Scrapbook pages and cards

This is an accordian style keepsake book filled with little envelopes. Envelopes were preceding..stinkin' blogger...;)

I seem to have a butterfly fettish?? I also love leaves. My hubs makes fun of me...

Loved this card, but super time consuming...but also lots of fun! Note the tiny button "sprinkles"

This was part of our Labor Day activities

In hindsight (I tried later, but it would have destroyed the paper) I would have put the picture in the 'sky' of the page and printed my journaling on vellum so I could still see the images on the bottom of the cute paper.

Tip- try journalin on vellum, that way you can still see your cute papers.

Hoedown, 'F' page.

More labor day, why in the world can't I move my pictures around in blogger anymore...a little frustrating, I might say...

Our church started hosting craft days one Saturday a month and I've been able to attend two so far. It is great. Everyone brings their cricut...(which I am now proudly owning bc my wonderful hubs got me one for Mother's Day!!!) We share ideas, fellowship, of course we have snacks and we get to work all day long. It is truly a great way to get things done. (we could probably get more done if we didn't chit chat so much, but still productive) It is also interesting to see how other folks work. I actually met someone who solely does two page layouts. I shudder at the thought...lol. I just try to take really good pics and I do as many pages as needed to finish. Lots of times, I have other folks that give me good pics and I want to include those too. Try not to limit myself.

Now that I've shared some stuff, I'm a-hankerin' for some more. I want to work on stuff. My papers and stickers call to me. *sighs* I fear I must probably do the dishes first and then run some errands. A days duties are never done...

Many Many Babies

We are now the owners of 4 dogs and 11 puppies. Yes, our female dog just gave birth yesterday. She had 12, but the seventh was still born. They are such cute little things, actually not really, the quite remind me of the muskrat out in the pond..hee hee. It was also the first times the kids were able to witness a live birth. I thought Rebecca would die..she came in so upset...her- "mom, mom, something's wrong, the baby is covered in plastic" I had difficulty not giggling when trying to explain to her that is was all normal. When they saw the Mama eating all the yucky stuff, I really thought someone was going to lose their lunch. Never a dull moment.
I really am in disbelief that she had so many. So, in 8-10 weeks if you are looking for a new four legged friend--holla.

Aside from a massive explosion of puppies we currently have three litters of kittens, totalling nine new kitties. I know you are saying to your self, are those people crazy?? Well, the answer there is probably yes. But seriously, when we moved here, the owner of the house left several outside cats, enough said. We had our dogs scheduled to be neutered/spayed, but they couldn't get them in for a week and half. Even after separating and leashing them in separate stalls, they still mated. I think I may have to get a weekend job to afford all the critters. Mercy. Praying we are able to find good homes for them when the time comes.

It is H-O-T, hot here today and slightly muggy, not really comfortable weather to be outside. Unless you are just lazing on the porch anyway.

I tried a new recipe today AND I used my pressure cooker and was quite happy with the results. Even the kids liked it. I had my microwave, breadmaker, and pressure cooker going at the same time and was moderately concerned about blowing a fuse, but all was well, and dinner was had in a very timely fashion. It is going in the recipe file. Apricot chicken. I think I'm making some cinnamon bread that I found on another blog, and trying yet another new recipe for supper tonight. Broccoli and sausage penne. Should be interesting. I love the website Allrecipes.com, if you are looking for some new things to try, it is a great resource. I have found some gems there.

I'm off to make dinner and surrender the computer to Madeline, who has informed me that I've "been on for hours"...ummm, yeah, right. How was your weekend, try anything new? Need a puppy??

Under Pressure

I bought a pressure cooker. I've been wanting one for quite a while and finally took the leap and got one. It is the electric variety and I L-O-V-E it. I've made four meals in it so far and it has not been a disappointment. Here's the trouble...I need more recipes. Do you suppose I could just swap crock pot recipes? I'm just not sure. I love to cook and have lots of cookbooks, but in today's society I think the pressure cooker has gone by the wayside. I'm also excited bc we planted our first garden and I will be able to can in it as well. Who of you uses the almighty pressure cooker?? Got any good recipes? Are you afraid to cook under pressure? I assure you, it is safe, fast, and the results are scrumptious.

I also planted my first herb garden this year. I thought, at the time, I don't need to mark what they are, I'll know what they are when they are grown....well, that is a good theory, and I do know, HOWeVER, cilantro and flat leaf parsley are very similar, so I'm relying on my taste buds to help me out. LOL. It would also have been interesting to know what was what in it's baby stages. Oh well, live and learn.

