Anywho Vix asked about clothing and my reply was so long I decided it would make a great post!

(First here is the new Winter Dress I made for Princes and a matching one from Sprout, which she out grew after wearing twice...!)

Our kids have way to much clothes, we get given them from friends and family at the Eccelsia. Here is some of the things we do in our household to keep it all under "control".

I keep a box that I put "too stained to wear in public" but otherwise fine clothes for camp and the cottage every summer. This helps me get them out of the dresser (where they sit and waste space...and when 2 girls are sharing a dresser space is at a premium!!) and also in the summer I just go through the box and pack it and add whatever we need more of for the trip to the bag, so much easier!

Hubby brings home xerox paper boxes from work (otherwise they get thrown out) and I keep one in both kids rooms in the closet to put out grown clothes into and then put them in the basement when they are full.

Once every month I go through and sort out the excess into "donate to charity" you know the really old stuff that no one would want, and "go to friends" bags and distrubute! Last week we took 4 bags of clothing, old blankets, a couple coats and such to the donation bin in town and took an old playpen and carseat that was perfectly fine to Linda the Library Lady (previous post) who has a friend that works at the pregency center in town.

Here is what I've gutting the kids clothing down to:
2 weeks worth of undies & socks (actually Princess only has 7 pairs, and we must buy more!)
2 weeks worth of t-shirts
10 long sleeved shirts (we live in Ontario it is cold!)
6 max sweaters (inc. 2 nice for Meeting)
1 pair of runners
1 pair of snow boats
1 pair of wellies (rain boots)
1 pair dress shoes
2 snow jackets (keep out the smaller sized one they grew out of incase of an emergency)+ snowpants
2 pairs mittens
2 winter hats
2 sunhats
1 scarf

Magoo:
4 dress shirts for Memorial Service and Bible Class
2 dress pants
2 jeans
2 comfy pants
4 shorts
1 gym uniform
1 CHC regular day uniform (next year he'll need 2)

"Da Girls":
2-4 everyday dresses
4 nice dresses for the above
4 nice tops for Bible Class

Now I'm sure that we could do with less, but our kids take after their Mummy and are very clumsy and make LOTS of messes! It is a huge blessing to past on clothes, and we follow the same, passing on what the next kids in the house do not need. I really don't know how families get one without that!

Here is a precious moment captured, Magoo teaching Princess how to make snow people!

Oh Dear

I do believe it is going to be "one of those days" Magoo had a bad ashmah attach this morning at 6:45am, and now lies in bed not feeling well. So he is home from school, and I am aiming to work on some blends with him latter, and maybe a game of "Jericho Cards" to work on his numbers.

Princess has a great immune system so she just has a cough.

Sprout has been sick for a week, and until the kids woke up sneezing and coughing (and not breathing) I thought it was just part of her teething, but it isn't. Last night the 2 or 4 teeth that as nearly through came in. It takes her a whole week of no sleeping and screaming 24 x 7 to bring in 1 tooth, so I reckon we have 2 more weeks of this.

Oh dear, This is such a "sorry for myself" post.

Princess is asking for cuddles so I must sign off, in my "spare time" I'll try to post some pictures of the Goons enjoying the snow! Man do we have a lot of it again this year!

Linda the Library Lady

Yes, that is what the Goons call her! She is one of the highligths of our week. I used to make the weekly library ritual on "Da Girws Day" as Princess calls it. However Magoo rebelled and stated emphatically that he LOVES library day! So now it is a friday treat before we plung into a home schooling day. Linda the Library Lady has made our library trips so much more meaningful and worthwhile. Over the past 3 years we have gotten into some great conversations about our beliefs, hopes and aspirations. Frequently she will put a book on hold for me when it comes in because she knows that I will enjoy it. Other times I will be looking at a "Christian Fiction" book and she will comment "oh, you won't like that one, it is more of a fluffy romance book" and thus saves me time wasted and discust! It is so nice to have her help in finding good books. She also has learnt by watching what we do and do not allow the chilren to look at and read that we are very picky when it comes to childrens books as well. She even keeps an eye on them and helps them to find a book that "Mummy would like".

Though usually we spend a good hour in there, reading, playing the history DK computer game, working at the interactive center and finding Mummy a book....today with Sprout bringing in 3 teeth at once (yup, she is an over-achiever) we lasted barely 15 minutes.

So Homemade chicken noodle soup is bubbling on the stove and whole wheat bread is sliced and ready to be toasted with cheese....lunch time! and then into the Home schooling day.

Usually there are some worksheets sent home, but this week there wasn't so we will be spending about 20 mintues on math. Magoo is struggling with his "teen" and "twenty" families. Last night we went through the kid drawer (must do a post on that) and found some "Joshua and Jericho" cards to use for math today to make it fun. The house has been scored for pennies as well! Then afterwards we will work on "Learning about the Bible" by Lois Rock and Maureen Galvani. I picked up a copy in the bargin basement of a book shop for $4.99! I tried to show a picture of it but blogger isn't letting me...argh~!

The Tale of Two Funerals

What a week. Tuesday morning within 15 minutes of each other we received 2 telephone calls to let us know that 2 very special men in our lives had died. The first was a wonderful and inspirational elder in the ecclesia who was instrumental in helping me grow to love the Truth as a young person. He was so full of life and energy and always willing to answer what I thought were silly questions that I had. The second was my grandfather, he had been sick for a while so in a way it was humane.

Thursday was Uncle Colin's funeral. Though my heart ached and tears ran down my cheeks, I left with a feeling of hope and comfort in the Resurrection. I know with assurance that he is merely sleeping, awaiting our Lord's return.

Friday was the visitation for Grandpa, I was overjoyed (as you can imagine) that Hubby was able to come home a day early from his work trip to Delaware so that he could be with me. Since my parents are divorced, I was a ball of nerves not knowing how it would go with my father and mother in the same room. Overall it went well though. Saturday we left the children at home with a wonderful young lady from the ecclesia and drove over an hour to the funeral.

WOW talk about opposites. Uncle Colin's was so nice, interspersed with hymns and readings. Funny and thoughtful memories from his life often involved family. At Grandpa's all they talked about was his military service, hardly anything about his family life. It was a lot shorter, but I found less meaningful. I had never experienced a military funeral before, it was an experience.

Perhaps that is why I left feeling empty. Grandpa and I did not share a common belief or hope, there is no hope there. It is heart breaking really. The Grandpa I knew never talked about his time in the army, never mentioned anything past the fact that he was a captain. He didn't place that much importance on it at all, and yet that is all they focused on.

My memories of Grandpa are of a kind man who always had a free lap for the grand kids. One who wasn't afraid to get down on the ground and play with us. He always had chocolate in the house and shared often! He was so pleased with his great-grandchildren too.

