Would Anyone Notice If I Didn't Decorate?

I'm not usually a bah humbug type of person when it comes to Christmas. But this year, I'm feeling a little weary before I even have all the boxes down from the attic. I'm weary, because, what mom can decorate without thinking about what it will take to UNdecorate in January? I made that word up, Blogger Spell Check, so stop nagging me about it.

This is last year's tree, by the way. I'm trying to psych myself up. I don't suppose I could hang a picture of it on the wall and call it quits, could I?

I think it is just that I know this Christmas will be different. We're planning a road trip that will have us gone for a bunch of time, including Christmas. When we get back, I'm not going to feel like taking down the normal amount of decorations.

As I mulled my sheer laziness this afternoon, the boys pestered to set up our tree. (The picture wouldn't do, dol gone it.) So we hefted the coffin sized box down and blew off the dust. Our tree is not the stand it up and fluff kind. It is has TONS of branches that must be organized, re-bent, and set in place.

Last year, I decided our 12 foot tree didn't need to be 12 feet tall and improvised the directions to create a tree that was 9 feet. Thinking I could continue the trend, I tried to convince the boys that a 6 foot tree would be spectacular. Nothing doing. They wouldn't have any parts of it.

So, 9 feet of tree it had to be. They did it all themselves, using our spinning bar stool as a ladder. Unbelievably, there were no crashes or broken bones. Just lots of laughter. The branches look a little frumpy and odd in places, but then, so do I, so who can knock it?

While the boys and I were at church for musical practice tonight, my husband--my really wonderful and I think he still loves me--husband, and our youngest son, hung the lights on it. I think it looks grand, just the way it is. Do you think I could call it quits now?

Nah. I don't think so either. But I'm trying to think of an easy and quick way to dress it up without digging into our many boxes of balls and ornaments.

Help me out, girls. What simple tree decorating ideas do you have for me? I'm all EARS.

After Thanksgiving Grocery Sales

Just by chance I happened into Kroger after church today and made out like a bandit. They have many things marked down--especially in the bread department.

We came out with a ton of things to restock my bread freezer. Those huge buns in the middle were just $.50! We got several packs and my boys made ham sandwiches out of some. The odd shape of the buns make them look like sandwiches with with funny hats on top. But they are Delicious!

Much of their specialty and "healthy" breads were marked way down, too. We even got some of their 6 ct. boxes of personal apple pies for $.75 each! Too bad they are not healthy!

Plus, some of their donuts are marked down, and they freeze well. My boys are in Heaven!

I realize these kinds of deals will probably vary by region and store, but I'm guessing that most grocery stores will have overstock of some things to mark down. You might want to make a trip to your local store and see what you can snag!

I'd love to hear about any deals you find!

Who Is Knocking At The Door?

I heard it more than a few times over the last two weeks. Knocking, that is. Each time, I jumped up and went to the door only to find there was no one there. Well, the cats were there, but I'm reasonably sure they haven't taken to knocking. They will trip you in a heart beat, claw up your leg, and leave all sorts of unspeakable gifts. But knock? No.

I heard knocking in the bedroom, in the kitchen, in the sun room, by my computer and even in the garage. Sometimes, I heard knocking in the morning, and sometimes the afternoon. But always, when I looked, no one was anywhere. One time, I had my husband go around back because I heard knocking on the bedroom window (at least I thought). He (of course) never heard it and saw nothing. Figures.

The knocking began to weigh heavy on my very last nerve. I had passed spooked out, and was sitting firmly in the middle of the all right buster, I've had it stage.

Then, early Tuesday morning, I had my chance. He knocked, and I was ready. I raced as quietly as a woman of my size and age can race (no smart comments, please) out the other door and around the house.

TeeHee!

I caught him red handed! Or should I say, red headed?

There, on the wall of my cedar sided house, clung a big ol' woodpecker pecking for all he was worth.

Mystery solved. Sigh.

But now that I know WHO is knocking, won't someone please tell me how to get him to STOP?! He is driving me right up a wall. Seriously. And my walls are not big enough for the two of us.

In My Spare Time

Yeah, right! What mom has spare time unless she robs it from her beauty rest? LOL! That is exactly what I'm doing as I sit with a very full tummy contemplating what things I'd like to do with the rest of my holiday weekend.

I'd love to sleep in, but it won't happen tomorrow. I have my eye on a few sales that require I dust myself off pretty early. Speaking of dusting, I also want to get my fall things put away, clean and dust, pull out the Christmas boxes, get the guys to hang some lights outside, take some pictures, get together a care package for my parents, and maybe find some time to explore the whole face book thing. I'm sadly disconnected, according to my good friend, and it would be a fun thing to do in my free time.

Alrighty then. I'll hop to it.

But back to the Christmas boxes.

Do you know that my neighbors had their Christmas lights up TWO weeks ago? Now that just isn't fair. Don't they know what that does to the mind of a four year old? Let me tell you, it isn't pretty for the mom who has to listen non-stop to the questions.

Is it Christmas? Is it? Is it? Why not? Can we put our Christmas tree up in our house? I want to open some presents! Are we going to put up our tree with lights and decorations and everything? When? I want to do it now! Are we putting up lights outside? Why can't we do it now? Oh, I love Christmas! Can Daddy get our lights out when he gets home? Do they cost a lot of money? Is everyone going to have a tree in their house? Why do we have a Christmas tree at Christmas time? Do the kitties get presents at Christmas time? Do they have a tree?

Yes, thank you, dear neighbors. I owe you one. But that will have to go on the bottom of my list. My very long list. Sigh.

