A Familiar Path

Puppies

2009-11-07T21:03:00.001-06:00

They’re just about to get their eyes open.

There are still 11.

They are fat and happy and well-loved (by everyone!)

Don’t you want one for Christmas?

I sure hope somebody does. Because having 14 dogs will be crazy. Very crazy. And we don’t need anymore crazy around here.

What fills the majority of my memory card

2009-11-06T18:23:00.001-06:00

Today I took 283 pictures. As I load them onto my computer I always hope there will be a keeper in there among the many photo failures.

Because I sometimes just sit here and laugh at the ridiculous failures, I wanted to share a few of those with you.

Taking pictures of your own kids is harder than photographing other people’s kids. Taking pictures of 4 of your own kids at once is like asking for crazy to come over.

Photo Fail #1

I snatched Tess up right after her nap and didn’t even notice her white mohawk until we got out in the sunlight. I won’t even comment on the two older girls. And this might have been the one and only time Milo had a decent smile on his face.

Photo Fail #2

Leroy decided to join the party. The cat and the dogs made me yell quite a bit this afternoon. No wonder my throat is sore again.

Photo Fail #3

This was after we took a break and came back. I fixed Tess’s hair and even sneaked on a headband. Here she’s just about to discover she’s wearing something on her head. Clementine claimed to be bothered by a gnat. I can’t tell you how many times I yelled:

“PUT Your FEET DoWn!”

“Put yOUR HanDS DOwn!”

“LOOK at ME!”

“Stop maKING That StupID face.!”

“LOOK at ME NOT Tess!”

Photo Fail #4

See the dog in the background. I could live with that though if the kids were acting right.

All this to say, I know why you haven’t taken your Christmas picture yet. But this is not discouragement. It’s just to let you know, I feel your pain.

People

2009-11-05T22:37:00.001-06:00

This week I’ve had the chance to take pictures of a lot of family. The trees and leaves have made a beautiful background. Sunday I made everyone pose for their Christmas picture.

I’m pushy like that.

Think they’ll mind seeing their faces on my blog? Hello family! What do you expect from free photography? Privacy?

I love this brother and sister shot. Little brother did not want to be held back.

And look at that little noggin smashed in between her brother and sister. Are you loving that boys dimples?

My mom and step-father.

Aunt and uncle.

Cousin and her husband.

Have you done your family Christmas photo? I hate to be a nag, but time’s wasting. Do you usually send out a family Christmas photo, a letter, just a card? Please don’t say just a card. At least send a picture of your dog. Come on, take some family photos. It’s just so much fun.

Real

2009-11-04T14:31:00.001-06:00

The beauty of blogging is the magic that happens when you narrow your focus. When you blur the background. When you crop out the ugliness. When you break the day apart and show a sweet game with the baby when the other parts were not so sweet. The other parts were snotty and tearful.

Today I don’t feel like cropping. Today I’m finding it hard to see the sweet. Today I’m feeling real.

Real is this table that is a junk magnet. Real is I’m too lazy to clean it off every day. Instead, I’m one of the main contributors.

Real is my bar gets cluttered almost immediately after I clean it off. This morning- clean, this afternoon-

My family has a big problem with dishtowels. Over use. Abandonment. Neglect.

Real is that my baby and I are feeling a little sickish. The sick is making me want to sleep even though it is beautiful and sunny outside and I feel like I’m wasting the day. The sick is making her want to stay awake, cry or ride on my hip all day. We are at odds.

Real is that these giraffes have been hanging out by my sink for over a week. I find them in different poses.

It’s really true that I let my kids dress like this and walk around outside every day. I say nothing. Sometimes I take pictures of it. They speak with an English accent when they dress like this.

Real is I pushed my kids outside and told them not to even thinking about coming in for at least an hour. Then I saw that they were doing this to our carport (Don’t look husband!).

Real is that I left my bed unmade on the chance that I might get to get back in it, even more real is that I leave it unmade every day partly for this reason, and partly because I’m lazy.

A new game

2009-11-03T22:18:00.001-06:00

It goes like this:

Where’s Tess?

There she is!

Peek a boo!

It’s really a lot of fun.

Especially when the player is so cute.

Boys

2009-11-03T00:00:00.001-06:00

When they’re not watching Monster Trucks or Wrestling on TV, they’re having sword fights in the living room.