So today we start a new week. All the jobs that didn't get done last week are calling to me. But after last week I'm going to take the time and hug the children, share a cuppa with Hubby, read stories and play games, and show the kids how much I love them.

For you never know what tomorrow may bring.

Outside my window...
The sun is shining and the snow is glittering

I am thinking...
It is too cold outside for the Goons to play out there (-20C)

I am thankful for...
God's Word & my new "Oy Vey" Mug Hubby got me yesterday

From the kitchen...
Lamb Roast

I am wearing...
A stained orange t-shirt and warm cords, going to change before company arrives! (into a skirt
and CLEAN top)

I am creating...
Dishclothes

I am going...
to prepare for SS

I am reading...
Haven by Ruth Gruber

I am hoping...
For some quiet time before bed with hubby

I am hearing...
The Goons "cleaning" wink wink the play room

Around the house...
Many, many books (one of these days I should count them!)

One of my favorite things...
Quiet Prayer Time

Deep Freeze

Just listening to the weather report made me want to cuddle deeper into our flannelet sheets and pull the duvet up over my head. It is giant beautiful flakes of pure whiteness this morning. The Goons have already been bundled up and sent outside for a good hour of play. Hot chocolate has been consumed, and all the wet dirt encrusted clothes are in the washing machine being coaxed back to their original colours.

This afternoon we are entering a deep freeze. The high for tomorrow is -14 C (6 F) that is the HIGH!!! the lows are going to be around -25C (-18.5F). With Magoo's ashma he cannot play outside when it is that cold so I wanted to make sure they got some good play time in.

Today's big chore is finding the larger baby girl clothes for Sprout and washing and sorting them into her drawers. We need to air out the wool blankets and fill containers with water in case the power goes out. When the power goes out we can't get water from the well!!!

I've been struggling with something this past bit Luke 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

yep, the cares of this life are really making me depressed. Actually I'm wondering if Post Partumm Depression can start around the 7th month (that's when I noticed it). I just feel so weepy and on the verge of screaming at the littlest tinniest things.

Well time to make lunch. We were going to have lamb stew that I had made a big batch of yesterday, but I left it out all night and had to threw it out. 3 days worth of stew in the garbage, now THAT almost made me burst into tears!

Till next time!

Sorry the Posts have been lacking, to put it mildly! I am working on a sister's class on Leviticus 19.....in my "spare time" for next month.

Today is going so well! (of course that means Sprout is asleep!) we woke up to an ice frost. No, i don't really know how that happens but it does. Everything look so dazzling bright, it was as if God had covered the landscape with silver craft sparkles!

I've decided to slow down and make warm breakfasts more often, instead of eating so much Shredded Wheat (the good ole fashioned no sugar kind) the kids love it since it was Grandpa George's fav. but really, they need some variety! So this morning we made egg, ham & cheese sandwiches and sent Hubby off to work with one and a fresh Mochaichino! The Goons and I then played "dry cleaners" which is an ingenious way to get your kids to LOVE and BEG to help you sort and put away the laundry. We were behind (yep, we are always behind) in putting it away so each kid found and put away the clothing out of the pile. We started with undies & socks and worked our way through the rest. Magoo even hung up his meeting shirts with the help of a stool borrowed from the bathroom! Needless to say I was MOST impressed and thrilled!

Then we headed off to the lovely lil library and yes, we drove instead of walking as Sprout is such a wimp in the cold and I knew that if we walked (fun though it would have been in the winter wonderland) the whole town would have known we were on our way for Sprouts screams! I allowed myself a few books to try out some new authors (it is so hard nowadays to find good clean books) while Hubby is in Delaware next week.

After lunch and "nap" of 20 minutes during which I ended up in giggles listening to the pitter patter of Magoo & Princess's' footsteps...we had a nice long cuddle and story time on the couch and then dove into homeschooling. Magoo missed a day at CHC because he was sick, so we have a lot to catch up on.

Magoo read the first 3 pages of his first ever reader, so thrilling! 4 pages of printing, and 10 pages of blends done....now if only he could do the math work. It is obvious to me doing the flip cards that he is struggling with the 11-20 & 30s (the 21-29 seems fine) and I wish they had told me......we will be working on these a lot now!

Well Sprout is up, she will not nap for longer then 20 min at a time....therefore is miserable...teeth?

Oh dear is it 3 already, time to put the roast in and get the bags ready for little disciples tonight (hmmmm I wonder where their indoor shoes are?!?).

I hope that your day has been as fun as ours has. Magoo just announced he is done his last page (#5) of printing work so we will now celebrate with a pot of local popcorn and milk and sit down to read another chapter of "Little House in the Big Woods".

Today we thank God for bringing us together in marriage 8 years ago!

"And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man" Genesis 2:18,21-22

Well today was going to be a day filled with fun as Hubby and I were to head into Toronto to visit the Jewish shops and eat lots of Falafel.

Sprout had other ideas! She was up screaming nearly all night, so instead Hubby is at work today, and I am at home full of cold and exhaustion. We will save our trip (which is to celebrate our upcoming wedding anniversery) for another day when we are awake enough to enjoy it. Also no one in their right mind should attempt the drive into Toronto half asleep!!!Oiy!

But as they say, there is always a silver lining and I have found it! While Magoo was off school for 2 & 1/2 weeks for the holidays I fell behind. It wasn't a concious act, but almost no laundry or housework got done, just the bare necessities.

So today it is a "girl day" as Magoo is at CHC today, so we are going to get to work and clean this house! I'm hoping to have most of it done by 2 pm when I need to leave to go into town to pick Magoo up.

Before I sign off I wanted to share a book with you, "Mother" by Kathleen Norris (http://www.amazon.com/Mother-Kathleen-Norris/dp/1929241178/ref=pd_bbs_sr_9?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231169123&sr=8-9) a dear friend left it here and after writing her a note saying it was here I enjoyed the luxtury of a quick bath and started to read it. It is such a wonderful book! After the hour it took to read it I felt inspired to continue with the blessed job given my by God to be a mother to our three olive plants. It is written in story form and I garrenty that you will not be able to put it down!

BAKA DIARY: Where Was The Outrage?#links

BAKA DIARY: Where Was The Outrage?#links

I am debating writing on the current war in Israel... it is terrible how anti-Israel the main stream media is. It makes me sick!

Wake up people, over 10,000 rockets fired into a country the size of NJ during the time of the so called "truce" .Cities under besige and people living in bomb shelters and schools closed, if this happened to NJ the USA wouldn't have waited as long as Israel did to get control of the situation! The double standards are simply wrong!

"Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." Genesis 12:1-3

check this out!!! http://bakadiary.blogspot.com/

Wow, our week with Hubby home is nearly over ;-( Some highlights:

1) Very, very well done (black) latkes for the first night of Channukah
2) Hiding Hubby's gift and getting the Goons to keep it a secret
3) Drinking hot tea watching the snow fall
4) 4 snow storms in the space of 4 days! = 3 ft of snow and "snow dunes" in the back yard where the Goons could sled
5) Good visits with loved ones
6) Watching Hubby explain our readings in Zechariah to Magoo
7) Sprout sleeping again....(only up 3 times per night)
8) Sewing matching dresses for the girls
9) Having Magoo home for 3 weeks (one more to go)
10) Baked Apple Pie straight from the oven

and right now we are taking a quick break from organizing the whole house! yehaw! Pics to follow soon!

Finally we are back on here, we were infected with a nasty computer virus and so the computer sat powered down until my dear hubby could get it fixed, he is such a good man!



I been sitting waiting to blog about something that happened over the weekend.



I've read in the Bible and sat through many many classes on the fact that we must be separate and live our lives in a way that would please God. I got a lesson on Saturday!



The Goons and I were heading out to get some gifts for family. As an aside, before we left I told them who we were buying for and that we must not act like Achan (Joshua 7) and be greedy. Letting them help choose the gifts is a great was to get rid of the "gimme's"



We piled into the car (while Hubby was working on an article for The Bible Magazine) and after strapping in all 3 we pulled out onto the street and started driving along.



"Mommy, are we going to the place with the bad stores?" Magoo asked as we pulled onto the highway. Well in the back of my mind I was wondering what to do about going to the BIG mall in the large city about 45 minutes from us. See the last time we all went (about a year ago) there was larger then life disgusting ads.....basically naked people! all over the mall. "oh dear" I thought, what to do. Magoo has been blessed with a great memory, obviously from that coment, and notices EVERYTHING. So instead we went to the small local mall and managed to find the gifts (pjs, coffee maker, sugar free chocoate).



I used to make sure I was dressed nice and all for going out, I guess I wanted to fit in and look the part, now with 3 Goons to get out in one piece I'm just happy to be clean and tasteful. So it never crossed my mind that I looked different. All through the mall there was the usual short mini skirts with leggings (never understood that one), tight tight jeans, belly tops (why in winter????) and such. Nearly everyone was in black too....never noticed that before. Anyways we were getting a few looks, kind looks from the grandma type, weird "that lady is got to be kidding" from the hip crowd. I never thought of it until I got home and mentioned it to hubby.



"Ofcourse" was his reply "you are wearing a long denim skirt, modest top, have a baby in a pouch on you, the girls are in dresses, 2 kids holding hands and singing (mostly Bible songs) instead of fighting as you are walking through the mall...you are going to get looks!"



Never thought of that. I've always respected the Mennonites (we live near many of them) and Jews as they show by their dress that they are different and separate from the world around. I've wondered how come we don't. Now I realize that in simply dressing modestly and having children that are well behaved and happy shows that you are different.

"but according as He who did call you is holy, ye also, become holy in all behaviour," 1Peter 1:15 YLT

A Blessed Birthday

This morning we jumped out of bed and headed to Mum & Dad B's for a yummy breakfast....complete with wonderful sisters, the babies and fresh waffles! Then off to a dear friend's for lunch (yummy yummy fajita soup!) and a great visit!

Tonight we are heading back to Mum & Dad B's for dinner...chicken! and the Goons have been well behaved...

Only thing missing.....my HUSBAND :-(

I've been tagged by Vix

Thanks!!

The rules are I have to list 10 things I'm thankful for and then tag 5 other people. :)
I am Thankful For:
1) The Husband God has given me!
2) Our three olive plants aka: the Goons
3) CHC for Magoo (Christadelphian Herritage Colledge)
4) My amazing In-Laws (especially this week as it is another Deleware week!)
5) Fresh asparagus
6) "Wild and Wacky but Totally True Bible Stories" tapes
7) Starbucks kids Hot Chocolate (at $1.00 each you can take them for a treat!)
8) Being part of an amazing Ecclesia that really supports us young families
9) Living in a part of the globe where we can experience all 4 drastically different seasons (yes, i do love snow!)
10) The Kitchen Aid stand mixer that Hubby got me last year, we use it each and everyday and no longer buy bread!

OKAY...I tag the 4 followers of this blog and Anna: http://ccostello.blogspot.com/

opps!

Another First:

Magoo's first report card was handed to me during his last swimming lesson! Wow I was so pleased, 1 item we need to work on but did great on everything!

So to celebrate he gets to pick dinner for tonight: KD & hotdogs oh my!

Some Quick Tips

So here I sit, half an hour before Hubby is expected home and I am not running around like an insane headless chicken. For the first 7 years of our marriage the hour before dinner was, well how do I put this nicely....um crazy, insane, STRESSED, usually involved me getting frustrated and yelling at the Goons. Starting a few months ago we tried something different around this little Bet-el. At 4:30 I decide what to cook for dinner and start it! even if it is pasta (such as tonight) I cut up the veggies (we eat a LOT of veggies) and get all the prep done so that hopefully dinner is ready and cooked about 15-20 minutes before Hubby gets home. WHY? you ask, well that gives me enough time to wash the pots and pans, wipe down the kitchen and dining room table and get the Goons (aged 3 & 5) to help Mama set the table. Otherwise I wouldn't have the patience to let them help me and I believe in the wise words of Solomon "Train Up A Child In the Way He Should Go".

Yeah, you are right that is speaking spiritually but I think it also applies to the dull, humdrum stuff too!

This afternoon was sisters class. Wonderful study on the Unclean and Clean Animals as found in Leviticus 11. So many good thoughts to chew on (pun fully intended!). Since Sprout fell asleep at Mums I got the whole class and then an hour visiting over a cup of tea and scones! Bliss!

So now the Goons are happily playing upstairs in the playroom and the downstairs is tidy (well, as tidy as a home with 3 Goons ever is!) and dinner is ready for Hubby to walk in and eat!

On to another subject: the Family Meal. As you may know Hubby has been working late when at home. I struggled with the debate over whether to feed the Goons before he gets home but have decided on another course of action. We all have a substantial snack mid-afternoon. Fruit & cheese, crackers, the odd piece of chocolate...toast & pb. Then the Goons and Mummy are content and happy to wait until 6 or 6:30pm to eat together.

We have found that eating (and praying together of course) really helps bind us together. We all (even the Goons) chat about our day, the ups and downs, laugh at the Goons jokes and such. After we clear the table we head straight into the living room for the daily Bible Readings. Which is a wonderful way to begin and end the day, but I'll save that for another post. It is time to turn on the outside lights (as the sun set an hour ago) and get myself looking nice to Welcome Hubby home too.