As my handy dandy desk calendar says,

God put me on earth to accomplish a certain number of things.

Right now I am so far behind, I will never die.

Rice Buddies

Rice Buddies are a cinch to make, inexpensive, and make wonderful gifts! Simply put, they are fabric pockets filled with rice which can be stored in zip locks in the freezer to use as cool packs, or microwaved and used as heating pads.

Over the years, I've made sets of small squares (4-5 inches) which I call Pocket Packs, and then long ones about 18 inches long by 2-3 inches wide. The size depends on the material I'm using, for whom I'm making it and how they'll use it, etc.

This year, I found some fleece on clearance at our Walmart which will work perfectly! You want a heavy material since, when you microwave these, even for a short time, they can get extremely hot. Besides, the fuzzy fleece just feels wonderful!

Take your material, cut two identical pieces to the size you like, place them right sides together, and sew a seam around all the edges--leaving a 2 inch gap for filling later.

Then, turn it right side out, and it is ready to fill. A good rule of thumb is to fill the bag about 2/3 full. You want to leave enough space inside for the rice to mold to the person's hands, neck, lap or head. Shhhhh! These football ones are for my sons for Christmas, since they complained the last time that I didn't make them any. They'll love having them to put in their pockets before they head out to play in the snow.

If you are making a long one, or one that is broader for a lap pad, do it the same way. I recommend, though, that after you turn it right side out, you tack the layers together in a few places (or sew a few plastic buttons down the middle) to help keep the rice spread out. The pad will heat better, you use less rice, and it won't be as heavy for the person who is using it.

This year, I've gone a step further, and actually made a set of Pocket Packs that have pockets. Now don't laugh. These are just prototypes. But, my dad's hands get extremely cold and I'm thinking he would love the "snug as a bug" feel these could offer when he puts his hands inside. I can picture him in his recliner with his hands (and TV remote) snugly inside. LOL!

The sky is the limit for what you can do! Here is my little guy checking out the pockets.

When you finish your rice buddy, test it in the microwave. Each fabric behaves differently, and with the varying amount of rice used, you want to put a good and safe estimate of heating time on your instruction tag. Less is always best! For our pocket packs, it generally takes a minute, and for the longer ones, about two, to get them pleasantly hot.

I print out little tags from the computer onto card stock with the directions. After we cut them out, the kids decorate them with markers, and we attach them with gold safety pins. My kids like to do the filling with a funnel, (yes, rice will be everywhere, so expect it). The older two even like to sew up the last little bit by hand. It's a fun family gift that everyone can take some part in making. Oh, yes, and the Daddy's part? He can carry the 50 lb bag of rice in from Sam's Club!

We've given them to teachers (for recess duty), Sunday school teachers, neighbors, friends and family. Everyone loves them!

If you are traveling a great distance at Christmas time, it might be a good idea to take them unfilled, and finish them on location. That way, you aren't hauling the extra weight!

Also, along those lines, if you are looking for a homemade gift you can mail to those distant friends and relatives, this probably is NOT it. After mailing off 50 pounds of Rice Buddies one year, I've learned to give them locally only!

Thanks, Sharon, for hosting Works for Me Wednesday!

Fruit of the Grape Vine

Saturday afternoon, some kind of flu bug decided to tangle with me. It had me totally down for the count on Sunday and continued to beat me up yesterday. I wallowed in bed with a fever, chills, and a head that craved quiet and darkness.

Every so often, the bedroom door would open, I'd hear the shuffle of little feet, and then one or another of my cherubs would stage whisper, "Mommy, MOMMY, are you awake?" Don't you love it? Not really.

Well, yesterday morning, a neighbor friend called and said that another neighbor had told her that she had heard I was sick. "Would you like some Chicken Soup for lunch?" she asked.

Wow! Now, I've seen all kinds of grape vines carry all kinds of information. But when they produce real honest to goodness chicken soup, that's pretty awesome. It felt wonderful to have someone care enough to do something to help.

It made me think, though. When was the last time something I heard on the grape vine moved me to act? Hmm. I'm ashamed to say, I can't remember. But now I have a new mission as a member of our neighborhood's grapevine!

I'm feeling better, and I'm all ears, God.

Beauty of Mathematics

A wonderful friend from Ohio (whom I'm looking forward to seeing Wednesday) emailed this to me. I don't know who originally took the time to put it together, but I am truly amazed! My hat goes off to them a thousand times!

I wish I could have cut and pasted it directly into the little window in blogger, but alas, it wouldn't let me without ruining the effect. So I've attempted to copy it on my own. For any mistakes I inadvertently planted in it, I sincerely apologize! If you haven't seen it before, it's worth the time. Enjoy!

1 x 8 + 1 = 9

12 x 8 + 2 = 98

123 x 8 + 3 = 987

1234 x 8 + 4 = 9876

12345 x 8 + 5 = 98765

123456 x 8 + 6 = 987654

1234567 x 8 + 7 = 9876543

12345678 x 8 + 8 = 98765432

123456789 x 8 + 9 = 0987654321

1 x 9 + 2 = 11

12 x 9 + 3 = 111

123 x 9 + 4 = 1111

1234 x 9 + 5 = 11111

12345 x 9 + 6 = 111111

123456 x 9 + 7 = 1111111

1234567 x 9 + 8 = 11111111

12345678 x 9 + 9 = 111111111

123456789 x 9 + 10 = 1111111111

9 x 9 + 7 = 88

98 x 9 + 6 = 888

987 x 9 + 5 = 8888

9876 x 9 + 4 = 88888

98765 x 9 + 3 = 888888

987654 x 9 + 2 = 8888888

9876543 x 9 + 1 = 88888888

98765432 x 9 + 0 = 888888888

Brilliant, isn't it?

