighbour!

Santa, spreading the usual Christmas cheer

Grandma, Grandpa and Meghan visiting for the holiday

Going to see the Festival of Lights with Auntie Noni and Dale, her boyfriend

You drive through the botanical gardens slowly and see all the amazing things! This was an "underwater" display

A fun kid activity. They had a complete blast! We only had 1 hotdog left, and I saw this idea online - it made good use of the hot dog, splitting it up between 3 kids, and gave them some fun playing with their food:-)

Yummy. The kids were utterly amazed that the spaghetti would cook through the hot dog. Parents are just soooo smart!

Time Off

2011-12-03T16:11:00.001-05:00

Poor Brian...Let me tell you something about Brian. He works. A lot. The last vacation he took was going to Canada for Christmas...when I was pregnant with Grey (2009). He's had "moments of time" off - like going to his sisters wedding - from Friday to Sunday. But nothing that really counts as a vacation since the break in 2009! (Let me tell you something else about Brian - he hates working:-D)

He works anywhere from 12-16 hours per day. Six or SEVEN days a week. Usually it's six days a week, unless things are going terribly wrong, as they do from time to time, and then it's working on Sunday too, either for the whole day, or a half day. This is anywhere from 72 to 112 hours per week that he is out of the house working (either his superintendent job with Woodard or his own side work). I would guess his average is likely around 80hrs per week, with some weeks being very crazy, and some being more "normal" (Normal is a 12 hr day - Crazy is like the time in May when for a 2 wk period he was scheduled on a day job AND a night job, so he slept from 6am to 10am - working TWENTY HOURS a day...he worked 140 hrs in just one week!! - and lived off those pricey 5hr energy drinks)

He does not get paid by the hour. If he did, I'd be like Oprah and buy you a new car just for reading. That'd be nice, wouldn't it?!

So he does not get very many extra minutes in his life to hang out at home. Let alone do our projects around the house. So he took a week off of work...to work. Haha. The poor man can't catch a break, can he?!

So he's been "off work" since Thanksgiving Thursday. It's been wonderful to have him around lots! Unfortunately he's still had to work:-) Finishing the bathroom, doing our yard again, cleaning the gutters, finishing painting the rental house. And lots of miscellaneous chores, like cleaning up the garage and his vehicles. But he's been around to visit with during the day! He's been able to hang out with some friends! He's been able to sleep in past 5:45am! All a very big deal and giving him a much need 'stay'-cation.

I can't wait to show you the bathroom, it is sooo pretty!! I'm going to NOT post any pics until its all done! We still have a bit of painting to do! I feel like I will be motivated to get it done fast (before Christmas) if I hold the big reveal at "ransom" until I finish:-)

Let me tell you, if ever there was a day, when we were caught up on our home renos and he consistently had 2 days off a week like a normal person...we'd be positively clueless as to what to do with ourselves!

Grey's Update

2011-12-02T08:39:00.001-05:00

Grey is turning into a BOY! He is moving out of his "stare/glare" faze, and has started talking, smiling and responding to people outside our family. He's a bit of a rough guy, compared to tenderhearted Brooks. He has no "problems" pushing, shoving, screaming or snatching to get what he wants. He is capable of physically removing Brooks and Kenna from chairs, rocking horse etc, by yelling and yanking them off! They usually cry and don't know what to do, as they know defending themselves could hurt "the baby". So a whole new set of issues to address with this little guy!

The Wednesday before Thanksgiving, he did a first for our family. He swallowed a marble (found under the couch when we moved it to clean). He didn't choke or anything, he literally swallowed it as soon as he grabbed it! I called the doctor...it will pass! Sure enough, it was recovered on that Sunday.

He is talking more and more. A wonderful example of the evolution of his speech is Brooks' name. It went from Itsy, to Uhtsie, to Buh-sie, to the current Booksie. Kenna has been Nenny, Nenna, and is currently Kiki. He calls himself Gay-Gay. He's putting lots of words together for sentences and puts in a fair amount of gibberish still too.

He loves "Daddy's trucks", as he calls all trucks he sees on the road. He loves dinosaurs and sports too, although is not nearly as obsessed with throwing balls and catching them as Brooks was. He loves to read with us!

We love our baby so much, he makes us all smile!