Blessings

Since I'm in a Grumpy Tired Sick Mood, I thought I'd better follow my Grandma's advice and count out 5 things I'm thankful for:

1) Having already done and put away the groceries
2) God has blessed D with a good job so I can buy heathy above groceries for the family
3) Magoo can go to CHC (Christadelphian Heritage College) since homeschool just wouldn't work right now
4) My sister Leah calling just to chat this morning
5) Our warm, comfy house
6) Its snowing outside!
7) PC Canadian Coffee
8) Being able to breastfeed Sprout
9) Hubby being home this week, last week and next week!
10) Little House in the Big Woods story time with the Goons each night

opps thats 10 things! Off to pick up Magoo now!

Saw this at Michelle's and decided it looked fun for a blah day that we have here today!
Bold the things you’ve done.
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (does highschool count?)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang/played a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language (tried Hebrew...still working on that one!)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing (indorr count?)
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David in person
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance (with Magoo when he was 3)
47. Had your portrait painted (in higschool, actually its in the yearbook)
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason (only once!)
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy (Wrinkles dog)
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar (Gross)
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person (preggy with Sprout#1)
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible (once every year....want a copy of the daily planner?)
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating--Ewww! I hope I NEVER have to do this!
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous (David Wilder, spokesperson from Heborn count?)
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Made a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake (but I have swam in the Dead Sea)
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

What a busy week so far! Finally one of those many, numerous jobs is done. Here is the finished pocket bag. I'm very pleased with it. Now we only have 2 more to sew to use as gifts for the holidays! I had no idea until it was done that it is fully reversible with pockets on the outside and in, such a practical bag!

This weekend Sprout decided to take her first determined efforts to crawl, and she did it! I'm excited yet dreading all the baby-proofing that now needs to be done. So as I procrastinate and type away the living room is chaos as we are having to reorganize it around the plugs and

such.

Oh and I looked over on Sunday after meeting and asked hubby "did you sit her up" "no didnt you?" so we have no clue how she is doing it but she can get herself up into the sitting position all by herself. OIY this at only 6 mths...

Hubby was wonderful and has been digging up our carrot crop, one basket down....many more to go!

Reality Check!

Tuesday I get this call "Mrs. __________, we have in our records that your furnace needs to be inspected. We will be in the area tomorrow and have some spaces still avalible...blah blah blah"

Now normally any kind of call like this I put off for the Husband to deal with, but he has had so much on his mind with work going insane and the regular issues that a serving brother in the ecclesia must care for and family chaos, that I decided to handle this myself. I'm a big girl afterall and all it is is a furnace inspection, and they said they were a division of the company that services out hot water tank.

So yesterday at 9:45 (15 min early) the doorbell rings and this guy is standing there, and before I can even look at his name tag the Baby starts her "I'm breaking 3 more teeth scream" and so I invite him in and explain where the furnace is. He is down for maybe 10 minutes and then needs me to show him a cold air return (first signal) so I show him the one in the dining room and then he needs to see one upstairs....the only one upstairs is in the master bedroom. I take him upstairs and he just sorta peeks in...hmmmm.....any ways so we are talking the the kitchen and he writes up a "report" for me. Finally I get a minute to look at his name tag and all it is, is his name and the name of the company typed on a piece of white paper laminated, no logo, regular font, looks completely fake. The "report" is a photocopied sheet of paper that has the address and company name and # on the top..... looks very UNprofessional....and they had told me they were a division of the gas company.....

so yeah, I had to get him OUT OF THE HOUSE RIGHT NOW! so Baby screamed again and i told him he had to go. I would "think about it". He said that if I take the opening for today for 8:30 am then it would be half price, blah blah blah.

So I'm freaking out. In our area there have been a lot of theft, produce from the farms, tobacco from the drying sheds, a tractor, and we've been warned that they think they are working in gangs and are armed....

Yeah I freaked.

So I went to my dear MIL for dinner and they had the speaker for Bible class over as well and he took the time to research the company on the web. We did a reverse phone number look up....not a buisness number. There is a buisness at the address but it is a Christmas Decorating store! and the cell number the guy gave is from Toronto.

So today I need to get the kids watched and get myself down to the local police station and report this fraud.

Needless to say I didn't sleep at all all night as I was worried that our house had been cased for a robbery....if it was he was disappointed as we have nothing of real $ value. Even our computer is about 5 yrs old.

Lesson learn't! Always take the time before letting some guy into your house to check everything out, even if the baby is screaming her preety little lungs out.

Another Deleware Week

Yep, another week without Hubby has begone. He left at 6 am this morning to go to the airport. The Goons are getting so well at Daddy being gone, that that in itself is depressing. We've been blessed that this week we have a dear friend...Jenna, staying with us to keep us all upbeat and cheery. The end is in sight though, which is great. I had a bit of a breakdown on Sunday after memorial as the idea of another week without him home was just simply too much to bear. God willing after this week he will be able to be home for three weeks in a row and then only a couple more trips before this stage of the project is done.

Oh, and this morning there was white fluffy stuff in the sky! So the Goons and I did our Happy Snow dance!

Monday's Meal Plan

Monday: Pumpkin Soup (h), Fresh rolls, Tossed Salad, Apple Crisp(h) (we are having visitors)
Tuesday: Spagetti, Tomatoe Sauce using our frozen tomatoes (h), zuchinni (h)& shredded carrots (h)
Wednesday: Fahitas (l) (h)
Thursday: Don't have to cook! - invited out! yehaw!
Friday: Roast Beef with all the fixings (h)
Saturday: Ham, Scalloped potatoes (l), peas, pumpkin pie (we are having visitors)
Sunday: Tuna, mushroom soup, mixed veggie caserole

(l=local farm produce from within 20 km, h=our own harvest from our small veggie garden)

Wow, time is flying by again.

We are so excited to have a special visitor coming to stay....um she's arriving tonight!

oh my!

Kitchen floor - scrubbed and dried
Dining Room furniture - wiped down
Playroom - transformed into guest bedroom
Bread - baked and oh so yummy! (Goons taste tested)
Menu - planned
Groceries - bought and sorted
Laundry - washed.....needs to be put away

All that is left is vacuming and ........................the 2 + 1/2 bathrooms oh my!

Monday's Meal Plan

Monday: Roast Chicken, Mashed potatoes (l), roasted pumpkin (h), peas
Tuesday: Veggies Stew (h) & Fresh Bread
Wednesday: Spagetti, Tomatoe Sauce using our frozen tomatoes (h), zuchinni (h)& shredded carrots (h)
Thursday: Roast Beef, raosted potatoes (l), carrots (h), beans (h) (switch to Friday if Jenna arrives Friday)
Friday: Fahitas
Saturday: Veggie Stew (h) & Pull-apart Herb rolls
Sunday: Ham, Scalloped potatoes (l), peas, apple pie

(l=local farm produce from within 20 km, h=our ouw harvest from our small veggie garden)

The painting is done in the playroom...now if only I could find the camera I could show it to you all!

