More Cheese!

Kendra's New Tote Bag

Kendra wanted to show off her "Black Friday" bargin. She had some left over money on a gift card and some cash from a garage sale. She put that with her 50% off coupon for Micheals.

And look what she found!

She only wishes that they had had it in purple - but blue is her second favorite color.

It is actually made for scrapbooking - but she is going to use it for knitting and crocheting. I do wish I had a teacher for her - she is very gifted and picks up new stitches like they are candy!

She likes this because she can drop her camera and Mp3 player into extra pockets, patterns in the bottom, and all kind of supplies for projects tucked here and there - and she can see it. The knitting bag was deep and dark black - she said she would loose everything in it.

So she is one step closer to starting her own business! http://picasaweb.google.com/GiraffeCrafts

Decorating For Christmas

I'm trying to "decorate" for the holidays. Not much room to decorate in the house here. So thought I would try decorating the blog. I'm not much in the Christmas Spirit - and hoping this will help a little.

So, how does it look?

And is the Picasa slide show at the very bottom working?

Thanks to anyone who can help me here - my dial up is slow enough that the page does not always load fully.

And please pardon my typos - my keyboard is sticking all over and sometimes I miss the typo. Thanks!

Company Gone

Since the wee hours of Monday morning or was it the ending minutes of Sunday? We have had a grand time with my sister and her family down for a visit. They are the only ones far away. I remember peeking out and watching them file up into the house, waving at a few who noticed me, the older ones carring the sleeping little ones into the house.





My parents have 4 girls. I live less than a dozen feet away (as in there is an alley of sorts between the two trailers). Sister 2 lives far away with her husband and 11 children. Sister 3 lives in town with her husband and daughter and is expecting within the month a second daughter. Sister 4, Rhoda, lives across the yard with her 3 boys and a girl (3 Grubs and a Blossom). Much of this week - ALL of us were here. So in age order we had (names of some withheld) ... J, K, Kendra, R, S1, Vannan, C, M1, M2, Anthony, M3, Alex, Shi, H, Joel, Avery, S2, Valarie, S3...and Miah? nearly due....that is a LOT of grandchildren!





Vannan and S1, hit it off really well. Vannan has done nothing much other than cry since they left. She is a soft hearted child and takes EVERY loss this way.





I don't remember much about Monday - but we were so glad when the promised rain and gloomy weather cleared off to give us 4 beautiful days that the little ones could play outside almost all day together.





Anthony and C had a great time playing together - they were 2 of a kind. Anthony also took their leaving hard.





We finally got the 4 born all in the same year together for pictures too - Shi was in Jan, H in April, Joel in June, and Avery in July. They got along pretty good. Alex and M3 rounded out the slightly older group, and then there were the "babies", Valarie, S2 and S3. They sure had a great time exploring, climbing, running, and getting to know each other.





Wednesday, the boys all helped dad clean up my front yard and remove several trees that were dying that are around our two trailers. It looks great, but I am slightly worried about the extra hours of sun we will be getting come summer. Every year I struggle to keep the temps in the house below 90. We still have several other trees to go, but had to wait for the burn pile to burn down - especially since it is not far from my front door!

Later that night - the older ones all made sa'mores and we also wrapped close to 50 potatoes (sweet and White) and buried them in there.

Thursday morning we took pictures - I'll be posting a few later and updating our blog picture. Then Thanksgiving dinner all day long. It was great.

Friday we went to Tim's parent's house and did it all over again. We did venture out for just a little while to take advantage of looking for a new camera at Black Friday prices. Walmart was out - but we did pick up a sweat shirt for Joel for $4, we got the next size up so he should wear it for 2-3 years. Then Kendra got Tim to take us to Micheals to use the 50% off coupon with her money she had - including a gift card. She wanted crochet hooks - but ended up with a cute craft caddy.

This morning, they loaded up and left. The whole place seems so empty now....and quiet.

So, back to our regular schedule - except we've got to do Christmas cards and make presents. I'll try to take pictures. Should be fun now that I can see what I am taking a picture of!

Say CHEESE!

Daddy got Mommy a new camera because hers was broken and stuck on the worst quality of picture settings. He got a great "Black Friday" deal.

So now I can "say cheese" more!

Can You Fix It?

It just goes together like this!

Smile FOUND

I had forgotten that I had blogged about Vannan's lost smile. She has been been posing with a smile.

She had been having so much fun running in the new container. Too funny.

I'll have to post her new haircut too.

Mercola Article and the Economy

I like reading the Mercola articles - even though I do not always agree with him 100%.

This one I found interesting. A makes you think article.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/11/25/economic-impact-on-u-s-with-obama-s-victory.aspx

Hmmm.... spend less, save more, share more, toss less - and do it because you want to and not because the government made a law about it. What a concept.