And look at this symmetry:

1 x 1 = 1

11 x 11 = 121

111 x 111 = 12321

1111 x 1111 = 1234321

11111 x 11111 = 123454321

111111 x 111111 = 12345654321

1111111 x 1111111 = 1234567654321

11111111 x 11111111 = 123456787654321

111111111 x 111111111 = 12345678987654321

Now, take a look at this . . .

101%

From a strictly mathematical viewpoint:

What equals 100%?

What does it mean to give MORE than 100%?

We have all been in situations where someone wants you to GIVE OVER 100%.

How about ACHIEVING 101%?

What equals 100% in life?

Here's a little mathematical formula that might help answer these questions:

If:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Is represented as:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

If:

H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K

8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11=98%

And:

K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E

11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5=96 %

But:

A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E

1+20+9+20+21+4+5= 100%

THEN look how far the love of God will take you:

L-O-V-E-O-F-G-O-D

12+15+22+5+15+6+7+15+4=101%

Therefore, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that:

While Hard Work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will get you there, it's the Love of God that will put you over the top!

As the Ball Turns

Yes, I know, it's a corny title. But it feels pretty accurate around here. With 3 boys, I guess it is a given that our life will revolve around some kind of ball or other.

Basketball has replaced soccer. I've been sitting in on practices for several weeks now and still, I feel clueless. I wish someone would write a manual for moms. Seriously. What's a stack or over the top, or up and back or in the lane??

This past Saturday was the first game. Actually, I should tell you, this is the first time their school has had enough interest to form a team. Naturally, no one is expecting great things. After all, other teams have been playing for years and have players that actually participate on travel teams. Some of our kids (including mine) have never played basketball in any environment before.

So in all my wisdom and knowledge (heh-hem), I gave him a little encouragement speech before the game that went something like this.

"You know, today's game is going to be pretty tough. You guys probably don't stand a chance."

"Mom--"

"No, really. I'm just saying. You don't have the kind of players that some of these other teams have, and that's O.K. You all are working really hard."

"Mom--"

"Look, I just don't want you to get your hopes up that you are going to walk in there and come back out with a win. Just do your best."

"Mom--"

"I know. You all want to do well because your school's girls team won the championship and you'd like to do the same for your principal. But you need to go in with realistic expectations."

"Mom. How can you say that? We don't have any good players?"

"I didn't say that. I just said--"

"How do you know that? Who told you we didn't stand a chance?"

"Another mom--who knows these things."

"Who?"

"Just another mom, O.K.?" How did I get myself in this spot??

He shook his head at me and walked away.

Wow. On a scale of 1-10, I'd say that speech rated a -5. Remind me to keep my big mough closed next time.



So, how did our team do, you ask??











We won.

We actually won by a score of 36 to 16. After the game my son simply graced me with a shake of his head.

I think I'll keep my pep talks to my self and concentrate on what in the world all those hand signals were the ref's kept making.

Thanksgiving Day Slide Show

During the holidays, we really miss our extended family. So I look for ways to make our Thanksgiving special--even though it is just us.

Last year, I put together a surprise slide show. Having a good many of my photos on the computer made this pretty easy. I just went back through my files for past years and pulled out some fun pictures to put in a new folder marked, Thanksgiving Slide Show. All I would have to do is click show as slide show when I was ready.

I made sure I picked some of each of my children from infant on up, and then relatives, as well as pictures that reminded us of things God had blessed us with or brought us through. It was the perfect ending to our Thanksgiving celebration.

Although the whole family enjoyed it, I think I was blessed the most, and it didn't cost a thing.

A Little Thanksgiving Fun

Several years ago, when we lived close enough to my parents to have them over for Thanksgiving, we decided to have some fun with the dinner.

Along with our 16 lb turkey, which we did in the roaster, we did a small guinea hen in the oven and stuffed it just the same. Then, when the turkey was done, we switched the two and put the little bitty bird in the roaster.

Just as predicted, when my parents arrived, Dad went directly to the roaster to sneak a peek (and a taste) of the turkey. His face was priceless and my boys thought it was the biggest hoot, because this is what he found!

I was just going through some pictures and thought I would share these.

Off The Top

Each day, God gives us the gift of 86,400 seconds. That's a bunch. A whole bunch.

Before we get too far into our day, let's spend a few seconds off the top, and say Thank you.

It is good to praise the Lord. . .

Psalm 92:1

Flying Solo and Addressing the Propaganda

This is Day Three of a five day business trip for my husband. I haven't crashed yet. I haven't even lost a child in the commotion.

Life is still rolling along.

The boys are getting fed, as are the cats. I think. Homework is getting done. My oldest is making it to Basketball practices. We're (loosely speaking) studying for a major Social Studies test. We're (loosely speaking, again) also doing research for a big Indian project. We even made three dental appointments. ANNNND things are in place for the roofer man to come tomorrow and fix our leaks.

By His grace, I think I'm doing a fair job of holding the fort down.

However, yesterday, on our trip to the wood mill for kindling, my four year old noticed we made an out of the ordinary turn up a four lane highway. This is what came from the back seat:

"Mommy! Why are you going THIS way? Don't go up here! You shouldn't go this way when DADDY is not here."

"Oh? Why not?" I ask, peering into the rear view mirror.