I’m just glad my husband has someone to play with.

5 tips for finding the right pair of jeans

2009-11-02T12:28:00.001-06:00

Friday I went shopping with my cousin and a friend and we had a great day. While we were out, I was determined to try on some jeans. I wrote this post a while back and since then have been pondering the many comments I got that told me to “keep trying”.

When did jean shopping become as stressful and involved as swimsuit shopping?

We began in a store that carried designer jeans. I tried on Citizen jeans, 7 jeans, Joe’s jeans (these worked the best of that brand). I was disappointed each time that they didn’t do some kind of miracle on my lower half, at that price they should.

I walked out without anything. Then we went in the buckle. Again, I tried on numerous pairs in a variety of sizes. I finally walked out with one pair, these. Which my cheering section all agreed looked great on me.

I learned a few things while jean shopping that may help you too.

1. Take a friend, or two. You need them to tell you that the jeans are too tight, or not too tight. Which ones look good and which ones don’t. And to keep you going. I would have given up long ago if I had been alone.

2. Try a few different sizes. It turned out I was size smaller than I thought in one style. In another style, I had to go up a size. Most jeans stretch and after wearing them all day, so no wonder I’m pulling them back up. They’ve stretched out and sagged down. You have to buy them tight. Which was weird for me.

3. Don’t dry your jeans in the dryer. This may not be specific shopping information, but it was something I learned in the process. I’m hopeless at laundry, but a couple of sales people gave me this advice. They say the stretch in the jean can get zapped by your dryer and ruin the jean. If I’m going to pay big money for a pair of jeans I guess I better commit to taking care of them.

4. Try on different styles. They do have a higher rise jean now, a mid-rise that is not as uncomfortable as those low, low rise jeans. There is also a huge variety of washes. And, amazingly, there will be wash that looks better on you.

5. Love the body you have right now. Not the body you want to have. Not the body you think you might have in the future. Don’t criticize your flaws in the mirror. Decide this is how you look right now and get the best look and fit for today.

Now go forth and shop for jeans!

Binge

2009-11-01T01:18:00.001-05:00

Yes, I know Halloween is over. It’s November first and it’s time to move on already. But I’m up late, gorging on chocolate cake fresh from the oven, enjoying my extra fall back hour while everyone else is sleeping (I’ll regret both of those tomorrow).

And while I was up, I decided to have some Halloween fun with our family Christmas photo.

I think it’s weird that the baby is still cute even when I try to make her ugly.

Halloween scenes

2009-10-31T23:10:00.003-05:00

My family was Noah’s ark. I did not dress up this year. But here are Noah, a bull, a rabbit, a peacock and a poodle. All the typical animals you might find on the ark.

The peacock finally got a tail and the rabbit got stand up ears.

My aunt and her grandson.

This was cute. My cousin and his family’s theme, “Trusting God, so easy a caveman can do it.”

Check out Musings of a Housewife or 5 Minutes for Mom for more Halloween scenes.

Can you guess what we’re doing today?

2009-10-31T16:08:00.001-05:00

I know I was going to talk about the jeans I found, but I’ve been busy. Making potato soup for tonight, taking our family Christmas photo, editing said photos, preparing for Trunk or Treat at our church, cleaning house… October 31st is a busy day.

This is so typical of our kids I’m tempted to use it for our card. At least everyone looks happy instead of mad and screaming.

Notice the clicker in my hand (and the fact that I just had a big plate of lasagna and forgot to suck in my stomach, no forget it, don’t notice that)? Best money I ever spent. No more running to my place after I set the timer. You can find the one I have down on the far right in my sidebar. There’s a link to my Amazon page.

Happy Halloween!

Shopaholic

2009-10-30T22:58:00.001-05:00

I am most definitely not a shopaholic. I’m pretty much a terrible shopper unless you count my online shopping, which I really enjoy but usually am only successful with this one particular child. Here she is wearing her etsy pillowcase dress over a long-sleeved onesie and a pair of Old Navy jeans I got online. So cute! She’s too easy to buy for.

Today I went shopping for myself (no baby clothes browsing!) with two friends and tried on many, many pairs of jeans.

