Just in time for our Christmas cards....

It's never a good thing when your kid walks into the kitchen with a pair of scissors in hand along with a bunch of hair with this to say: "my hair was in my eyes, mama". I'm off to give him a buzz cut to see if we can "clean it up" a bit. Hopefully it will grow back soon, he has, I mean had, the best hair.

The wisdom of my daughter?!?

"Sometimes grown ups are wrong and kids are right and sometimes kids are wrong and grown ups are right." Spoken to me by Ashlynn after I admitted to being wrong about something.

Colder days.....

The weather is getting chilly here so we aren't getting out that much. Translation: not much to blog about :-). We are already getting "cabin fever" and we must find some order to our day so we don't all go crazy! I know once I start feeling better things will get back to "normal".
Had a sonogram of the baby today. Looks great, long arms and legs that were moving all over the place. The heart rate was still up in the 160s, a girl maybe? I haven't shared much on the blog but the last two weeks have been touchy with some different issues. The doctor is confident that baby is growing well and all things will heal (a slight tear behind the baby's sac has been causing some concern). Anyway, I ask that you keep praying for the health and safety of this pregnancy, it's definitely been testing my faith. My pregnancies have a way of always bringing me closer to God and that's certainly not a bad thing!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a great day and a fabulous meal today! This year I decided to attempt roasting the turkey...
After a five hour brine in salt water and overnight to dry in the fridge, it was off to the oven with George Washington (Ashlynn picked the name,hey, it's tradition!). Carefully, I followed every step and babied him for three and half hours. When I pulled that beautiful bronzed dude out of the oven I had to grin. The moment of truth was still to come-was it done, raw, overdone?

We loaded up the car (apple bars, homemade rolls, sweet potato casserole, stuffing and cranberry sauce) and headed over to D & L. There it sat on the counter, just waiting to be carved. The first slice, I exhaled a bit. Then another, then another and I began breathing more normal. It wasn't dry and it wasn't raw!!! I will admit to praying the whole time that guy was in the oven; Lord, please let it not be undercooked, please let it not be chalky. Thankfully, He answers even the little stuff and it turned out pretty good.

After the meal and we were all stuffed like hogs, we crashed on the sofa to watch the games (Go Pack!!). It was a relaxing, laughter filled, thankful day. We came home put the kids in bed and that is where I am headed right now....goodnight and Happy Thanksgiving!

The bath, daddy and green race car............

After Randy checked on the kids last night, he came back into our room and mentioned it was "really stinky in there". Remembering they had been playing outside all day, I responded that it probably was just stinky kids. Just to double check I opened their door and yep, just the smell of kids that had been riding bikes and playing in a dirt pile enjoying the warm weather.

Tonight I remembered to give them a bath. Ok, Randy reminded me how bad they smelled and to top it off, they were outside in the sandbox today.

Ashylynn asked if she could bring her Barbies in the tub and Ryder wanted his matchbox green race car. Randy popped his head in the bathroom door just in time to go retreive Ryder's precious car. After several minutes he arrived back without the car. After asking Ryder if he remembred where he left it, Ryder thought for a minute and responded in very Bostonish, three year old venacular:
"Look harda". Huhhh??
"Yes, daddy. Look harda. Look eveweewhere."

Randy and I were trying to hide our giggles and he was off again to look harder and everywhere. Three minutes later the race car was securly in his clutches.

Apparently persistence pays off.

Reunion

Back in the days BC (before children) I had a "real" job working in insurance. Tonight I was invited to attend a retirement dinner for one the nicest ladies that I worked with. There were actually a bunch of us former employees and it was like old home week. We had a great time visiting and catching up on the haps; ofcourse, I announced my news and they were all thrilled (I think they figure they'll get another life policy out me!). We all went around the room and shared some memories we had with the retiree and pretty soon everyone was crying-except for me. First, I don't cry that easy-it's a Hays thing; second, why would I cry about someone getting to retire and here nice things being said about themselves??? It was fun, but it made me appreciate my current (and permanent) occupation.

I do not miss, I repeat, I DO NOT MISS having to get up early, dress up and sit at a desk all day.

So thanks Ashlynn, Ryder and Gage, three "bosses" that could care less if I stayed in my PJ's all day :-)!

Daddy's home!