"Cause we won't be able to find our house again, and we'll have to stay driving FOREVER! Cause we will get LOST."

I continued to accelerate up the highway, speechless for a moment.

"Oh, maaaan."

"We're NEVER gonna come home again, now."

The dejection in his voice was cracking me up. Can anyone say drama?

But, boy oh boy! I see how it is, now.

It's all in the approach. I stop for directions, often, if necessary. Why go farther if you are unsure? But his daddy, on the other hand, rarely stops for directions. After all, Daddy is always just exploring a new way. Wink. Nod. Forging on in the spirit of adventure!

Well, I see the propaganda has found it's mark.

I'm going to have to teach my boys that the fine art of asking for directions has merits. Someone has to dispel the propaganda!

Add that to my list.

Free Kindling, Crafting, and Project Wood

We heat our home with a wood burning stove. It is wonderful heat, but it takes a lot of work to keep it supplied.

Last year, a friend told us about a wonderful place to get great kindling. There is a hardwood mill in our area which produces all sorts of beautiful mouldings and such. When I run out of sticks in the yard, I make a trip over to see if they have any scrap wood available that day. Most often, they do!

For me, what I get is way more than kindling. You see, I am a closet wood worker! So when I see a smooth and flawless piece of oak, my mind immediately wanders through all the possibilities!

What I get from the mill varies, but it all makes great kindling. When I get home from the mill, the first thing I do is pick out the really nice pieces and cart them off to my wood shop for scroll and band saw projects. The rest can then be stored for kindling!

When my father was visiting earlier this year, I made a special trip to the mill for him. I told the nice workers that my father likes to cut things out with his scroll saw and doodle with a wood burning kit. I asked if they had any larger or interesting scraps that they thought my dad would enjoy fiddling with.

About ten minutes later, they brought out some beautiful pieces of Black Walnut, Mahogany, Oak and Maple! The size of the pieces varied, of course. But Dad was thrilled with his box of wood, and I was more than a little jealous!

Today, along with several boxes of small kindling, they gave me a bunch of longer, finely milled moulding pieces! We recently cut a plumbing access panel in my living room which hasn't been properly repaired yet. Now, I can make a beautiful frame (or at least attempt it) for the piece of drywall and finish it off!

Free kindling, craft and project wood works for me!

You might ask around in your area or check the yellow pages to see if you have such a treasure trove in your area. You just might!

Don't forget to head back over to Rocks In My Dryer for more great tips!

Toy ReviewThe Quantum Pad (Or LeapPad)

The Quantum Pad was probably one of the neatest educational toys I have ever purchased. It functions basically the same as the My First LeapPads--except it uses paper (not board) books and the books lay on the unit (not clip into it). Books and cartridges for the Quantum Pad and the LeapPad systems are interchangeable. The only difference in the systems is that the Quantum Pad looks a little sleeker and might appeal to the older kids.

The Quantum Pad is for older children, but a preschooler would have no problem if he used it with supervision. Just be careful when they turn the pages. Once a page is ripped out of the spiral, it is kind of impossible to get it to stay in and it messes up that whole series of pages. Ask me how I know.

Like the other LeapPads, the Quantum Pad books have little green go circles that you touch with the wand each time you turn the page. This orients the unit as to which page you are on. Then you point to things to hear them spoken.

The unit can fold closed with a book inside, thus protecting it and making it super easy to cart along to the four corners of the earth. It is wonderful for trips and waiting rooms!

It also has an earphone jack to protect your last nerve.

The range of books is pretty good. We have some books for preschool and early reader ages, as well as books to challenge and help my older (9 and 11) kids study subject matter.

For my 4 year old, there are phonics books and easy readers, as well as some math and vocabulary building selections. Among the choices, of course, you'll find popular children's characters, too.

The story books have speech bubbles at the beginning of page that a child can touch to have the story read out loud to them. They also have tons of touch and hear objects with silly sound effects. PLUS, they have lots of games to play by touching the various game icons on the bottom of each page. They tuck in such skills as story comprehension, Character comprehension, vocabulary, colors, numbers, counting, etc. The games are a lot of fun!


One of our favorite finds was this double book set with a microphone. I have to admit, I was pretty sceptical of it, but since they were marked way down at Value City last year, I decided to give it a try. The Amazing Big Top Letter Circus was awesome and quickly became a favorite of the whole family. It works just like the other books and cartridges, except the cartridge has a microphone on it.

My first picture at the top of this post shows the C page of the Big Top Letter Circus. When you touch the red circles, one of the characters will ask your child to speak a sound. The cartridge then stores these sound bites and plays them back here and there as you read through the book. It is TOTALLY fun! The big boys love this feature! However, their sounds are rarely appropriate. Big surprise. :) Anyway, if you ever have the chance to snag this set of books, DO it. You won't be sorry. It's very well done!

If you are wondering about how the cartridge works for two books, I think it's magic! Probably, though, it has to do with where the green go circles are located. But it DOES work with both books, and you can record things on each.


Then, there are books for big kids. There are topical books, as well as skills sets for specific grades. Do my older boys use these? They did for a while, but not so much anymore. They only sit down with them if I want them to practice a certain skill. That said, we've used the United States page often to practice states and capitals, and the human body one is pretty cool. Dinosaurs are always attention grabbing, and the geography one is my favorite. Where was this when I was growing up?? Guess I'll just have to play with it now. . .

But still, I find that the biggest enthusiast is still my little guy. He loves to explore all the pages whether he is ready for the content or not.