And tonight I am worn plumb out. Shopping is exhausting! I’ll tell you about my successes and failures tomorrow. It involves jeans. I just wish I’d brought my camera along in the dressing room for some laughs.

Fall

2009-10-30T00:00:00.000-05:00

I love to vacation in the fall. The weather has cooled down and the scenery is outstanding. I always am ready to take a drive somewhere and do something fun with the kids by this time of year.

But this year, we’re not going to get to do that. Rain (and more rain), booked weekends and one bad little rider (cough Tess cough) all added up to no trip.

Instead, I’ve tried to take in the beauty in my own back yard, when it’s not raining. It turns out there’s a lot to see right here at home.

A couple of red maples make the biggest show, but the old oaks in the front hold their own with their huge, dark limbs against yellows and golds.

Is it beautiful where you live?

Clean floors and princess plates

2009-10-29T14:24:00.001-05:00

I just ordered a Bissell Steam Mop. Sort of impulsively. I’ve been thinking about it for a week. I put it on my wish list for Christmas then, this morning after I mopped the kitchen floor and then sat Tess down for a few minutes only to pick her back up to find her covered in filth, I called my husband and said, "I hope you don’t mind if I go ahead and order that mop.”

I’m hoping it will make my floor more inhabitable for Tess. Then she won’t have to spend her days in the Tessmobile to stay clean.

Another plus is that the kids can use it. They find it difficult to wring out the big mop (yes, I’m hopelessly outdated with my string mop).

Last night I posted photos of our dog Sophie (who had puppies a couple of nights ago) on facebook. That night we sat outside waiting and watching as she labored for hours. I finally sent the kids to bed and stayed with her till 3 am before I turned in myself. At that time there were 6 puppies. By morning there were 11. But that’s not the point of this story. The point is, I posted this picture.

Emily commented, “I'm digging Milo's robe. *ahem* can we all agree that the kid has 3 sisters?”

And had me laughing hysterically all morning.

Then at lunch, I noticed this.

He has no problem eating off pink princess plates. In fact, he doesn’t even notice them.

Life is very different when you have three sisters. I think all the pink just becomes a blur. Being surrounded by women will probably make him a better husband. And, he always puts the toilet seat down which will save his future wife one step in the training process.

Bunny costume

2009-10-28T20:23:00.001-05:00

I’m posting this even though we are not satisfied with the outcome. It is strange that I’ve made a poodle costume, a bull costume, a peacock costume and it has been the bunny costume that has proved to be the most challenging.

Namely, the ears.

This is the third pair I’ve done and they still won’t stand up.

They are standing up for the picture because she is holding her head at head at the right angle and very still. When she walks they flop forward into her eyes. (I have wires sewn into the fabric.) I hate the pink stretchy headband I used.

Who knew bunny ears would be so complex.

She wanted to be a brown bunny.

We used a pair of tights, a fur wrap we had, an old mock turtleneck of mine that I sewed elastic in the bottom to make it bubble. She has a fur tail in the back.

Any ear suggestions?

My list of things I shouldn’t wash grows

2009-10-27T23:26:00.001-05:00

I have a bad history with appliances. They break, often, while in my use. It seems I treat them carelessly with no thought to their delicate needs, TLC, ego boosting or coil vacuuming. I just assume a washing machine, refrigerator or dishwasher will do its job without any help from me.

It seems that is not the case.

These things require maintenance, cleaning and regular checkups. In some cases they can be more trouble than a new puppy.

When my washing machine went out last week for the second time in its short, happy life, I was despondent. I knew if we called the repair man it would be all my fault. I would end up feeling ashamed about the coins I’d failed to remove from pockets, the excessive dirt I’d washed or the library books that had somehow found their way into the wrong places.

I begged my husband to try and fix it himself.

He has very little maintenance skills, but he removed the front cover and pulled out the filter. Sure enough it was packed with filth and some other strange things.

He removed it all and washed it out in the sink, replaced the now clean filter and it worked! My hero!

But what could have caused the filter to clog? The dingy, stained, waded up pieces of cloth that he pulled out of the filter along with lots of dirt turned out to be my washable breast pads.

I guess it was my fault. Again.

I’m just so thankful I didn’t have to hear about it from a repair man.

Poodle face

2009-10-26T23:22:00.001-05:00

I had to enter the Halloween Dress Up photo challenge this week at I heart faces. I had plenty of candidates to choose from, but I went with the poodle.