To read his previous update, click here

Brooks' Update

2011-12-01T23:41:00.001-05:00

Brooks is a sweet little guy. He has already outgrown his speech "letter R issues", and is slowly outgrowing his nervousness and fears. He's sports obsessed, and very athletic, but yet still very much a thinker and nervous about life. He is showing quite a propensity for math, and still loves to cuddle when he wakes up. We love his zest for life! Here are a few questions I asked him on Thanksgiving Day (2011)

What do you want to be when you grow up? A rock star player. A singer, but I will not sing in front of people, only in my bed at bedtime. And when I grow up I want to be a teenager. And I want to have my own costume of Spiderman.

What is your favourite thing about life? Life? Life! Playing the kazoo, the rock star, the guitar...what else is my favourite instrument? ...the tuba!

What is your favourite thing about Daddy? He gives me great dinner, and I like how he makes our eggs, and I like how he is good to us and to my mom, and how he's wonderful and loves Jesus and hearts.

What is your favourite thing about Mommy? I love how Mommy tucks me into bed, and how she says good words to Dad. And how she loves Grey Grey

What is your favourite thing about your sister and brother? Grey Grey is so cute, and he's soooo adorable. And I'm very sadthat he swallowed a marble, and I hope he doesn't die because then we wouldn'thave him. Like if it gives him cancer, we have to go to the doctor to fix it. And my favourite thing about Kenna is when she wakes up, her eyes are all, likered, and puffy and her hair is all crazy all over the place, and I'm likeKenna, are you asleep? And she's like No! and I'm like, oooh. Well, so thats myfavourite thing about my sister.

To read his previous updates, click here

Kenna's Update

2011-12-01T11:18:00.000-05:00

Kenna is a sweet little ~~manipulator~~ girl:-) Lets just say she is very "creative" in thinking up ways to get her own way. She has a very tender heart and sweet spirit. She adores babies and loves being Mommy's helper. She can remember everything, literally. We love our little princess! Here are a few questions I asked her on Thanksgiving day (2011).

What do you want to be when you grow up? I want to sing on American Idol, and be a mom. And next when I grow up, I want to be a dentist.

What is your favourite thing to do? My favourite thing to do is being with my family and being with Jesus. My other favorite thingis being with my friends, and I love taking pictures. And I think that'sprobably it. If I think of more I can do more, but...that's actually a lot,what I already said.

What is your favourite thing about Daddy? That he works so hard and he loves us, and sometimes hemakes bacon for us.

What is your favourite thing about Mommy? She cooks us very yummy dinner, and helps me with my room, andtucks me into bed and I'm glad that she, um, paints the walls in my room, and Ilove her.

What do like about your name? I like Bolger, it's like my favourite name, it goes with Kennedy, and our wholefamily, and Grandma is a Bolger too, which is surprising to me.

What do you love about your brothers? I love brothers the most, cause they are really cute, well Grey Grey is. AndBrooks has these cute eyes in the morning, like kinda Chinese-ish. I wish I had a girl, cause, like, I'm just alone in my room, and when I'malone I don't have anyone. That's why I liked having Janessa. She was like ourteenager sister. But boys are good too cause when they grow up they will killall the bad guys and protect our family, so boys are good for that, thats whatI love about them.

To read her previous updates, click here

Quote Archive 2011

2011-12-01T07:00:00.000-05:00

I've always loved quotes, and have quite a collection of them. I love to share one per month on my blog.

"I have gathered a posie of other men's flowers, and nothing but the thread that binds them is mine own" John Bartlett

He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories of His righteousness, and wonders of His love. Joy to the World, Isaac Watts

Everyone wants to win, but not everyone wants to prepare to win. Edward Smith

I saw no likeness to Him in you today, and since I shall not pass your way again, it matters not that yesterday His light shone in you, or that tomorrow you may want to make amends, for I passed your way today. John Deems

A persons maturity ismeasured by his willingness to sacrifice present pleasures for future benefits. Anon

He only half dies who leaves an image of himself in his sons. Carlo Goldoni

I always prefer to believe the best of everybody - it saves so much trouble. Rudyard Kipling

When a man opens the car door for his wife, it's either a new car or a new wife. Prince Philip (Consort of Queen Elizabeth II)