After two weeks away, Randy returned home Thursday night. The kids were elated, to say the least, and have not stopped wrestling with him yet. He had to go to work today and they were all disappointed not to see him this morning when they woke up. Well, my early riser (Gage) was up and able to see him off. Personally, I'm glad he is home and not going anywhere soon!

This morning I took Ashlynn for her school pictures. There is a program that a photo studio offers for homeschoolers and I thought I might as well start. They are going to be your classic, cheesy school pictures, but that's part of being a kid! I'll post one when they come back from the studio.

Could this post be any more boring? Besides the typical crazy, busyness of my life, not much else going on.

They're gone.

Well, apparently when your husband is out of town for almost two weeks, you go a little crazy. The following episode didn't help.

This all takes place at a busy fabric store while in line:

Ashlynn: Can I have (everything in the store)?

Me: No, Ashlynn I just need some thread real quick.

Ryder: Can I have (everything in the store)?

Me: No, guys I just need to get this thread and we're out of here.

Ashlynn (at a decibel loud enough for everyone in line to hear): You never get us anything, you only get yourself everything.

Me: (If looks could kill)

Ashlynn: I can't hear you.

Me (in a hushed tone): You are in sooooo much trouble.

Ashlynn: You really need to use your inside voice. I can't hear you.

Ryder (not quite as loud as his sister): You never get us anything,, you always get everything. I want candy.

Me (trying to wish the whole thing away, while turning five shades of red, while holding a fidgety Gage): We'll talk about it in the car (while still giving the "if looks could kill" look).

After a lecture in the car about disrespect, obedience and listening I decided the consequence would need to be big. So today I went through the entire house and collected every single toy they own, put them all in trash bags and into the storage room in the basement. Funny thing, the kids were actually helping sort and put them away-with gusto.

Now only a few of Gage's toys remain and they have all been playing really well. They've been pirates, acrobats, and musicians. I think I'm starting to like this no toys thing.

Happy Anniversary to Chris & Rebekah!!!!

Three years????? WOW! You guys are awesome! Have a fun day and a great trip!!!!


Chris, I must say, we are so happy to have you as part of our family. The kids, Randy and I love you and Bekah!!

Feeling sorry for myself?

Yesterday I sat in church listening to a great message while being completely distracted with my queasy stomach. Then it struck me, where is the excitement? With the first pregnancy, everything is exciting. I remember being so grateful for being sick all the time. To me, it was God's way of reassuring all of my fears about the health of the pregnancy. When you lose a baby, there is always a lingering fear it will happen again, so when I was sick and the doctor told me it was a "good thing", I rejoiced. Now, I just complain internally. Ok, Lord, it's the fourth, could I get a break here? Funny thing is, I am confident He knows me better than I do, and in my crazy hypochondria if I wasn't feeling sick, I would assume something was wrong. I know, it doesn't make sense.

Back to the excitement. As I was thinking in church, I want that joy and overflowing happiness knowing there will be another unique, amazing, God-created life in our family. To be amazed and thrilled by such a precious gift, gifts we thought we may never have. The all day "morning" sickness will have lasted a mili-second when it's all said and done. So for now, I want to do more than grin and bear it, I want to be grateful.

Football fun!

After a great church service and breakfast with Linda, Paula and the kids, we headed back to watch the Packers game. The guys were all lucky enough to get tickets (Dale & Jeff were eight rows up from the players!) and had great tailgating goodies with Ben's company. Linda and I sat on edge at home hoping for a great game for the boys-which turned out awesome! Ashylnnie and Ryde were in on too, cheering like crazy. GO PACK GO!!!

Linda made some great Venison stew and malts. It is SOOO nice not to have to cook with the way I feel, thanks Linda! We even get to go back tomorrow night......

Last night

Ashlynn and Ryder excited the "win" candy!



"Robin" looking tough.

Well, when Ashlynn saw all of the inflatables at the carnival she opted to leave her wings in the car so she could "jump better". Ryder had his mask on most of the night, I was just unable to capture a photo of it. My batteries died on the lovely camera, so this is all I have. Sorry!

We came back home and were still able to pass out a bunch of candy, Ashlynn and Ryder were good about rationing it to the neighborhood kids(that and I said when we ran out, they would have to give away their own candy!). It was safe and fun, but best of all...OVER!