Finally, there are story books for this age, as well. We have several of the Magic Tree House books. Again, they work the same as the other books. You can read on your own and touch only the words you are not sure of, just explore the pictures on each page, or touch a speech bubble and have the whole page read to you.

On the whole, I can't say enough good things about the Quantum Pad. I have THREE of them, plus a LeapPad, but probably only needed to buy one and let the kids share. However, when you buy lots on Ebay with big bundles of books, the extra systems don't hurt. I've since sold several at yard sales along with a few duplicate books and made a nice little sum.

Oh, yes! Did I mention batteries? These game systems do NOT go through batteries. One set will last forever--or until they leak anyway. But the system actually tells you when it is time to change the batteries. That's just plain nice.

Amazon lists them for $89.97 with books ranging from $4.99-39.99. But I've also done searches on Amazon that have yielded a listing for $99.97. I don't know what to make of this!! I definitely would NOT pay this much for it.

Walmart has it on clearance from $39.98 down to $30.00, but says it is not sold on line. So I'm guessing the supplies are limited, and the books probably will be too.

Probably the best place to pick up the most goodies would be on Ebay. I just did a quick search of completed items on Ebay, and the Quantum Pads and their books are going really cheap! This probably cycles, but at least for the moment, you may be able to snag a really good deal on a unit and some books. As I said, I picked up several lots here. One Quantum Pad was defective on arrival, but Leap Frog was very good about it and replaced the unit free. All I had to do was pay the shipping, which I was able to negotiate with the seller to have refunded.

Also, keep your eyes open at the Goodwill, and Once Upon a Child for some great deals--and let me know what you find!

Toy ReviewMy First LeapPad Learning System

My First LeapPad is a wonderfully entertaining toy, and the kids learn so much while playing! Although the age range says three and up, my son received his when he was two and a half, and loved to sit with me exploring each page. In no time, he learned to use it all by himself. He is now 4, and still enjoys it.

For those of you unfamiliar with the toy, the LeapPad takes special books (sold separately) with a spiral binding that clip onto the LeapPad to keep it secure. Each book comes with a learning cartridge which you insert in the slot.

To Play, clip in the book, insert the cartridge, and turn it on. Each time you turn the page, you must touch the green go circle to orient the unit and then you are set to explore.

Among the skills taught are the alphabet, numbers, counting, shapes, and colors, matching, opposites and tons more. The pictures are bold and colorful and no matter where the child points with the wand, something is bound to happen! Touch a word, and it says the word. Touch an object and it may tell the name of the object or bring the object to life with silly sound effects or speech. Often an object will have several different sounds. My son and I often dissolve into giggles at some of the silly sounds!

Each flip book (at least the ones we have) has a story on one side, and when you turn it around, there are games and activities to play.

Once in a while, I still have to help my four year old get the book seated correctly, or help him reinsert the cartridge. Some times the LeapPad does not read it right the first time and you have to turn it off take it out, put it back in, and turn it on again. I've had several LeapPads, and they all do it from time to time. Not a big deal.

The newer LeapPads have headphone jacks (marvelous for the older child who doesn't need prompting or guidance as they go). But you can also adjust the volume easily by touching the wand to the + or - triangles at the bottom of each page. The LeapPad is easy to carry around and great for the car seat, the doctor's office, Grandmom's, or wherever you go.

Of course my son loves Thomas the Tank and Bob the Builder, but he also gets a kick out of the Wiggles one and a bunch of others. They are all fun, but he doesn't pick Pooh and the Honey Pot very often. I guess there isn't enough action for him! LOL!

Aldi has it listed in their Toy Catalog for 14.99 on page 13. The Aldi link takes you to the Aldi home page. Look at the drop down menu for Special Purchases, and click on Toy Catalog. I'm sure this is like most of their special purchases where the availability may vary from store to store. It has the books Cars, Dora Disney Princess, or Ratatouille listed for 8.99 each!
Walmart has them listed for 24.88, but does not sell them on line. Books ranged from $9-12.
Amazon.com has it listed for $99.99(!) and has books ranging from $9-54(!??).

Incidentally, I have picked up several books and cartridges from Once Upon a Child for around $3 each. That's a great deal, but understand, you are taking some risk unless you can try it out to make sure it works. I've only had one that didn't, but for the two that worked, they more than made up for it!

I picked up an extra My First LeapPad to keep in the car from the Goodwill for only $3.99, so keep your eyes open and you may find a great deal at a thrift store.

If you have a preschooler on your list to buy for, I would highly recommend this toy. . .and I'm a teacher!

Sunday Morning

I had every intention of getting back on the computer Friday. But between getting the house ready for the association meeting and doing the normal sports things, it didn't happen. Then, yesterday was my errand day, which ended up taking much longer than usual.

But, through the business, there are some things I need to stop and be thankful for. I'll share them quick before I head off to church:

• Dad is home from the hospital. He is doing great, and ready for a turkey hoagie. That should tell you something! I would love one, too, but I haven't found anyone who knows how to make a good one out here in the Midwest.
  
  
  
• The association meeting went very well. In the past, meetings like these were full of stress and disagreement. But for the past few years, with a lot of leadership from my husband, the group has come together with a genuine attitude of good will. A few key things were decided and a new set of directors was elected. Thank you, Lord!
  
  
  
• The roof leaks we discovered this week will be taken care of by a local contractor on Thursday and Friday. There is no rain forecast for this week, and the estimate he gave us was for far less than we expected. Thank you Lord!
  
  
  
• We were able to pick up the stove parts we needed for our fireplace and are now enjoying a wonderfully warm morning! There is nothing like snuggling into a chair with a cup of coffee to enjoy the morning and the fire.
  