I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble. Helen Keller

Some people grumble that roses have thorns. I am thankful that thorns have roses. Alphonse Karr

Resolve to be tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and wrong. Because some day in life you will have been all of these. George Washington Carver

Pray for me, that my concern for the poor will not distract me from the person of Jesus Christ. Mother Teresa

Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see. John W Whitehead

Special Skills

2011-11-30T12:49:00.001-05:00

Grey doesn't like the skins on apples. I should really peel them first...but there is no way I can peel them with so little waste! He sticks a slice in his mouth, rolls is around until every last bit of flesh is gone, and out come the peel. That counts as a special skill, according to big brother:-)

Meghan's Yummies - Recipe

2011-11-29T17:53:00.001-05:00

Brian's youngest sister Meghan is a good cook! She has a couple amazing go-to dessert recipes that are quick, easy and sooo delicious. First her brownies, then her fudge sauce.

Meghan's Brownies (likely the best I've ever had. They taste better than a mix for sure, and are almost as easy to make, promise)
1/4C butter
1 C semi sweet chocolate chips
3/4C sugar
2/3 C flour
1/2 t vanilla
1/4 t baking powder
1/4 t salt
2 eggs
1/2 C chopped nuts, optional
1/2 C chocolate chips, optional

Grease bottom only of square pan (8x8) with shortening. Heat butter and 1 C chocolate chips in saucepan over low heat stirring constantly until melted. Remove from heat, stir remaining ingredients except nuts and choc. chips until smooth. Stir in nuts and choc. chips. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 min. or until center is set.

The Best Hot Fudge Sauce Ever!
1C semi sweet chocolate chips
2T butter
1 can (14oz) sweetened condensed milk
2T water
1t vanilla

In saucepan, over medium heat, melt choc. chips and butter with sweetened condensed milk, water and vanilla. Cook and stir constantly until thickened (about 5 mins). Serve warm over ice cream. Refrigerate leftovers.

Get Ready!

2011-11-27T18:55:00.001-05:00

The big bathroom reveal post will be coming at you soon!!

Angry Birds, Homemade - Video

2011-11-27T18:52:00.001-05:00

Well, early Saturday morning, while trying to sleep in a little, I was met with a request..."Can we go outside really quick? We need a stick" Sure. So I got up to see what was going on. It seems that they decided to make their own version of Angry Birds, using playmobil, duplo, an elastic band and a "slingshot shaped" stick. It took them awhile to get the hang of shooting the bird. Daddy was able to shoot the pig from waaaay across the room! So impressive!

There were all sorts of configurations and "levels of difficult" concerning the trees, blocks, and pig:-)

They are nothing if not creative! :-)

How to Fry a Turkey

2011-11-26T13:31:00.001-05:00

...safely. As Brian said, "leave it to Louisiana to come up with the most dangerous way to celebrate the holidays" haha. Follow us and our adventure...

We decided to embark on unknown territory when Brian was offered a turkey fryer to borrow. We've never done this before, never tasted the results before...and are really generally just completely ignorant to the whole turkey frying process. So we googled it. This is how we did it, taking in advice from many many sites, and combining all the helpful tips into one post:-)

BUY or HAVE
1. Turkey Fryer (with thermometer and injector)
2. 3+ Gallons of peanut oil (we needed 4 gallons)
3. A turkey, no bigger than 14lbs (ours was 13.5)
4. Propane tank

A few pointers...#1: Don't be an idiot. Do this outside. This goes without saying perhaps, but I guess you never know. #2: Peanut oil is not cheap. I got 3 gallons in a large bucket at walmart for $29.99. I texted my dear hubby and said "this is going to be the most expensive turkey in the WORLD". I'm a cheapskate, so the cost of the ordeal is perhaps a bit of a deterrent. In the end we were lacking enough oil to cover the bird, so had to buy 1 more gallon. cha-ching. I will now be deep frying everything in sight to get my money's worth out of that oil. Using peanut oil is preferred, as it has a very high smoking point, thereby requiring less monitoring than using another type of oil.

Prepare your bird!! Tip #3: Oil and water do not mix, as you well know. Have a completely thawed bird, about 18-24 hrs in advance, inject the bird all over (into the meat) with a marinade. Let it sit until you need it, you will want a completely thawed, DRY and room temperature bird, so plan accordingly.