Good Blog: She Laughs at the Days

Here is another blog that I have greatly enjoyed reading.

http://shelaughsatthedays.blogspot.com/

Today she is excited because her husband is in a Manly Man contest. Doesn't that just make you grin ear to ear!

Happy for Mighty Joe

Here is a baby story with a happy ending. I think the dad's blog has more technical info, but the mom's is good too!

http://www.preschoolersandpeace.com/

Kiddio

I'm really enjoying this blog - check it out!

http://www.kiddio.org/2008/11/under-rowan-tree-fairy-silkies-giveaway.html

http://www.kiddio.org/

Have fun checking it out!

Prayer Request

Please keep the Lockwood family in your prayers.
http://lockwoodfamily.blogspot.com/2008/11/pray-for-our-little-baby.html

Miscarriage and even a difficult pregnancy are topics that always make my heart ache. I consider myself very blessed to have my 3 children. After suffering 4 years of infertility, we finally had Kendra. A miscarriage and Vannan followed soon after. In 2002, we had two more miscarriages 5 months apart, and finally in 2005 we had Joel. My heart is still missing the 2 babies I've recently lost. One would have been 7-8 months old, and the other newborn. Now at 40, I don't have much hope for more.

So this little Lockwood baby has been on my thoughts a lot the last few weeks. Please pray for them.

Apple of his Momma's Eye

He would eat 4-5 apples a day if he could, and bananas, watermelon, cantalope, and other fruits .... vegetables too.

I'm impressed - even a cell phone can sometimes catch a great picture.

Gotta LOVE that smile!

Progress in the livingroom

The TV now has a new home - but the DVD/VCR situation isn't working. The cords are too short and tangled. I'll need a LOT of extra light to see to get them untangled. All the videos are moved too, mostly in the dresser. We kind of like it there because Joel can't reach it as well and moves farther away to watch it. I've still got several shelves to clean off - but have not yet decided what to put on the shelves when I do.

I didn't even notice the vacuum was in the picture when I took it. So we have TV on a dresser. Joel's little desk. And my future computer desk. Dad just has to cut some holes for the cords in some of this stuff.

We moved the couch for the time being - may be used with coming company and may not - but opens up the living room for the week at least. It can't stay here - and the girls desks are just out in the open now. But I have a lot of stuff to move before I can move the couch - and I don't think it will unfold where I'm planning to put it.

And Kendra did get her desk under control. And it didn't take her nearly as long as she made it last. It looks tons better than this. I'll post a picture when the light is good again. I think she will like that.

So are we making any progress?

Easy Turkey Puppet

t
I found this "running around" my friend's house the other day.... on one of the kid's hand.

It is a plain glove (think missing mate craft - or second hand - or too worn to keep hands warm).
The 4 tail feathers are made from different colored felt and glued onto the 4 fingers.
Then the felt wing is glued to the palm.
The thumb has a felt waddle and beak - and this one has nice googly eyes.

It was so cute that I had to share!
Might make an easy project to keep little ones busy while meals are cooking or adults chatting.

Hectic Week

No picture today - it's been a very busy week and dial-up is slow to upload. Next week looks to be even busier as my sister, her dh, and 11 children are coming for the week. Add Thanksgiving dinners into the mix - thank goodness I don't have to host them!

So this is just going to be a general Family News type post.

Tim has been spending the last few weeks at Missionary Tech Team volunteering his time while still job hunting. This at least gives him something to do and he's learning to do new things that will be useful to somebody. A bonus to me is that he is not online all day, so I'm beginning to make a dent in the 7 months of backlog in my email and marked web pages. But I'm not getting any more sleep than before.

This week we cleaned out the corner (mostly) that had become a catch all for clutter. We put the jacket closet in the girls room and they rearranged their room ... again. All of the craft stuff went up to my bedroom where the computer use to be - though I've still got to sort and arrange it. I did find the Christmas cards...now to find the addresses. I'm determined to get cards out this year ... since I missed the last two years already - I want everyone to see how well Joel writes his name at 3 1/2 - because next year it will be no big deal. My computer is still on the kitchen table - I'm waiting for a 25ft telephone cord and a special saw to cut some holes into some furniture. Most of that was done Monday and Tuesday. Karen took Vannan and Joel home with her since Tim was reffing a game.

Tuesday night we had an AWANA leader meeting . Karen took Vannan and Joel home with her since Tim was reffing a game, and Kendra stayed home with Papa. When I came home, did all of the paperwork that I normally do on Wednesday and ended up going to bed at 4AM. Wednesday was LONG. I don't remember much of it. We had special speakers at AWANA and did a small fellowship afterwards - it was fun. Karen took Joel home with her since he was very tired and we were still helping clean up.