Because I don’t want anyone to miss out on the cupcake goodness

2009-10-26T21:59:00.001-05:00

I’m sharing my top secret, family heirloom cupcake recipe. Two people practically begged me to reveal it, Ruthanne and Missy. I’m not one to hold back essential information.

I realize not all of you will be able to bake at this level of expertise, but I don’t want anyone to feel left out. If you try it, be sure and let me know how it turns out for you.

You’ll need: 1 cake mix. I used the rainbow sprinkles kind. It was in the pantry.

1 can of frosting, white. This can came with pastel sprinkles which I (and this is key), removed from the top of the can and set aside for a more pastel holiday.

1 can of orange sprinkles, because it’s Halloween, ya’ll.

Mix the cake batter and pour into cupcake papers. Bake according to package instructions. Frost, sprinkle, serve. Later, reheat a cupcake (or 3, I’m not judging) for 10 seconds. Enjoy all over again.

From the weekend stack

2009-10-26T13:19:00.001-05:00

We had a gorgeous weekend, even though it was a bit cold for my taste. My husband wants me to tell you it was 50 degrees when we got in the car Saturday night, but I tell you it was colder than that.

Saturday and Sunday were sunny and so nice. My big girls had friends over and they played and had a great time. I took a few pictures of my two small red maples that are on fire. I love red maples.

I’m loving all the blog suggestions on this post. If you haven’t added your favorites yet, go do it. I’m still checking them all out and adding new places to my google reader.

I’m feeling just awful about leaving my poor middle child hanging while I’ve posted about all my other kids’ costumes. I will get to her. I promise.

Would you believe she has the fewest baby pictures of them all too? I’m sure she and her therapist will cover all this one day.

I have a bit of bad news. The rain is coming back. Four out of seven days this week are predicted to have rain.

I guess I’ll just have to comfort myself with leftover cupcakes. I like them warmed up. What about you?

I can’t handle the fun

2009-10-24T22:57:00.004-05:00

(Disclaimer: there are an absurd amount of parenthesis in this post. Sorry in advance.)

I feel like I’ve been frozen for two days. Today was a bit warmer, in the sun, but in the shade (where we were under the carport all day) was not warm at all (at least not warm to this cold-natured freak.

(Photo taken by Emeline at Target earlier this week.)

After the yard sale ended (and this was our worst one ever) (Where were all of you?) we packed it all up and I took a quick nap. Then it was time to get ready for our fall fellowship.

I went hungry and refreshed, ready for fun and sweating in my layers after rushing around getting ready. The Mexican cornbread, chili, potato soup and cupcakes were all so delicious, but the cold began to seep in and hurt my bones. I ate about 4 pieces of cornbread (shhh) and 2 bowls of chili.(Does food taste better when you’re frozen) (Can I have any more parenthesis in this post?) As soon as I was full, I began to wilt and shiver. I longed for a hot bath and my bed. It’s been a long weekend.

We left just as karaoke was getting a good start. I’m sure everyone will have lots of fun tonight, but I can’t handle anymore fun myself.

So now I’m home, cozy and comfortable and settled in until church in the morning.

Today, at the yard sale, we got to talking about blogs as we often do. My cousin Emily and my cousin’s wife, Whitney don’t have blogs but they read several, including mine (just in case I talk about them). Whitney wanted to know where to find some other good blogs to read. “Not more homeschooling blogs,” she said. "(I’m not offended, are you dear homeschooling friend?)She doesn’t homeschool, but she does have three children under 4 which may be one of the prerequisites for homeschooling (so look out Whitney).

My aunt reads my blog and tells people about it. She often tells me, “So and so just loves your blog.” But she also wonders, how do people find your blog? It’s not like they are advertised on TV, you know.

Links, links, links is the answer. How many times have I started reading on one blog, clicked on a link in a post, another link on a sidebar and ended up in a completely new place that I loved and added to my reader? Haven’t you done this too?

I’m going to list some blogs that I like, for Emily (who likes decorating) and Whitney (who likes everything but homeschooling—just kidding Whitney), but also for you. And, if you would be so kind, please list a couple of your favorites in the comments. Tell me about those hidden gems you love.