  
  
• We took the time to have a movie night when we got home last night. It was a fun break from a busy schedule.
  
  
  
• There is a turkey roasting in the oven. We actually have two more in the freezer. But with the sales on turkeys at this time of year, and knowing how much we love turkey, we decided to cook one up, eat some tonight, and freeze some packages for later in the winter.
  
  
• We were able to pick up some little plastic fasteners from the Subaru dealership yesterday to fix the back casing on the hatch. It was constantly falling off when I opened the door and threatening to drive me right off the edge! It is so nice to have it securely in place.

I know these seem like little things. But they all remind me this morning that God is working, and taking care of even the little things.

We're off to church, and I'm hoping to do some toy reviews this afternoon in an effort to help people out who are looking for ideas for kids for Christmas.

Blessings!

Two Quick Updates

Dad now has a pace maker and is relieved to have the procedure behind him. There is a chance that he may even come home tomorrow pending a meeting of all the doctors in the morning. He and mom are both anxious for that, and thankful for all the prayers. Praise the Lord! Thank you. Thank you all for praying.

***

Now, for the push up soldier doll conclusion. Turns out he belongs to my middle son. Not exactly sure of how to approach the situation, I took the figure into the bedroom and held it up for him to see.

"WHAT THE? WHAT happened to him?" He took it and scrutinized it 3 inches from his head.

My oldest snorted from his bed. "He looks like one of those women who put all those bracelets around their necks and stretched it out. And his feet are so short he looks like a midget!" Gee, that was helpful.

My middle boy half smiled and looked at me.

I explained what happened, told him how sad his little brother had been, and then told him how I had thought I was putting it back the right way. "I'm really sorry for getting it wrong." More laughter from my oldest who was trying unsuccessfully to smoother it behind the covers.

"Do you want me to try to take him apart again and see if I can put the pieces the right way?"

"No, that's O.K. You worked really hard on it, didn't you?"

"M-hm." Can you feel the mommy tears coming?

"Na, I kind of like him that way. That's O.K."

I was pretty proud of him. Could have killed his big brother. But I was really proud of how my middle guy handled it.

***

There you have it. All the important updates.

***

We're having the entire neighborhood over tomorrow night for an association meeting and I have tons to do tomorrow. So, I'm hitting the sack for now. I'm so glad to have this opportunity to be a part of such a great community. Here, and in blog land.

I'll catch you tomorrow.

Peace Maker Gone Bad

Mommies are many things. You know that. At their best, they are peace makers.

My four year old got into his brothers' room and decided to play with one of their most sentimental toys, given by Mom Mom and Pop Pop. A wiggly soldier doll.

Unfortunately, the doll didn't survive the play date. Crying big soppy tears, my little guy came out with the pieces cradled in both hands. Uh-oh. "This looks bad," I said. It reminded me of Humpty.

But, knowing the outrage that would ensue in just a few short hours when the boys get home, I decided to put on my surgical gown and try to put him back together again. Out came the fishing line and scissors and a close examination of how it should go.

The little guy sat in time out. Silent and worried. The tears still sliding down his cheeks.

I realized that the nails I just clipped off would have come in pretty handy for this surgery. But I did it. And actually, I was pretty pleased with myself. That is, until my little guy was allowed to come take a look.

"That's not right, Mommy. That piece should go down there. By his foot. "

"What do you mean, down there? Then his legs would be uneven. There weren't more parts, were there?"

"M-hm." He ran to the bedroom and came back with another small green bead.

Oh, dear. It seems I've put Humpty back together the wrong way and now he's two beads shorter and has the neck of a giraffe.

You think the boys will notice???

Prayer and Encouragement

Because of the Lord's great love

we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

they are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23

An update on Dad.
For those of you praying, and I appreciate you so much, Dad had a good and restful night last night. He remains in the Cardiac ICU (12 hours away). This afternoon at 2:00, he is scheduled to receive a pace maker and we are praying for a smooth procedure. We are also praying for safety in driving, and peace for Mom.

On Encouragement.
During this stressful time, I have been the recipient of some wonderful encouragement.

Whether our worries for the day include the health of a family member, or the bills on our desk, we have a Heavenly Father who cares. Amen? We also have brothers and sisters in Christ that surround us, some from many miles away.

Paul writes,

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

What a great privilege to connect with and encourage Christian brothers and sisters all over the world through the power of the Internet. A thoughtful email or kind comment on a sister's blog might be just the encouragement she needs. Can you imagine Paul and a keyboard? He would have loved email!

I encourage you to reach out and encourage someone today. Make a call, send an email, or leave a kind comment in your travels today.

Just stopping by was an encouragement to me. Now, go on.

I'll look forward to having you visit again when you're through.

Of Children, Strength, and Sponges

My darling children can drain me dry.

It starts at 7:00 a.m.

My 11 year old takes 4 wake up calls. Likes his milk cold. Freshly poured as he approaches the breakfast table. Half a cup. White milk. His toast lightly done--NOT brown. Only REAL butter. Honey, please, and lots of it. No Lucky Charms. No Fruit Loops. No Cheerios. No sibling within 7 feet(!) and preferably, quiet.

My 9 year old requires the fire in the stove to be rekindled and hot. He needs his favorite jeans, his favorite turtle neck, and his favorite shoes. The BROWN ones. Only cereal. The GOOD kind! Chocolate milk (of course). Only the soccer ball cold pack for his lunch box. Not the football. NOT the basketball, and DEFINITELY NOT the smiley face. Pb&j on a bun. Not bread. Mom(!), did you sign my agenda book? Where's my math paper?