I was looking online for what to inject the bird with, and had some trouble coming up with recipes that did not include the words Cajun or Creole or that didn't use red wine. Only because I wanted something simple that I could make with ingredients I already had at the house. I found this recipe through a link on eHow, and it was delicious. I made it twice, 'cause Brian thought it needed more.

1/2C chicken broth
2T butter
1T lemon juice
1/2 t garlic powder
1/2 t finely ground pepper
salt to taste
*Melt butter in small saucepan, add all other ingredients, except the salt. Mix well. Add salt until it has a slightly salty flavour. Load into meat injector.

This was delicious!

Tip #4: Rig up your turkey "hook" onto a broom handle. As it says online, "this is when most people catch on fire". So yah, when lowering the turkey into the pot, have good control and stay back as far as you can. Even with a dry room temp turkey, it pops and sizzles like you would not believe.
Tip#5: Displacement. Put the turkey in the pot. Fill the pot with oil until the bird is just covered. Remove the bird. Heat the oil, and replace when it's ready. This will insure that you don't over flow the oil with the displacement the bird causes.

We heated the oil up to 375 (which took about a hour or a little less), and then put the bird in, and tried to get it back up to 350 to maintain that heat. You generally cook the turkey for 3min per pound, we added a couple minutes on to the end of the cooking time, as we lost about 100 degrees putting the turkey in, and it took longer than we thought it should to get it back up to temp. When lowering the bird in the oil TURN OFF THE GAS. Then lower it slowly, inch by inch, sometimes bobbing it back up a little, until its submerged. Then turn the gas back on when you are done.

When you are ready to take it out, TURN OFF THE GAS. Bring it up slowly and let it drip off.

Yum! We all have to agree, that this was far and away the most phenomenal turkey ever! It was so tender and juicy and perfect!...not greasy or oily as you might expect. We think we'll save that oil and do another one at Christmas!!

GIVEAWAY!!

2011-11-26T09:05:00.001-05:00

Go ahead and check out my moms new site! She is trying to get a little business going, making this gorgeous art for your home (check out the link for other things, if you are not into the birthdays), anyway, she having a GIVEAWAY! All you have to do is follow her blog, facebook it, tweet it, or blog it, and leave a comment for each, and then you are entered to WIN! That is at least 4 chances to win!

Christmas is coming...

2011-11-22T20:22:00.001-05:00

Time to put away all the craft stuff and get ready for turkey!! This is the adorable centerpiece I made for the table this year...inspired/copied from my friend Sarah. I love how it turned out...soooo cute!!

"Give Thanks"

Also been working on some Christmas stuff!!

A sneak peak at our cards this year. I need to fill this basket..lots more work!

Some cool "wrappings" I've made so far...

what a minty cool tin!

Ahhh, wouldn't you love to know whats in this? For my sister in law:-)

DVD tin, inside shot...

DVD tin...the outside. For one of my brothers, Kaden. I bet he's curious now, right?

Oh, the bottom of the peppermint tin. Using paper, Creative Memories circle cutting system, and sticky strip, I covered over all the original info

Friday Family Zzzzz

2011-11-21T18:58:00.001-05:00

Friday night family night, complete with our homemade pizza tradition, and Gnomeo & Juliet via Netflix...and Daddy conked out on the couch. Busy, busy week - he was exhausted!

Rental House Updates

2011-11-21T10:59:00.001-05:00

We have renters! Before they moved in, we had a few chores to do...

We refinished the floors. They look like glass now!

Kids helping, by staying out of the way (and napping)

The driveway is very long (holds 5 to 6 cars single file!)...the backyard fence was not connected. You can kind of see in this pic where the chain link fence stopped at the concrete of the drive. So Brian decided to fence off some of the driveway, so you could park behind the fence if you want. Here are the new posts, setting up in concrete.

movie time on the portable dvd player. They were really bored, poor things. We had some interior work to do, like install smoke detectors and a bathroom towel rack, and paint the pantry closet.

We began priming! The house is 90% primed. The house has never been painted before, that grey colour is the colour of the asbestos siding naturally. HAH. It's an older house. It won't hurt you unless you take it off, no worries:-)

The fence is up...the gate is not yet finished. Renters have a small dog, so the fence had to be up by their arrival on Sunday. This coming week over the holidays Brian will make it swing so you can drive through it.