Urban Grace Interiors

and her sister,

Fly Through Our Window (because I love beautiful pictures, it’s one of the main things that lures me to a blog).

It’s Almost Naptime

Centsational Girl

Balancing Beauty and Bedlam (I think she homeschools, but you’ve got to see her yard sale finds.)

Lots of Scotts

Baby Bangs

Now you name a few.

Lisa Leonard designs

2009-10-23T19:50:00.001-05:00

I’m talking about jewelry and the very creative Lisa Leonard over on my reviews site today. Click over for a discount code and a peek at her lovely stuff.

For sale

2009-10-23T19:22:00.001-05:00

I’m tired. That’s the thing about a yard sale. When you’re in the middle of it you wonder if it’s really worth it. All that work and then packing it all up when it’s over because you know you’re not going to sell it all.

We started today and we’ll go till noon tomorrow. It was COLD today! Tomorrow is supposed to be warmer. It’s making me dread winter. How I hate being cold.

My dog found something she wanted. Oh how she needs a shave and a bath.

And my cousin’s baby finally went to sleep and we made a bed for her.

Sort of seems like the dog and the baby got their beds mixed up.

I’ve got one more costume to show you, but I have to make time to photograph it. Just didn’t want you to think I was neglecting my middle child.

Peacock costume

2009-10-22T13:39:00.001-05:00

I feel like I cheated with this no sew costume. We already had the blue dress from a $2 yard sale find a few weeks ago.

We added:

1. feather boa (Hobby Lobby)

2. Home made mask using feathers, stick on shiny shapes and sparkly blue felt.

3. rubber gloves for feet

I have not figured out how to make a tail. We tried painting paper and folding it accordion style but it wouldn’t stand up. I’m out of ideas. She may go without a tail.

Bull costume

2009-10-21T22:18:00.001-05:00

I had an adorable cow costume. A black and white “eat more chicken” costume from a parade Emeline was in. Milo protested and refused to wear it. In his defense it was a little girly.

I turned him into a bull instead. Nothing would fit my bucking boy any better than a bull this Halloween.

Supplies:

Model magic

Fur trim (Hobby Lobby around $3)

Felt (4 sheets $1)

Brown hat (already had it)

Brown sweat suit (Walmart last year)

I used model magic to shape the horns. I also added a little watered down brown paint to them when they were dry to give them a more realistic look.

I sewed a fur strip to the top of the cap and made ears out of the felt and also sewed them to the cap. The horns are hot glued on and have been butted around a bit and seem to hold pretty well.

On the suit, I just ironed on the patches with some fabric adhesive stuff. It was time consuming, but easier than sewing, and it removes pretty easily.

The tail is a piece of brown fabric, sewed in a tube and stuffed with a bit of fur on the end.

I’m still not sure what we’ll do for shoes. If I have time I may hot glue some of that fur onto a pair of flip flops. Although, that may give him more of a werewolf appearance.

Cute Target dress

2009-10-21T17:25:00.001-05:00

I found this adorable dress at Target Monday for $12.99.

It was the color that made be buy it. Buying girl clothes is so much fun.

It would look even more adorable with a hot pink headband or bow, but Tess won’t tolerate anything on her head for more than five minutes.

Too bad they don’t make these in my size.

Poodle costume

2009-10-20T23:09:00.001-05:00

Supplies:

Pink footed sleeper (Target, can’t remember the cost.)

1/3 or even less of furry white fabric (Hobby Lobby $3)

Ribbon (I got a whole spool so I spent around $3.)

Pink felt (25 cents)

Stuffing (already had some)

Pink skull cap (already had it)

I looked online for pictures of a poodle costume and tried to come up with something easy enough that I could put together myself.

I cut pieces of the white fabric and had to zig zag the edges to keep it from fraying. Then I hand stitched it to the arms and legs so that it can be easily removed later if I want to use the sleeper for an actual sleeper.

I was going to do the same for the furry middle but with the zipper in the middle it got tricky. I ended up sewing it with the machine. It will be harder to rip out, but it can be done.

The ears are pink felt with the white fabric sewn on the inside and then sewn onto a skull cap I already had. I added the ribbons for extra girly fun.

The tail is also a piece of felt, stuffed and stitched then sewed onto the sleeper.

It was fairly easy. If I can do it, anyone can.