Sorry! I know I've been missing for a week now, my the days fly by now! Perhaps that has something to do with the fact that it is getting dark here around 6 instead of 9:30pm. Most dread this time of year when the sun is darkened for a longer period of time, and the air is down right freezing (I was going to say chilly, but that wouldn't have been the whole truth now would it!).

We are in the middle of yet another "Deleware Week" for those that don't know this means that Hubby is away Monday (5:30am) to Friday (7pm) on buisness. Since the beginning of September this has happened every 2 weeks but we are hoping that after the next trip he will be able to stay home for 2 weeks inbetween trips.

Since it is so cold out, and since I have to keep myself busy so that I don't burst out in tears from missing Hubby I've desided to get down to buisness and work on a lot of unfinished projects. For my sister's birthday (tomorrow) I've made a series of mini barley bags so that she can take them with her in her travels as she just recieved a new job of stewardess on an airline. A funky hat and scarf complete the gift!

After I sign off I will start cutting out the fabric for one of the cloth bags that I mentioned in the last post. I'm thinking of using the Toile and a grey/blue fabric...hopefully the go well toether!

Oh and the mural in the playroom is finally penciled out and ready for some paint (after 2 years).

Jiffy rolls are in the oven and my dear SIL and a friend from the Ecclesia are coming over for tea in about an hour so I must fly but here is a wonderful recipe for get togethers:

Jiffy Cinnamon Rolls:

All-purpose flour 2 cups
Granulated sugar 2 tbsp
Baking powder 4 tsp
Salt 1 tsp
Cold butter or margarine 1/4 cup
Cold milk 1 cup

Butter or margarine, softened 1/3 cup
Brown sugar, packed 1cup
Cinnamon 1 tbsp
currants or cut up raisins 1/3 cup

In a large bowl put flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut in first amount of butter until crumbly. Make a well in the center.Pour milk into well. Stir to form soft dough adding a bit more milk if needed. Turn out on lightly floured surface. Knead 8 to 10 times. Roll into rectangle about 1/3 inch(1cm) thick and 12 inches(30 cm) long.

Cream second amount of butter, brown sugar and cinnamon together well. Drop 1 measuring teaspoon (5 ml) into each of 12 greased muffin tins. Sprinkle currants over top. Roll up as for jelly roll. Mark first then cut into 12 slices. Place cut side down in muffin pan.

Bake in 400*F (200* C) oven for 20 to 25 minutes. Turn out on tray. Makes 12.Glaze: To 1/2 cup(125ml) icing sugar, add enough milk or water to make a thin glaze. drizzle over cinnamon rolls.

We have an amazing little local library. Any book that you are looking for they will hunt down and borrow from another library, sometimes hours away! "Linda the Library Lady" as the Goons call her is so wonderful in putting books on hold for us that she knows we will ike and find useful. This was one of them. What a simply delightful book! It is beautiful to look through and its layout is simply perfect!

So our stockpile (did I say 'our' I meant 'my') has been brought up from the basement and oh my, what a mess! I've decided on making a bucket bag (on the right on the picture) for Sprout, a pocket bag for myself, an everyday skirt for Missy and so the list goes on.

The skirt will be saved for the holidays and perhaps I'm sew a tie of the same fabric for Magoo. There is a darling pattern for a gardening apron that is screaming to be made for my Mother as well!

These should keep me very busy while D is on another buisness trip. Those are getting easier each time. The Goons and I are getting into the routine of having D home for a week and then away for the weekdays of the next. It helps that it is Autumn and we are all craving veggie stews and simple meals, made even more simple when it is only the Goons and I at home.

Here is a picture of my overflowing fabric pile....

Ofcourse Monday while running Mum B around town for her errands I stopped by Fabricland as they had a huge sale on and couldn't resist some more. The Magen David will be used to make a skirt for Missy and a tie for Magoo for the holidays.

Monday's Meal Plan

Monday: Veggie Stew & Fresh Whole Wheat Bread


Tuesday: Ratatouille, Holishkes, Rice & Challah Bread (Last Great day of the Feast of Tabernacles)


Wednesday: Hot Sandwich Loaf (Cheese & Tomatoe filling)


Thursday: Garden Salad & Fresh Pitas


Friday: Baked Bean Pie


Saturday: Roast Beef, Pepper Squash, Roast Potatoes, Carrots, Brussel Sprouts


Sunday: Quchie, Garden Salad, Boiled Potatoes & Fresh Rolls

Unbelieveable!

Have you ever heard of killer frost coming so early? Monday night it was due to go down to 3 degrees (C) so the Goons and Hubby and I all bundled up and headed out to get the rest of the beans and tomatoes in.

Here Magoo is inspecting a bush for stray beans!

First ofcourse it was time to gather in the golden delicious apples. We got 61 off of our little wee 5 year old tree! Today Magoo is taking a few to share with his class for "show and tell".

I love how Hubby took a couple hours away from important work to help us all...oh how blessed I am to have been given the gift of him as my husband from God.

How are your harvests coming? The apples are in the fridge, the beans drying and waiting to be shacked..fruit sauce is bubbling away on the stove top.

Oh what a great blessing the time for Fall is! oh and yep, killer frost desended on our garden Monday night was forcasted.

Tomorrow we are planning on visiting the local farm stand to get our 50 lb bag of local potaotes and some more apples for the winter!

Hugs to the few who stop by!

Meme thanks to Mammas Heart And Hearth: Meme on Thursday

Feel free to do as well!

Aprons–y/n If y, what does your fave look like? Yes, my fav is one from the UK that has pictures, names and the verse of all the plants mentioned in the Bible
Baking–Bread, yummy warm bread! um and scones
Clothes line? Supposed to be putting one in, in the spring
Donuts–never made them, the frying part scares me!
Everyday–One homemaking thing you do every day? dishes & laundry
Freezer–Do you have a separate deep freeze?yep, got it for $10! so instead of canning we freeze everything
Garbage Disposer?No
Handbook–What is your favorite homemaking resource? my grandmother and mother in law
Ironing–Love it or Hate it? Hate it!!
Junk Drawer–y/n? Where is it?This is embarresing....2 in the kitchen, 1 in the study, 4 in the dining room...oh my!
Kitchen–color and decorating scheme.chocolate brown oak cupboards, a basket, a fruit bowl, sorta plain
Love–what is your favorite part of homemaking?Being at home with the Goons. Baking, Cooking, Gardening!
Mop–y/n?nope, we get down on our hands and knees with the scrub brush!
Nylons, machine or hand wash?refruse to wear them, even in the bitter cold of winter!
Oven–do you use the window or open the oven to check?Open, and usually therefore forget that it is yorkshire puddings or something simular and they all sink!
Pizza–What do you put on yours?whatever is in the fridge
Quiet–What do you do during the day when you get a quiet moment?okay, you have obviously never been in my home! sometimes I get a cuppa, that is nice!
Recipe Card Box–y/n? What does it look like?i was given books, don't like them and am trying to find a nice plain box
Style of house–What style is your house?simple country, with pictures of Israel all over the walls, sorta an odd combination but I think it works
Tablecloths or Placemats? Tableclothe on Sunday usually or a special dinner, placemats for everyday
Under the kitchen sink–organized or toxic wasteland? Used to be Organized, now toxic dump
Vacuum–How many times per week? 2, once on Monday and once friday
Wash–How many loads of laundry do you do per week?5, 1 per weekday
Do you keep a daily list of things to do that you cross off? yes, though it doesn't all get done
Yard–y/n? Who does what?yep, I do the veggie patch & flower beds, Hubby mows (I mow when he is away though)
ZZZ’s–what is your last homemaking task for the day before going to bed? tidy up the kitchen