Painted!! One coat of Sherwin Williams Regatta. Brian picked this out on his own...when we do our house, I will have some input...I want a "smokier", navy kind of tone to it for our home, but this actually does look really great on this little house. It will be a bit darker too, once the 2nd coat goes on next week. Brian has an obsession/fascination with blue houses, haha. I tend toward the more neutral tones as my fave.

Lest you think its finished...no. Probably only about 15% of the house has the 1st coat of the final colour

Gotta do that little overhang part! It's getting there, right?

All the interior stuff is done, so it's just finishing the paint and fence outside...so we hopefully won't bother our new renters, who moved in on Sunday! All the neighbours were coming out and complimenting us on the nice colour. It really does pop with the white!

Work work work!

Bolger Family Pics - Sneak Peak

2011-11-17T12:34:00.001-05:00

We had our family pictures taken again this year. Here's a sneak peak...Enjoy!

If you missed our video last year and want to see it, click here. I just had to watch it again and see the unbelievable difference that one year makes. We've been incredibly blessed.

Unique Art

2011-11-16T12:35:00.001-05:00

This post is a shameless plug...a commercial of sorts...for my MOM. Cause she deserves it! And also because I am in love with this idea, it's just perfect! My Mom has the talent/inspiration, the eye, and the software to make some really neat, unique, personalized art. This makes a spectacular gift for the hard-to-buy for.
Take a look! Pricing at the bottom of the post!

Birthday Art. Your choice of background colour and design. Highlight a few of the dates, your choice which ones, and in what order they appear. In this case, it is a family, and the parents birthdays are highlighted. Available in sizes 4x6 through 11x14


Another different colour choice. This one is for my lovely sister Lauryn. The highlighted date is their anniversary. This art looks so cool in every colour and design I have seen!

Another cool personalized item for the hard to buy for family member or friend: For the world traveller - countries, major cities, important sites visited. For Grandparents of a big brood - all the names of the grandchildren or great grandchildren. For couples - all the places you've lived (street names, cities, areas). The ideas here are pretty much endless! You will have a choice of a few fonts, and will submit all the words you want included. Each one will be very different and unique. Below is not "for" anyone. I just sent my mom random words for different places in New York State that I remembered off the top of my head so she could do a "places" mock up. Love it!

Available in sizes 4x6 through 11x14. Either portrait or landscape orientation (your choice). Background colours suggestion either solid black or brown, but again your choice if you prefer something different. If you do not specify, it will be black & white

HOW TO BUY/PRICING:

Email Rebecca Kennedy at thekennedyklan@gmail.com. and check out her site too. Each design comes with very personal attention. You will be sent a proof to be sure that the colours & fonts are what you desire, and that all the dates are correct. After approving the proof...

A print, mailed to you: does not include frame.
4x6: 20.00
5x7: 25.00
8x10: 30.00
11x14: 40.00
Larger/different sizes, photo panels and canvas are also available. Please ask for a specific size and pricing. Additional shipping charges may apply. For long distance or international orders a digital copy of the print can be emailed to you: File size will be rather large, so that the picture will print with supreme quality. You will need to have this printed at your local photo development place.

I love this stuff, its so pretty, and for the "memory preserving freak" like me, its the perfect gift (to give or GET, hint hint Mom:-). Also, if you know me you can ask me to see something else she makes that I LOVE, but we can't advertise it yet due to licensing issues. You'll be glad you asked, promise!!

Wish List - Video

2011-11-15T13:47:00.001-05:00

My brother Jared called today to see what Brooks might be interested in for Christmas, since cousin Vienna has his name in the cousins gift exchange.

Well, we very rarely ever ask the kids what they want for any given occasion. We do low-key birthdays and Christmas time we like to emphasize giving, and Jesus' birth and not think about what we might be receiving for a present. Today after talking with Jay, I thought I would video his requests to share with Vienna. And it was so cute, I figured I should share it with everyone.

*Vienna - you are forbidden to grant his most desired wish of his own telephone with angry birds on it*
Angry Birds has been his obsession since June when I was in Canada, and they were being babysat while Brian worked. At the time, neither Brian or I could get angry birds on our phones, but that did not deter him from asking to play it, at least once a week. Since Sunday, with our new phones, we can now oblige him in the occasional game.