Track has ended for Bethany and it is so nice to not have to leave and pick her up every day at five. I feel like my evening has returned. School will be out soon and we can enjoy summer and all that is has in store.

What are your summer plans? Do you have a garden?

I'm coming out

Hee hee, how's that for a attention getter?? I've been keeping a secret, sort of. I'm slowly sharing with my friends...and taking in all the opinions. So, let's hear from the blog-o-spere.

It has been laid on my heart for a couple years to homeschool our children. Two years ago, I think I could not have handled everything. Given Lillian's medical issues and all that we were struggling through with her, I just don't think I could have done it. Matt was also not on board and I knew I definitely needed his support. I let the matter go. I decided I could not proceed without him. At the beginning of this year, (with no comment or discussion) he brought it up and felt we should try it. I was thrilled. We have made the decision to move forward with this beginning with the coming school year. I am nervous, and at times doubtful, but I really believe God is leading in this. Our desire is for our family to draw closer together to one another and to the Lord.

I realize it will not be easy. I know there will be bad days. I also know God is in it and He will carry us through.

The Ache

I can't help but feel it. I can't really say I've ever felt it before, but I feel the pang of missing out on the healthy birth of my girl. While I don't dwell on this, and haven't bc it is not reality. But today a friend delivered a healthy little girl and I felt the pang. I am SO happy for her and so thankful, but for a moment I felt that robbed feeling. I missed having that opportunity. As there are no plans for any more children in my future, that is one of the things I was most looking forward to with Lillian and I didn't get it. This whole thing with her airway honestly feels like just like being in the NICU again. All this wretched information about her airway. It's like being the little room again. It is difficult to explain or for anyone to even understand. It is wearing to hear people tell you all the crap that you already know...ie..."she's here"..."look at everything she's come through"...HELLOOOOO I get it. I know this, I know it all. However, we are not talking about a broken bone. WE are talking about her ability to BREATHE. I feel raw. Like an open nerve. Really what I think I want is to unleash all the thoughts I have running through my head, but I can't and won't bc noone is to blame. This is the way God intended. This is the path.

My friend with ALS died Monday and her funeral viewing is tonight. Funeral is tomorrow. Will be a difficult ending to a difficult week.

So, here's some new stuff

I've been a crazy busy woman with all my kiddos and mostly all Lillian's stuff, but I thought I'd show some new things from our lives.

For Christmas, Matt got me this lovely necklace and I know the pic is not great, but it is a heart locket and there are five little angel/birthstone charms representing all my little lovelies. Soooo cute!

We, for the first time ever got a new living room suit. I LOVE it. I also collect miniature tea sets and I haven't had a display case for them for about 3 years. It brings me such joy to be able to have them out again. I also have "new" hair. I HAD to get me some highlights bc someone guessed me 10 years over my actual age. My ego just can't take it anymore.lol. The back in wedged and a darker color...sorry, no back shot.

Sound off! Like my hair? Do you have a cute necklace/jewelry to represent your kiddos?

What is it with teen/preteen girls???

Well, I've been blog absent for a while. I actually came here to unload the yuckiness that I'm experiencing right now, BUT have decided NOT to. Instead, I will talk about the anxt that my sweet daughters are causing. Honestly, I love them...but they DRIVE me crazy sometimes. Seriously, my eldest wears two bras and two to three shirts every day. YES, everyday. What in the world? And why is it that they find bathing to be such a pain. They do it, but for some reason they don't think they need to.....hello, are their noses on vacation. Socks...there's another topic. Why do they think they can wear the same pair of socks several days in a row. Really we are not hygenically challenged. We (the parentals) change clothes, bathe and all that daily. Deodorant....teeth brushing. I could go on and on. Where in the world have I failed??? *sighs* Skip this part, if you don't like TMI, but my 12 year old recently asked me how to keep her private area from smelling bad, I said, well, you wash it and change your underwear everyday. Guess what, she wasn't changing everyday. Lord. have. mercy. No wonder I go to bed feeling like the world's worst mother. MOTY lives. (Steph over at Daily Smiles is trying to take my title, but I think I'm still in the lead)

And now, the boy factor is a major thing. I'm not sure how I will continue to cross this mine field of puberty without some casualty. (them not me)

PS- this post is meant to be funny.