Ike Rains

Well yesterday we finally got out to do a proper inspection of the damage done as Ike travelled up here and dumped nearly 20 cm of rain in 2 days. The corn was just forming lovely full ears, but Ike desided he didn't like corn and so pushed it down to the ground. As of yesterday the corn has picked itself up a bit and we are "hoping" that it can still grow in this sorry shape. This has never happened to us before so do any of you know what it'll do? It was 6 ft high before!

Our tomatoes have been ripped off of their support poles but are still turning red so today they will be re-tied.

In happier news the Monarchs are migrating and yesterday we had at least a dozen in our front flower beds. Probiblly more, but they were not willing to sit still to be counted! The Goons and I chased them from flower to flower to take pictures! Hope you enjoy them!

Fall is Here

Hip Hip Horray!

But my what a busy time it is! Missy and I have been busy this morning shelling beans

Hubby had been away for nearly a week (coming home for the weekend) so the children and I made apple sauce thanks to a wonderful recipe from a very dear friend! Of course I forgot to turn the stove down before hopping into the shower and came out the the heady aroma of burnt sauce! The bottom of the pot was thick with a layer of burnt on stuff and I thought it ruined but throwing in a great deal of baking powder and letting it sit for a week has done wonders in lifting it all off and it saved our pot!

Mum B has an amazing contraption from England she calls a "mully" and it helped in the completion of the entire bushel of apples.

You cook the apples WITH the skins on

Then with some turns of the crank the sauce is separated from the skins

and voila yummy apple sauce!

Oh how I adore Fall!

Wow, it seems like yesterday I was holding a wee one in my hands and now he is grown up and off to school today. Poor Missy was lost without Magoo to follow after, and Mummy missed him too!
Tired Mummy is off to bed so here are some pictures instead:

Hello again to the 2 of you who sometimes stop by!

First off Jenna do come for a visit you are desparetly missed...and have no fears a certain someone is now in Mississauga.

As you may know by past posts Hubby was able to take 7 weeks of paternity leave! but

BIG BUT

you do not get paid during that time. The goverment puts you on some sort of E.I. and lets just say that when all was said and done and it came in it was equivaent to what Hubby would make in a week and a half.

YIKES

we knew this was the case but it was hard to swallow! So I am busy organizing a garage sale to earn some $$$ well hoping for $$ at least.

Today the great organizing begins!

An airshow is a common North American event. Though-out this province they are held all summer in various locations, frequently small local airports that are struggling to stay afloat with parcel and buisness flights yet not used by compalnies for airtravel needs.

The locals are always excited as all week long the planes practice their lop-d-lops, suicide dives, races and such. All over town the evergreen of front lawns become patchwork quilts of red, blue, brown and all sorta of coloured t-shirts as the houses empty of kids to watch the amazing feats in the sky overhead.

On the day of the airshow the whole town seems to stop for a few hours and everywhere the roads are chuck full of cars illegally parked on the curb, trying to find that "perfect" viewing spot. Neighbours turn on the BBQs and host family picnics, friends from out of town arrive for the afternoon and dinner. the children run in circles straining to catch that first glimpse of the fighters, great fun for all...

But I am petrified.

Most people run out of their houses at the sound of the planes overhead, but as the sonic boom shakes me deep down to my core, it just makes me want to run. When the glass in the windows shake, I quiver. For the sake of the children I must put on a brave face and not run down and hide in the cold storage.

The majority of the population over here has never experienced war first or even second hand. They talk about it "happening over there" freely, never thinking that it could come across the Atlantic, as if there is an invisible wall over the ocean.

Years ago my family lived in Austria, which was the main NATO base during the Bosnian war. Air Raid sirens were a reality, counting the supply helicopters fly over our house (nearly always losing count after we reaced 100) was a reality, feeling the ground shake and learning to cruch up into a little ball "just in case" when the fighters passed over head to their targets was a reality. Listening to the public announcements and freaking out cause we could only speak english and no one would translate and explain the looks of terror on their faces, was a reality.

Having our school, A.I.S., bombed because it was American (and the US had just entered the war), arriving at school and not being able to get to my locker because of the fire, having 6 different types of gaurds and soliders then stationed at the school, seeing army transport trucks, troop carriers, guns in the open, all this was too a reality.

So forgive me if I do not enjoy the airshow, and please ignore the tears that stream down my face at the memories so vivid and fresh that the sounds of the aircraft remind me of.

I pray my children can still enjoy it, and will never have the associations with the jets that I have.

To Teeth or Not to Teeth...

For some unknown reason our wee olive plants seem to get their teeth young. Magoo had his first at 3 months, Missy around 5 mths and now Sprout is teething. For Magoo "Bongela" which Dad would bring back from his trips to the UK did wonders. Missy too found relief. Sprout none!

I am reminded of Hebrews 10:36 "For ye have need of patience" so true! The last five or so days has been spent frantically trying to get the bare minimum done during her naps and happy spells. I would LOVE some advice!

Still we had a lovely weekend together. Simple summer meals of salad sandwiches and grilled veggies. We are blessed to have a famer's stand (called "The Stand"...what else!) within walking distance and so whatever we cannot grow ourselves we are sure to find there. They have a policy that nothing will come from further then 30 kms and hang signs so that you know the farm each veggie or fruit is from and the distance travelled. The lady who runs it is simply delightful and always gives the children a sucker when we leave. I really must write a piece on the joys of living in a small farm village but that will have to wait for another day.

The flowers in our garden are coming to a close, but we are determined to enjoy the few that remain. The black eyed susans, obedience plant, salvia, hosta flowers, roses and snap dragons are still going strong. It is simply delightful to be able to bring some of God's creation into our homes to cheer it up and bring the outdoors in! Wouldn't you agree?

You know when you have all these great plans.....

Yeah, so, yesterday I desided that I would have
-the Goons (all 3 of them) bathed and clothed ready to go to Lecture
-me looking stunning in a nice outfit for such
-dinner of BBQ chicken and veggie from our garden cooked
-set the table all nice and welcoming
-clean up from the kid chaos so that down stairs looks like adults actually live here

all before Hubby came home.