Blast from the Past

2011-11-15T10:46:00.000-05:00

1999: Darla, Joey & Audra - friends in stolen shirts!

Working Girl

2011-11-14T21:11:00.001-05:00

We worked on the rental house tonight. "We" actually includes me this time. We are doing the floors. There is something that perhaps not everyone realizes about me. This will be no surprise to my family, husband and closest friends. I have been avoiding manual labour since the day I was born. My siblings will attest to this, as they picked up the slack for my lacking all these years. Where are they now when I need them? It's not that I don't like to work, it's that I don't like to get dirty.

Dry dirt drives me to absolute distraction. I cannot abide my hands, feet (or any part of me) touching anything like sawdust, or even sand. I am a real bummer at the beach. The sand has to be wet. Dirt has to be wet (mud). Argh. Gives me the heebie jeebies just to think about it. Writing this now and looking at this pic is making my skin crawl. Apparently there is nothing I won't do for a little money, haha. The smell of a saw blade cutting through wood literally closes up my throat and I cannot breathe. My father was/is a carpenter, and then I married one. What on earth was I thinking? I have perfected the "tee-shirt up over my nose" move, so I can't smell that burning hot wood smell or breathe in the dust. Can you tell I have issues? Lol. Lest you for some strange reason think I am without flaw:-)

Proof that I was working, productively. And flip flops because its 75 degrees here this week (oh yah!)

The floors have now been sanded, wiped down with mineral spirits, and have a coat of polyurethane drying on them. I was sweeping (oh the dry dust!), vacuuming, applying the painters tape to protect the moldings, and wiping down the floors with the mineral spirits, by hand.

At one point, while wiping down the living room, with Brian behind me putting poly in the dining room (with all the kids in the backyard playing:-) my nose was running like a tap, and I said "wow, this stuff sure does make your nose run". Brian replies, "yah, that pretty much means you're dying". Lovely. There were lots of fumes going on around there thats for sure!

Starting to wipe down one of the bedrooms with mineral spirits

So we're on our way! Another coat or two of poly and we're in business!

Verizon vs nTelos

2011-11-14T09:16:00.001-05:00

We made the switch from Verizon to nTelos this past weekend, which will mean a monthly savings of $60 for us on our cell phone bill. For any local/US people interested in saving some money, here is how it breaks down

Brian has nTelos for his work phone, so we know the coverage is good in our area

VERIZON, we paid around $165/$170 per month (incl. taxes, and usually there was an overage charge of a small amount in there too...going over the txt limit or something)
This was for 2 lines (1400 shared min/mth, unlimited Verizon to Verizon), 79.99 + 9.99 (we were forced to go with this, as the next plan down is only 700 min, and not sufficient for us.)
1 unlimited data package, 29.99 (this was required if you own a smartphone)
1 web package (75MB/mth), 9.99 (required with a web-ready phone)
2 texting plans (unlimited Vrz to Vrz + 500 out of network txts) 20.00

nTELOS, we pay $110 per month (incl. taxes)
Bonus - nTelos pays our cancellation charges from Verizon (which total $255), for breaking our contract with them. We have been with Verizon for 8 years.
For $99.98/mth we get...
2 smartphones, unlimited talk to any network
2 data packages with unlimited usage (no overage charges)
2 unlimited texting plans to any network

This is a savings of about $55-$60 per month, and for much MORE service.

The only "downside" is we had to get new phones, our ones from Verizon were Verizon specific devices so they couldn't be used on another network (Brian had a MotoBlur he was given, since his Droid was stolen/lost awhile back, and I had an LG EnV). So with our 2 year plan with nTelos, I got my new Samsung Gem (android phone) for free, and Brian got the Droid X for $149.99.

We ordered the Otterbox (protection case) for Brian phone from ebay for 14.99, and got a silicone case for mine too, for 4.95, and 2 screen protectors for Brian for 2.99 (all with free shipping). I was able to cut down a leftover screen protector from Brian's old Droid and it fits mine perfectly. So these additional phone accessory expenses total 22.93.