Thursday - I stayed home ... sort of. I helped Rhoda start her own blog. 3 Grubs and a Blossom. And I had company in the afternoon which was great. I was suppose to get some work done in my bedroom too - but not much happened when I slept in until nearly 10AM (without Joel to wake up early - it was easy to do). Besides, the bed was warm and the house was COLD.

Of course you know I ended up with Vannan's bread on Thursday night, and attempted to help Karen on Friday.

Today has high hopes of getting things done. Tim is sleeping in today. 4 basket ball reffing nights and he's tired and sore.

The girls are next door getting hair cuts/trimms. I sent Joel to get his trimmed too. Then they are to help Rhoda with the boys room before coming home.

Maybe I'll have time to post later.

I've enjoyed the comments to some of the posts. It makes a nice "difference"to my routine!

Love is....

Vannan called Tim and asked for flour.

Before I realized it - she was loading the bread machine. That was fine - especially since I had mentioned it would make a good breakfast on a cold morning. Hot buttered bread. Yummm.

Then I heard ... whump, whump, whump ... OH NO!

She had started the machine! And the bread had to come out in 5 1/2 hours.

So ... Love is staying up until 3:30AM to get out the loaf of bread.

Oh well, I got the first hot piece of hot buttered bread, and stuck the rest in the frig to protect it from bugs.

Besides, I was craving bread and butter after reading this blog.... http://controllingmychaos.blogspot.com/2008/11/butter-is-my-friend.html

Do I have to share?

Teaching kids to share can be a tough challenge. Normally, Joel is the most open hearted and giving little fellow - and sharing is not an issue.

But Saturday, his 3 rough cousins came over - the chilly ones from an earlier post.

Joel was most distressed and was soon moping about with his arms full... Dog and Dora (his sleeping buddies) and a couple of random toys off of the floor. Poor boy.

So I asked him if he wanted to share his toys.

"NO!"

So I suggest he put them on my bed and close the bedroom door.

And he was off and running.

I wish I had taken a second picture...of Dora and Dog each carefully shoved UNDER my bed.

He happily shared and played the rest of the afternoon without any problems.

Homeless Computer

After the lights were not working due to a short in the walls, my computer has become a victum of homelessness. I'm moving the craft stuff into the area where the computer use to be. And the computer is awaiting further placement here on the kitchen table.

We've been shifting furniture all week (when not running around like a headless turkey).

So, maybe in a few weeks, I'll have some pictures of where the computer will be headed.

In the meantime - I need a longer telephone cord. 25 ft. And the saw to cut holes in the furniture.

Thanksgiving Cards

My Cubbie Class (3 and 4 year olds) made these cards last week to send to the elderly in their church.
Each child made 2. The second one is to take home and give to their Mom and Dad or mail to a grandparent.

Joel signed his own name. And we put "smells good potpuree" inside every card. I think that was their favorite part.

These two were Joel's. First we traced their hands. Then put faces on the thumbs to look like a turkey. Odds and ends were provided and only a general instruction in where they should put what they were given. Then we spotted them with their favorite color of glitter glue. And we were basically done. I was so glad that a couple of mom's stayed to help with the gluing though.

Fall Friends

Look Joel - there is a fish down there.

Joel? Did you get an apple Joel?

Is that Legal?

At our Annual Fall Fest at church - they dangle apples from strings and the kids have to eat them without using their hands.

Katie and Vannan figured out how to get them going really good!

But is it legal?

Later Vannan and another girl used each others shoulders in the same fashion.

Winner is the one with the biggest mouth! Errr.... the one who finishes their apple first.

Future Librarian?

We go to the public library - A LOT.

Joel spotted a scanner sitting beside the printer computer -to read the printer cards I think.

Joel tried his best to check books out for nearly 15 mintues!

I don't want to grow up ... I can fit too!

New Beds

Matthew: Loo Joel, I'm sleeping on top -you sleep down there! You are on the bottom. It is opposites."

Yes, he talks just like that.

We're rearranging again - and trying to turn this into a "useful" space again.

Hmmmm..... a new set of bunkbeds? Now that's an idea! Wonder how long it would be before he would outgrow it?

So Kendra climbed in to show that she could use the bottom bunk and Joel climbed in with her! Guess I should show that picture too - we were ROFL!

4 Chilly Boys

My sister was cleaning the yard today - so I ended up with all the boys coming in to get all warmed up again.

Aren't they CUTE.

The 3 to the left are her boys - Joel is on the right.

My Folks New Addition

My folks needed more storage space... think they can fill it up?

The kids sure had a BLAST playing it when it arrived - echo's nicely.

AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Learning to Crochet

Dear Santa

A few relatives have been asking what the kids need/want for Christmas - so this post is for them. Keep in mind that the girls are not really very picky - and love their second hand stuff just as much as brand new in the box stuff. Sometimes more. Kendra and Vannan both have some vintage pieces in their collections that they declare their favorites.