So I'm slogging away at folding and putting away Mt. WASHington and realize it it 5:45 and Hubby hasn't called so I phone him to see if he is on his way home to time dinner....Goons are thrown in to the bath (opps, I mean gently placed..) I frantically put Sprout into a cute lil dress. No answer so I asssume Hubby is out of range only to hear "I'm home"

Panic

Dinner isn't even started, let alone is the table set. Wife looks like, well um, not stunning.

So in the end Hubby finished washing the Goons while I cooked, we ate dinner and then i tore around trying to find the skirt I was going to wear (still not back to pre-preggy size yet) and decided to wear a nice hat....

hat is rather wild and so was wishing I had a different headcovering...oh well.

lesson learned.

We laughed while doing up carseats at my unrealistic goals.
Maybe next time I can actually have dinner on the table!

Hubby went back to work this week after seven weeks of paternity leave! So thankful for that! But now we are all trying to get back into the groove of regular smegular life. Coffee in the morning is now esential to my well-being!

Reading a funny but good book called "The American Frugal Housewife" Full of some good ideas on keeping down the waste in our homes and using everything. Some stuff though you can tell is from the 1830's when it was written!

Speaking of waste.....our lil town is having a town-wide garage sale sometime this month so I am going to start filling boxes with stuff from each room to get rid of. I can't wait for this giant clean out to begin! so what am i doing on the computer??? The girls are asleep and I don't want to wake them!

oh, and I am a famous procrastinator!!

Here are some pics of our garden, thought you may enjoy them...

What an amazing storm we experienced last night. Horizontal rain, sheet lightning that never stopped, hail...

no tornado though!

I have never before seen such amazing sights in the sky. you could actually see the forks of lightning going from one cloud to the other and then the sheets lightning. It was a blessing it wasn't forked lightning as it would have done a lot of damage down here.

First thing this morning the Goons and I made a little walk to see how the veggie patch had faired, and other then the corn being blown over it did preety good. The brussel sprouts are fine which surprised me.

Before growing some of our food for the summer months storms never really bothered me. However in the past month we've had hail three times, thankfully not damaging enough yet.

Our bean crop is nearly finished and the carrots haven't done well at all since the beans did too well and blocked out the sunlight from reaching them!

Today the Goons and I will finish finding and harvesting the last of the beans and planting some more letuce to gather in a couple weeks.

Sorry I have been missing for the summer. Hubby was able to take some paternity leave and just went back to work today ;-(

So I've desided to try and update at least twice a week, just on daily hum drum of life here in our little community with 3 Goons to make life interessting.

Mr. Magoo starts scool in 2 weeks, Sprout is teething and thankfully Missy is taking life all in stride.

So starting tomorrow expect some proper updates including pics and recipes if i can get my brain around all the computer stuff.

Hello All
I've been reading up about how oil prices are going up and that therefore prices of everything is and will continue too. I had to buy flour yesterday and the whole wheat was up to $16! from $9....but it is still cheaper to bake good bread then to buy the good healthy stuff!
I was reading a good article on how we need to make our household more self sufficient. So I think it is time for me to look into making more of the foods that we eat and buy less pre-made.
I only wish we could have chickens! we go through 18 eggs a week!
any other ideas?

My Husband is Brilliant!

I hate making lists. It isn't the list that drives me insane it is the fact that after making said list one of the following always happens:

1) I leave it at home on the kitchen counter
2) A very important ingredient is left off of said list and therefore I don't get it
3) I put the list down somewhere in the grocery store and cannot find it for ther est of the shop

Oiy! So D has made me a list on the computer of the basic items that we usually need. All I have to do is print it and cross out the items we do not need and voila! a list done in a couple minutes!

And....since it is printed on a regualr piece of paper #1 & 3 usually don't happen anymore.

On another note: we (the 3 Goons and I) went to pick up our veggie plants that we'd like to grow this summer. To our utter dismay the 3 usual places (Farmer's market & 2 local farms) only had peas, tomatoes, the wrong kind of letuce and cucumbers!

We are planning on planting corn, bush beans, carrots, leaks, brussel sprouts (a whole row!), tomatoes and the usual array of herbs.

As of writing this we only have the tomatoe and brussel sprout plants. So we still need to find a bunch of leak plants. All this cause Sprout #3 was about to arrive and therefore I was giving myself a break in not starting them inside....I've learn't my lesson!

Pics to follow soon!

Sprout the Third has finally arrived!

being weighed by the midwife...7'13

Mintues after being born at home she gets dressed!
Thankfully the labour was only 3 hrs, and the last bit went so fast the second midwife never arrived in time! It was sorta funny!

We Are Ready!

The bassinet is made up
All the clothes washed, dryed and folded
2 batches of bread are bagged up and in the freezer
Kitchen cupboards have been scrubed
Dinners premade and frozen
Goons overnight box packed up
Hospital bag still empty...

Baby is NOT ready to come.....AHHHHHHHHH.......so frustrating!

Better late then Never! Here are some photos from our Purim dinner. As you can see Missy wanted to be Hadassah (before she was Queen) and Magoo was of course King David! We had a lot of fun, though our guests didn't dress up! and ate to our full of yummy food!










Sorry have no idea how to rotate it!) Here they are eating the first course, pita & humus, olives & mini cucumber like they grow in Israel (the huge preggy lady took the pic) It was R & L's first ever Purim, we were so glad that they could come!

(Our center piece was brilliant I thought and the kids got a kick out of it!
After roast lamb, potaotes & broc/cauliflower we tucked in to the traditional dessert. Fruit and Haman's nose cookies with chocolate coins....no there are none left, so sorry!

I'm sorry to have been missing for a while now.



35 weeks preggy, Sinus Infection AND Broncitious.....



no more explination needed!



In a couple days I will post about my Hope Chest, inspired by Anna's Musings comments on them.



Hugs to all

The Joy of Busy Hands
My wonderful sister taught me a couple years ago now how to make bread. Having broken 2 bread makers, I was not going to buy yet another replacement!
Bread making to me was intimidating. All that kneading, and timing, and oh dear me what if it didn't work! See I detest trying things that I don't think will work or that I won't do well, a fault of my flesh.
She had me over a couple times on her bread making days, and patiently showing me how and what and when to do everything. Now every second Monday is our bread making day at home. The Goons love digging their hands into the oey-goey dough and "helping" Mummy.
Bread making always reminds me of those mothers who have gone before us. Providing for their households and passing on the Truth to their little olive plants.
Jochebed would have ground grain and kneading the dough in her kneading trough while trying to hide her precious baby boy. Would it have been a time of prayer for Hannah, as she longed to have a child to stick his hand in and make a mess.
Actually going back to bread makers, I find doing 3-6 loafs at a time much less work then the little loaf that the machine spits out. Measurements don't have to be exact, and This way I only have to make the bread twice in a month, unless we give some away.
As an aside, a fresh loaf of bread, some homemade jam and a box of tea make the perfect "just because" gift.
So grab your big bowl, and get ready to get your hands dirty!
"I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread." Ps 132:15

Nesting My Mind

As you are all well aware, I'm sure, I am in the major nesting stage. Linen closet has been tackled and finished. Flammables have been gathered up and placed in the coldstorage. Kitchen reorganized and cupboards all washed and scrubed clean.