My cute as a button four year old wants to cuddle when he walks out of the bedroom. NOT WAIT till after the boys catch the car pool. He wants his brothers' toys. Not his. Candy for breakfast. Snow boots. Not shoes! His sandwich cut in four. NOT TWO! Cinnamon on his toast. Only the tub butter. The blue cup. The blue blanket.

Calgon, take me away!

By the time 8:00 rolls around, and I'm talking a.m., I'm ready to hit the sack again!

A mom's job is hard. We pick and choose what whims we entertain. We teach them to be flexible, not because of the noble attribute it is, but because we can't possibly keep it all straight!

There are going to be mix ups, outrages, squabbles, and plenty of thankless days. But we keep going. . . and sometimes, we hide in the bathroom!

And sometimes, in that dark little corner of our brain, we ask Why do I even bother?

Barbara Johnson said once,

Kids are like sponges. They absorb all your strength and leave you limp.

But give them a squeeze and you get it all back.

Don't you just love her sense of humor?

That's it. She nailed it. It is not a totally thankless job. We just need to remember not to squeeze their little necks! Kidding! Just Kidding!

God, help me to be the kind of mom that willingly gives all of her strength. And when I run out, fill my tank again. . .

. . . and kick me out of the bathroom!

Works For Me Wednesday Bath Time Tip

I love that newborn stage where you can give the tiny one a bath in the bathroom sink. I hate to see it end--for more than the sentimental reasons.

Leaning awkwardly over the bathtub trying to hang on to a slippery squirming growing infant while getting at least the important parts washed is a back breaker! And then there's the lifting them out. Ugh! I did it for two boys, and then when the third grew too big for the sink, I rebelled.

I found myself an under the bed storage container about his size and tipped the corner into the sink to fill it up with a few inches of water. Then, I swiveled it around and put it right across the sink on the vanity.

Oh, my goodness! What a back saver! It worked beautifully. I only wish I had thought of it when my other two were little!

I was lucky enough to have the changing table right nearby so I could lift him out, turn around and lay him directly in the towel on the table where I had stripped him down.

To keep him from sliding all around, I picked up some no-skid self adhesive bath strips at Walmart and stuck them in the bottom.

As he grew, we simply got bigger storage bins. I believe we did bath-time on the vanity till he was almost a year! Once he was able to climb in and out of the tub with a little assistance, we put the "tub" in his tub and continued to use it to save on hot water. He's now four!

His room (which has it's own bathroom) doubles as the guest room. So, when we have visitors, we take his little tub into our bathroom for bath time. That saves me from scouring our tub for the occasion. (I HATE to scrub tubs!! Oh, please don't look behind my shower curtain. . . ) We even take it on vacation. I pack his clothes in it and that way we have a clean tub no matter where we stay, what the facilities are, or how rustic the environment--like when we go camping!!

This bath time tip is one I wish someone would have given me for my first child, and I'm hoping it saves at least one mommy's back out there in blog land.

Now head back over to Rocks in My Dryer for more great tips!

And thanks for stopping by!

Seven Favorite Things About My Kitchen

God has a sense of humor. I've been procrastinating cleaning my kitchen for forever. So, thank you Christina, for tagging me.

I need to say right up front that cooking is something I do only because no one else will do it for me. Gone, alas, are the blissful days of dating when my husband would cook up all sorts of delightful dishes to feed this starving Christian school teacher. Sigh.

That confessed, I think I can still do this. After all, you can like your kitchen, even if you aren't a great cook, right?

Alrighty, then.

1. One thing I like about my kitchen is the big window over the table. I love to watch the birds come and go from our feeders. In the mornings, we eat breakfast with the Chickadees, Gold Finches, Nut Hatches, and sometimes even Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal. 2. Another thing I like is our breakfast bar. On slower days, when we aren't in a hustle after school, the boys and I gather round the counter. I can help them with their homework while I make dinner. Yeah for multitasking!

3. Our pan rack is very functional. It is great to be able to keep my pans close at hand without having them take up precious cabinet space. It did, however, take some time to learn how to work at the counter without knocking one of them down and scaring the bajeekers out of me. Oh, yes, and I'm giving you fair warning not to blow up this picture. My pans are not pretty!

4. Let's see. I like the pretty wine and grapes theme that came with the house. It reminds me of Olive Garden, and I love Olive Garden!!

5. The lights are nifty. My husband installed these over the counter and it is nice and bright now!

6. I like the sand colored tile floor because it doesn't show the dirt. Notice, I'm not posting a picture of that for you to look too closely at!

7. And finally, I love my Hoosier cabinet, or Dutch Kitchen. It belonged to my Dad's Dad's Mom. We refinished it in 1991 when I got my first (efficiency) apartment, and it became my kitchen for several years.

It was actually made in Napanee, Indiana, so how in the world it got to PA in the first place is a story I would love to hear! It's kind of neat to think that when we moved to Indiana, we were bringing the cabinet home!

Now it's my turn to tag some of you. I know everyone is busy, but I'm hoping at least a few of you will join in.

The Voice of Melody

Bugs In The Basement

Transparent Life

Owlhaven

Glimpse of Sonshine

A Soft Place to Land

On a Personal Note

My dad is back in the ICU, 12 hours away. His condition is very serious and doctors are considering their options. It leaves me in the same quandary I was in several weeks ago. Do I take my whole family and go east? Do I wait it out, go alone, or take just the little guy who isn't in school? I know there is no right answer, but I would appreciate you prayers.