And we do not actually USE santa - the girls know that Santa is the people around them that give them things, and Joel doesn't even know that there is a Santa (yet).

Our Christmas' have been on the small side the last several years - and this year is no exception with Tim's only income being the basketball games he is reffing.

The kids all have Amazon Wish Lists - and Sunday I will have them go through their lists at least once more and rank what they have on their lists. There is also a "Homeschooling Needs" list for things we are using in our homeschool - including all the books we will need to buy this spring and summer. Those are marked Highest.

So, without further comment....

KENDRA

1. Upgrade my MP3 player (NOT an ipod) to one with a rechargable battery and a view screen to select the books or music or school lecture that I need to listen to. I would like it to be at least 1GB memory. If it can view pictures or movies or has an expandable storage slot - those would be nice extras but not required for what I use it for.

2. Crochet hooks - metal ones of the smaller sizes. A nice starter set.

3. SD card up to 2GB for my camera.

4. Martha Finley books - anything 13 or above for the Elsie series, and 6 and up in the Mildred series. Vannan loves these books too and we can share them.

5. Purple Bean Bag Chair.

6. TicTacs - Cherry Passion is my favorite. I do NOT like Cinnimon or Spearmint.

7. 2009 Calendar. Something pretty with lots of writing room.

8. Lap Harp Cards (Music Maker)



VANNAN

1. PINK Bean Bag Chair

2. Pink paint and decorations for my room (Kendra wants purple in there too. We do have to share a room.)

3. A nice case to put my camera, MP3 player, and all the supplies in when I take them places.

4. Art kit with a built in table top easle.

5. $$$ on a Walmart Gift card to use on craft and sewing supplies throughout the year when I need something for a project I'm working on (thread, elastic, buttons, needles, etc)

6. Chocolate - Semi-sweet or bitter sweet.

7. Trident Gum. (Not original - I get headaches) Favorite flavor has a passion fruit on it.

8. 2009 Calendar - SMALL - horses or pink with butterflies or Pirates of Carabean - for her purse. Dayplanner style would be awsome with room to write to do lists and school goals.



JOEL

Of course he doesn't know that he wants or needs anything. But what he could use....

1. Raincoat / Boots -- He likes YELLOW. (though the last few days he's been consistantly pointing to camoflauge items instead of yellow.)

2. VTech Laptop - Lightning McQueen Style. He LOVED the one in the store.

3. Table Top Art Easle.

4. Baby Einstein Lullaby DVD ** It's just come out.

5. Wagon - Heavy Duty one like from a hardware or gardening store. Our toy one has a broken wheel... of course new wheels for the old one are a good option too.

6. Chocolate

7. 5T size clothing - WARM Pj's, Sweatshirts, underware, Jeans, sweatpants, Flannel shirts.
Joel's favorite clothes NOW have tractors, cars, monkeys, and sharks. He likes vehicles and animals best. He likes greens, yellows, camo, and stripes. He loves Blue's Clues, Dora, Diego, Thomas the Tank Engine and Curious George.

8. Bathtub Rubber fish or cars - not ones that will hold water.



Tim says he wants a new job, a new house, and a new car.

Me - I'ld like some new Flannel PJs, a nice MP3 player - or maybe one of those camera/Video cameras with the MP3 built in... MP3 same as Kendra's idea. Some Flylady cleaning things - duster, rubba brooma, stuff like that. Chocolate. Some painting assistance. Bathtub walls.

New Addition to Bathroom

My mom had bought this and had it in storage. I needed something 30" or less, not too deep, and room at the bottom to allow the air vent to still heat the room. I was so pleased that it is actually not going to have to be painted right away. The bottom drawer does need it's bottom put back though. But I'm absolutely thrilled to find it!

Caught in the Act

Our church had it's annual Fall Fest Sunday night. One of the families has a nice place out in the country and they love having us all out there, so this is not the first time we have been there. I guess Joel has been there enough to feel quite a home. After all, his Sunday School teacher lives there - and Joel is a master at "feeling right at home".

I kept loosing him, then he would show up, and I would loose him again.

Then I caught him!

You can see what he was doing! Oh MY!

Then once out of the window, he runs down to the door and lets himself back in again. Then after sniffing all the treats and visiting the fish. His head pops up again. This time I was ready.

"What do you think you are doing?"

"Timeing out da winow"

"You better get your tush out here and make it your last time!" (Behind me are several stiffled giggles - including his grandma).

My Very Obedient Son therefore turns around and tries very hard to put his TUSH out the window. (The small crowd behind me completely looses it.)

But out the window he came. And I caught it on my cell phone. Oh, it was the perfect light for pictures.

And as soon as his feet hit the ground (realizing that all the laughter was for him.) He runs for the door - AGAIN.

His Sunday School teacher loved it. I'm glad she was such a good sport about it. But then she did raise 3 boys.