Yesterday got me thinking....(scary I know, I know)

I'm doing all this preparation for the "Olive Plant" arriving (in less then 11 weeks!) and focusing on the house when I should really be focusing on my mind.

It's really just like a house, there is more then too much clutter, areas that need a good scrubing, and reorganizing our priorities.

So on that note I've decided to make some changes. Instead of just reading "good & clean" books (mainly Christian Fiction, but a warning not all in that section are good!) I'm going to read a section in Eureka for every book I rush through.

I need to reorganize our week too. We are ramdonly getting jobs done and preschool lessons thrown in here and there but I need to sit down and figure out a way to work our week.

I'll keep you posted, right now it is time for breakfast!

Debbie, thanks for the comment! It really made my day! do you have your own email? send it via email to us, then we could "chat".

Anna and Debbie, God bless and have a blast in Israel! Miss you lots and God Bless!

The Bliss of Exhaustion
Yes, yes, I know: weird title!
Hubby has been home for most of the week and it has been wonderful. My Favourtie memory made would have to be the time spent sledding with the children on the 26th. We had the hiking trails to ourselves and it was a perfect 1 degree C with a mysterious fog. The children were amazing and even lil Miss hiked and played in the snow for an hour! Mummy's legs were even tired!

The week has been full of fun, but also a lot more cleaning. Making the Goons beds today I was shocked to find 2 inches of dust behind Magoo's bed, Yuck! so while they were enjoying a bubble bath the floors were vacumed and fresh linens changed in each room of the house.

Now that they are old enough, I find bath time is the perfect oppurtunity to get a lot of jobs done on the second floor of the house. Vacuming, folding (I hate folding) and putting away laundry and simple tidy up time can always fill the 30 minutes!

Tomorrow we head off on a road tril to visit Grandpa, so tonight has been spent baking. So far we've finished 2 ham/brocolli/onion quiche, 3 dozen Morning Glory muffins and a ton of mitten and star shaped sugar cookies. Packaged up with some tins of nuts, homemade bread and some fresh fruit, and it should make a nice goodie basket to help stock up his fridge.

I was thinking, I know it is shocking when that happens, but it is such a good lesson when the children are involved in helping make/bake things for others, especially if you explain to them the reason why (they are sick, older, need help, tired!). The kids and I have enjoyed this project, and it got me thinking that it is so easy to double a recipe or a dish that we should really be baking and cooking for others more often. There certainly are many in the area that can use the help!

Until next time,

Hugs,

The Goon Family

Preparation begins!

I believe nesting has started, much to my husband's delight! I'd like to share with you what the children and I did last week. In a burst of energy we emptied the pantry cupboard, the small tea cupboard and a junk cupbaord. The children were thrilled with stacking the cans, and making piles. We gave the now empty cupboards a good wash with a mix of water, white vinegar, and soap, and left them to dry overnight.

The next morning when I awoke to the chaos in the kitchen I had been wishing that the job had never been started! But off we went, rolled up our sleeves and put everything back. In the tea cupboard went all of the herbal teas, a shelf (the highest one) of vitamins and supplaments, and on the lowest shelf the regular tea, pepermint tea, coffee filters and hot chocolait tin as we use them nearly everyday.

The bottom cupboard is a 'lazy susan' which was a pain to clean, but it had to be done! Organizing this took some thought as the shape (round) and size dictates where items must be placed. Must to my amazement everything fit in! Now the cereal it all together on the top shelf instead of being randomly tossed about, the baking items are on the top and then all the pasta, stew and canned items are on the bottom. In cleaning this all out I discovered a huge crack in my white sugar jar so that was tossed and an old wooden one brought up from the basement (and disinfected) now sits in there instead. It is a little bit of a pain as it doesn't fint an entire bag of sugar but we'll make it work.

The junk cupboard is what I am most pleased about. I got out our large mason canning jars and my Mother (who is amazing) gave me some screw on white plastic lids made for them. We barely do any canning choosing instead to freeze for the winter, but I digress. So now instead of a hog-pog of half empyt bags of goodies and such that always spilled and made a mess, everything has a jar. Carbo chips in one, walnuts in another, raisins in another, coconut in yet another, chocolait chips in another and in the biggest one (an extra wide one that my Grandma used to use for pickles) I put the children's treats such as bozed raisins, sugar free suckers and fruit leathers. They look so preety when you open the door and see everything peeking out of the glass jars.

On Tuesday we had the whole family over for dinner for, and with the new organized cupboards the baking and cooking went much easier. I estimate that for each meal of the day I save 5-10 minutes because of the simple fact that I know where ingredients are...bliss!

Now for next week I believe we shall attack the linen closet.....Help!

There is this odd phenomenon that happens each time we are expecting...
I make THE LIST
You know the one, it is at least a whole sheet of lined paper, outlining all the jobs that I'd like to get done pre-baby. Individual items include such simle tasks as "Make a set of at least 4 baby Bible felt books" or "Organize the children's desser drawers" or "Paint the playroom and Micah's room" even "refinish all of Baby Iz furniture" nothing simpler then these is included.
D finds this very humorous. I'm wondering where to start!

29 Tishrei 5768, 10/11/2007
Israel National News:
Palestinians Now Demand the Western Wall!!

"In an interview with the website of the Israeli newspaper Maariv, an adviser to Palestinian Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has now issued a new demand: the Palestinians want control over the Kotel, the Western Wall!
Here is what Adnan al-Husseini said: "We are talking about the city of Jerusalem, which is the capital of the Palestinian state, and we are talking about full and not partial sovereignty...we are referring to east Jerusalem, which consists of 9 square kilometers and which includes the Old City and the holy sites."
When the Maariv reporter asked al-Husseini specifically about the Kotel, Abbas' adviser said: "The Wailing Wall is a fence of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque. It is a sacred Islamic trust and there is no place for making concessions over it." You can find the article - in Hebrew - here.
Surprised? Don't be. This is a natural outcome of the Israeli government's rush to make concessions to our foes. The Palestinians see that Mr. Olmert is desperate for a deal, and is ready to give away the store to get one. Sensing his weakness, the Palestinians are pushing for still further Israeli capitulation, confident that they have nothing to lose in the process.
We must stop this insanity - so wake up! Speak out! Do something - before it is too late, and we are left glancing at the Western Wall from afar, wondering how we could possibly have let it slip through our hands yet again....."
I think I'm going to go and cry now!