Pray for my Dad, that the doctors would be able to help him.

Pray for my Mom, that her friends would gather around her.

Pray for us, feeling the distance.

Thanks

Our Last Soccer Game!

Saturday was the boys' last soccer game. It was FREEZING cold! They played hard (mostly to stay warm!) but still lost the game. I took tons of pictures, but only two caught any action. Here, I actually caught my oldest making a great save, and below, my middle one is taking back the ball. My hat is off to sports correspondents! It is hard to get pictures that show anything but where the ball was!It has been great to see both boys develop as team players, as well as work on their skills. We'll see if they want to pick up the sport again in the spring!

Watch For Autumn Clearance Items!

Believe it or not, stores are putting their fall and Thanksgiving things on clearance already. In Walmart, I found these cute little stuffed Thanksgiving decorations on sale for $2.50, marked down from $6.84. I loved the little turkey! They had all their fall stems on sale, as well as some really beautiful fall wreaths, and little gourds, too. So if you are in Walmart, don't forget to see if they have any fall items left!

At CVS, I found this cute little flower arrangement marked %90 off! So that made it around $.49! I also picked up some cute ceramic pumpkins.

Autumnal Delight At Night

We have two giant burning bushes in front of our porch. Yes, they need to be cut back. But for most of the hot summer, they provide some nondescript albeit welcome shelter and privacy to our small sitting area. Then come fall, they put on a stunning display of autumn color.

I never got around to taking our Christmas lights down from last year. They went from Christmas lights, to Easter lights, to summer welcome lights, to, um, this. Neighbors have come to expect year round displays from us. My husband likes to buy all kinds of cool lights on clearance in January and continue to add to our outdoor display sometimes well into the spring! No kidding.

I'm so glad we never got around to taking these down! I only wish this picture did them justice. Coming over the hill and pulling into our driveway, you can't help but stop and say, Wow!

Makes me think of Moses. . .

Trade Your Old Electronics In To Sam's Club For Sam's Club Gift Cards

If you are a Sam's Club Member, this looks like an wonderful opportunity to clean out and recycle all those old electronics. You can go to the Sam's Club Trade-In and Recycle Program to see if you have items that qualify. They take anything from laptops, MP3 players and cameras, to computers, printers and game systems! This could come in very handy with Christmas coming!

Deluxe Weenie Winks

This recipe is for "Me" at Bugs In The Basement because you asked, and for Cheryl at Pantry Club because you said, "Ugh!" Lol! Both sets of your boys need to know.

Deluxe Weenie Winks

What you Need:

• Boiled Hot dogs, the more the better for growing boys.
• Fresh white doughy bread (part of the deluxe thing).
• Cheese (we like American, of course)
• Toothpicks
• Paper Plates (another part of the deluxe thing)

Directions:
While you boil the hot dogs, lay out the bread, and top with cheese. Dry off the hot dogs and lay diagonal across the the bread and cheese. Roll the bread corners in and over lap. Important: SQUASH and SQUEEZE--notice my finger prints on the bread. It helps them stay closed during the toasting, and is part of the deluxe thing. Stick a toothpick in for good measure.

Pop them directly on the rack in the toaster oven so even the bottom can get toasted, and toast them till the cheese is melted and the bread is LIGHTLY browned.

Beware, boys take their Weenie Winks seriously. So don't toast them too long or there's bound to be trouble! (Notice the Goodwill sticker and duck tape on this serious boy's gun!)

There.

Now I can go about my business today knowing I did my very best to ensure an improvement in the quality of life for at least two sets of American boys (and countless other kids).

It's Crazy Over Here!

We're in the craziness of overlapping sports and activities this week. Evenings are a whirlwind and dinner is happening in shifts. My calendar, naturally, is glued to my hip lest I forget a child here or there.

Today's schedule includes a Student Council Meeting till 4:00, Soccer practice (the last one!) from 5:30-7:00, and Basket Ball Practice from 6:30-8:00. Understood is the need to eat, do homework, find the boys' bedroom floor, and shower somewhere along the way.

This is one night my husband can't be late from work or my carefully mapped out plan will crumble. His job will be to cover Soccer practice and hang with the little guy.

I'm covering the car pool from the bus stop (even though my boys won't be on the bus), the ride home from Student Council, dinner (deluxe weenie winks), B-Ball practice and supervision of the mundane.

It may seem like I'm carrying the bulk, but what makes it more than even is that the little guy has a nasty cold that has disabled his nose and made him Miserable. Note the capital M. Nothing short of some Daddy time will get (me) us through the evening.

Yesterday, however, I made sure that the little guy and I got out to enjoy the last bit of fall color. Our fire bushes are living up to their names! It was just so beautiful--72 degrees and sunny! It looks pretty nice today, yet, too. But the weather guys say a windy front will bring down the remaining leaves by tomorrow.

I'm learning more and more that you have to snag the down time when you can, even though your house needs attention. It's the old, give yourself some O2 first or you'll pass out and not be able to take care those who need you, directions from the airplane. Amazing how that carries into so many areas of a mom's life!

Taking a walk outside, spending some time in prayer, and reading a story to my little guy are some things that give me the O2 and perspective I need to meet the demands of life. Oh, and spending time catching up here! Here, by the way is a picture from Saturday's Trunk or Treat at the church. He LOVED the firetruck and equipment!

Now, for my walk. As Barbara Johnson said,

I've gone to look for myself.

If I should return before

I get back, keep me here!