So with a savings of approx $60 per month, but then spending 172.92 on a phone & accessories, in about 2 almost 3 months, will have "made back" the expenses of the phones, and truly be saving that $60 per month on our cell phone bill!

Definitely worth the switch! Of course we kept our numbers, so you still know how to reach us! I have never had a smartphone before, so I am learning lots...and playing angry birds:-)

Catch Up

2011-11-14T08:38:00.001-05:00

Seems like awhile since I've posted! Well, anything about the kids anyway. We've been really busy the past few weeks! This post will be pretty eclectic, most likely.

The kids have discovered the toy magazines that come out for Christmas. Sonny is taking his turn drooling over potential gifts:-)

Ardyn is getting bigger (and more vocal about life) by the day!

If you give Grey 6 candy corns for snack, he won't eat them one at a time.

Yesterday was the awards day in soccer, although not the last day, since we have a rain out game to cover next week. So more about soccer later!

We found renters for our house, so we have 1 week to finish our "chores" there...mainly the floors. We've also decided to protect/prime/paint the exterior of the home too, as the siding has never been painted before (kinda weird). It's in great shape, but could really use that protection. Brian has always been partial to the smoky-navy-blue kind of colour, with white trim. He wants to do our home like this eventually, and so will test out his colour palette on the rental. Exterior painting depends largely on the weather, but since its all outside, we don't mind finishing that up after they've moved in, if necessary.

American Thanksgiving and Christmas are quickly approaching! Yet another year has gone by without Brian taking vacation time...and since he's not allowed to take vacation around Christmas time with the position he's in (fiscal and physical year end), he's taking the week after Thanksgiving off to do work...on OUR house only! I need my bathroom painted, and accessories hung, and he has plans for our eaves and stuff. Dunno. It will be nice to have some Daddy time here, with the added bonus of finishing up our projects, instead of always finishing up other peoples:-) We are busy planning menu's, gifts, crafts, etc.

In other (silly) news. We got new cell phones! We actually made the switch from Verizon to nTelos. We have been debating this for awhile, and finally took the time to do it. I'll make a separate post about that for any local/US people interested in saving a bit of money!

Little Rebels

2011-11-10T15:33:00.001-05:00

An interesting thought or two. Perhaps rambling. Definitely out of no where. Probably a bit boring. Bear with me...

"If you have too many requirements of your children, they will rebel against you" this was said to Brian recently (not in my presence), by an older, wise, Christian gentleman.

Is this true? If you set up too many standards for your children, will they push back and refuse to comply?

Perhaps. But what are you trying to make them comply with? Are they man made standards of preference? Or are they Bible-based directions from the Lord? I suppose one could write a book about this. Actually, there have been thousands of books already written I'm sure. So I'll keep it a short encouragement.

Hopefully, we are striving to instill in our children a strong moral basis. Not endless rules of "no you cannot". But solid moral character, built on Biblical principles. There is always a higher road. Even in grey areas, there is a good, better, best scenario that usually presents itself.

There have been times in my life when I've chosen the "good" path, but not the "best" path. I was not in sin by choosing to do good, but I was aware that I was not doing ALL that I could, by choosing down from the best. The reason I knew the difference between my choices was because of the conviction of the Holy Spirit, and also having a strong moral background. So next time, I make the better choice. And I see deeper, richer rewards.

I think that by striving for the hearts of our children, it will lessen the backlash as they age. I think that by parenting each child in their own way, you will lessen the backlash. I think that building your life up around His Kingdom, and not our own is the kicker. Seeing the world as our temporary home, and striving to live for the eternal one. This looses all the silly man made rules that we are compelled to follow from time to time. But it also institutes "rules" of a higher nature. Ones set by Jesus, and not by man. This takes a great deal of wisdom. Which is why parenting is so hard. God grant wisdom to those that seek it.

I do not believe the hype - that rebellion is the way of life of for teens. I have seen firsthand how this does not have to be the truth. I believe it should be the exception for children, rather than the rule. It should be. The reason it isn't likely has much more to do with the parents than the kids.

So back to the statement:
"If you have too many requirements of your children, they will rebel against you"

To which Brian replied, "That's fine. They can rebel if they choose, I cannot control that. But they will be rebelling against God, not me".

I liked that answer, because there is so much freedom in it. I will not require anything more of my children than what their heavenly Father requires of all men. But that is actually kind of a tall order. By making wise choices all the way along, I hope that they are so in love with the Lord, that they walk humbly before Him, always, in wisdom.

Micah 6:8 "...and what does the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"

Short Story

2011-11-07T21:38:00.000-05:00

To my loving brother, Colonel Valentine Walton

It is our duty to sympathise in all mercies; and to praise the Lord together in chastisements or trails, so that we may sorrow together. Truly, England and the Church of God hath had a great favour from the Lord, in this great victory given unto us, such as the like never was since this war began. It had all the evidences of an absolute obtained by the Lord's blessing upon the Godly Party principally. We never charged, but routed the enemy. The Left Wing, which I commanded, being our own house, saving a few Scots in the rear, beat all the Prince's horses. God made them as stubble to our swords. We charged their regiments of foot soldiers with our horse, and routed all we charged. The particulars I cannot relate now; but I believe, of twenty thousand the Prince hath not four thousand left. Give glory, all the glory, to God.

Sir, God hath taken away your eldest son by a cannon-shot. It brake his leg. We were necessitated to have it cut off, whereof he died. Sir, you know my own trials this way (Cromwell's own son had been killed shortly before): but the Lord supported me with this, that the Lord took him into the happiness we all live for and pant for. There is your precious child full of glory, never to know sin or sorrow anymore. He was a gallant young man, exceedingly gracious. God give you His comfort.

Before his death he was so full of comfort that to Frank Russell and myself he could not express it - "it was so great above the pain". This he said to us. Indeed it was admirable. A little after, he said, one thing lay upon his spirit. I asked him what that was. He told me it was that God had not suffered him to be anymore the executioner of his enemies. At his fall, his horse being killed with the bullet and as I am informed three horses more, I am told he bid them open to the right and left, that he might see the rogues run. Truly he was exceedingly beloved in the army, of all that knew him. All but a few knew him, for he was a precious young man, fit for God.

You have cause to bless the Lord. He is a glorious saint in Heaven; wherein you ought to exceedingly rejoice. Let this drink up your sorrow; seeing these are not feigned words to comfort you, but the thing is so real and undoubted a truth. You may do all things by the strength of Christ. Seek that, and you shall easily be able to bear your trial. Let this public mercy to the Church of God make you to forget your private sorrow.

The Lord be your strength: So prays your truly faithful and loving brother,

Oliver Cromwell

Old Men

2011-11-07T11:33:00.000-05:00

Brian and his best bud, Josh Dufek. These two can talk like you would not believe. They put women to shame. The length of their conversations are why we require an unlimited cell phone plan. Joking aside, they have a remarkable friendship, which (they will shudder at the comparison), might be "bosomly" similar to that of Anne of Green Gables and Diana Barry. In a totally manly way, of course. Josh can bring perspective and lift a mood like none other. So...this was Josh's facebook status the other day. Hilarious. And yes, this will be them!

*****
Overheard the following conversation between two very old men in the restroom. (To best play this out in your mind, know that these were true blue New Yorkers, evidently born and bred). I couldn't help but imagine that this was a conversation I might have with Brian in 50 years. It actually reminds me of conversations I have with him now.

*I was told by my doctor that when I get out of bed in the morning, or get out of a chair, not to do it too quickly*

It's a good idea.

*If I do, I lose my balance*

It happens to us sometimes.

*I almost fall, things might spin and I lose my balance*

It happens. These things happen sometimes.

*It's called hydrostatic hypertension*

I didn't need to know that.

*It's a big word*

I don't need to know that.

*It's a conversation starter*

Heart Songs

2011-11-04T15:03:00.000-04:00

I saw this live on tv in 1999, on a Celine Christmas special I believe. It remains my favourite version of the song to date, bar none.
The vocal pairing of Andrea Bocelli & Celine Dion is beyond beautiful, and naturally, their execution is flawless.The Prayer.

So big - Video

2011-11-03T15:49:00.001-04:00

With the cutting of the hairs comes growth, it seems. He seems about a year older than he did last week. He just looks so mature! What a cutie!! We do miss our baby boy a little, but we're loving the new big boy too! Watch the 30 second video to hear him say some of our names! He's now calls Sonny "Nonny" and Kenna "Kiki"