Child Rearing Ideals

Before our first child we I had all sorts of ideas how our children were going to be raised.  It can be summed up in one word, "PERFECT."  After all, we were going to be perfect parents to perfect children.  It makes me laugh, and occasionally cry, looking back on our idealism.
I had thought of everything...right down to our children not having bottles.
Then, real life happened and we found ourselves with an almost-two-year-old that needed a bottle morning and night, warmed please, and make-it-snappy. Lately, I have been lamenting the fact that we could not break Nicholas of his bottle.  He can be such a pickle that we found it easier to appease him and the bottle habit continued.  Nicholas ended up solving the problem for us.
Now, I really should not laugh about this because we could have had a serious injury on our hands, but as the saying goes, "All's well that ends well."
Shannon was reading to the kids, I had went to bed early.  Nickles was playing in the kitchen, when he began to cry.
Upon entering the kitchen we found this ~

He had discovered a knife on the counter (another ideal out the window) and proceeded to massacre his bottle, cutting his hand in the process.  

So that's that.  I am not buying a new one and ironically, he hasn't asked for his bottle since then.  The bottle stage is over.  I must admit it does make me a little sad ~ just last week I could still pretend he was a little baby while rocking him to sleep.  Now, that ship has sailed...boohoo!

Cowpokes

Not a cowboy....

....Cowboy 

except for the mud boots

Biweekly Menu

I know....this isn't exactly biweekly, but we are striving to return to that, just a little lapse.

Monday ~ Venison Steaks w/Olive Relish, Green Salad w/ Apple Pears, Feta, Toasted Walnuts & Red                        
                  Wine Vinaigrette, Stacy's Sweet Potatoes
Tuesday ~ Pumpkin-Black Bean Soup, Corn Muffins, Salad
Wednesday ~ Taco Casserole, Spanish Rice, Fruit
Thursday ~ Salisbury Steaks, Green Beans, Mashed Potatoes
Friday ~ Pizza & Salad
Saturday ~ Shepherd's Pie, Broccoli
Sunday ~ Chicken Breasts, Spinach Salad, Wheat Bread
Monday ~ Roast Loins, Twice Baked Potatoes, Green Beans
Tuesday ~ Fajitas w/leftover Roast
Wednesday ~ Sloppy Joes, Cabbage Salad
Thursday ~ Meatballs, Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Salad
Friday ~ Pizza & Salad
Saturday ~ Baked Spaghetti, Salad
Sunday ~Broccoli & Cheddar Stuffed Potatoes

I swore when I began this blog there would be no recipes...for whatever reason I can no longer recall.
I have also sworn in the past that there wasn't a sweet potato recipe that could make me really like them.  Joey's friend brought these to Thanksgiving dinner and I had seconds, possibly thirds, if one counts licking out the pan.
Discreetly of course.

I made a batch for tomorrow night and cut out a significant amount of sugar, much to Shannon's dismay.  He contends that's a sin that calls for immediate Confession.
We'll see how they turn out; after all, a recipe is simply a starting point.
The recipe that follows is the original without alterations ~:o)

Stacy's Sweet Potatoes
Preheat oven to 350, grease 9x13 pan

Topping:  1 C. brown sugar
               1 C. chopped pecans
               1/2 C. flour
               1/4 C. melted butter

Sweet Potatoes:  3 C. cooked, mashed sweet potatoes
                          1/4 C. melted butter
                          1 C. white sugar
                          1 C. coconut
                          1/2 C. raisins
                          2 eggs
                          1 t. vanilla
                          1/4 C. cream

Whip up in mixer and place in pan and top with topping.
Bake 20-30 minutes.

My beautiful family with Grandpa, Uncle Gabe and cousin, Caleb, 

dragging out Grandpa's bull.

Babysitting the neighbor's cow ~ this is a serious job,

one that the kids beg to do first thing every morning.

Oh, how I love thee, 

sweet little Herdie.

Mutton bustin'....the neighbors are going to wonder why the sheep are so jumpy upon their return.

The girls won't let the boys ride the horses; the cow is the next best thing.

                           
                         

Thanksgiving

It's still Thanksgiving weekend, so it's not too late to write about it, right?
Frankly, on Thanksgiving I was simply not feeling thankful...not one bit.
Logically, there is much to be grateful for. God has been generous.  But I was, and probably still am a little bit, angry with Him.  With Theresa not feeling too hot, everything good surrounding us paled.  Why would God allow such a thing to happen?  I don't know, and probably never will, why bad things happen to good people.  I must just let it go and trust in Him that everything, everything, is for His glory.  As I watch Theresa, her grace throughout her suffering, I am blessed.  What good will come is anyone's guess, but she has not wasted it.  It has been united to Him and He will use it, that is certain.
Theresa, thank you.  Thank you for the gift of you.
A sign over a friend's kitchen sink said it best, "In Everything Give Thanks."

Everything.

Today, I will give thanks.  Even for the diaper that is screaming to be changed.  And the floor that needs to be wiped.  The laundry that must be folded.  The dirty dishes that seemingly multiply in the sink.  The stains on the carpet.

Everything.

Chores ~ And Why They Take So Long

Ever wonder why the simplest of tasks becomes an hour-long ordeal?

For example, why vacuuming behind the fridge takes 45 minutes?

One simple reason has been revealed today ~  of course it wasn't one of my girls.

The question that remains is ~ WHY?

It must be in the name of science, right?

How far can a belly button stretch? 

Then again, he could have asked any pregnant woman.

How long will I have to stand here before my face stays this way?

Maybe he is designing a stronger sucking new vacuum.

One that magically sucks up all the toys in his room at the touch of a button.

And puts them away.

~~~~~~~~

It could happen!

The Last Best Day of Fall

This fall was spectacular, it was long, the leaves were beautiful.
And now it is snowing ~ it may still be fall on the calendar but at our house it is definitely winter.
The kids are excited for sledding, but I am still in autumn mode.
Bring on long walks, warmer days and golden grass.
While clicking through pictures this was definitely our last best day of fall...Daddy missed it while he was hunting with a friend...so sad!

There was nothing better than the aspen trees, they held their leaves for what seemed like forever.  It made the whole world golden.

And the blue skies, they seemed to never end. 

The tall grass was perfect for playing "Death in the Long Grass."

Oops, that's Africa? Oh well, we have wild cats too....

...little mountain lions that sneak up and pounce on their unsuspecting sister.

The boys learned the finer points of splitting wood, it is much easier with a log splitter than an ax!

There is nothing better than a motor according to my boys.  

No jackets...short sleeves...those days will be missed!

Gifts

Shannon loves Christmas.  He loves waiting til a couple days before Christmas and then buying presents.
He loves planning and shopping, shopping and planning, then finally, purchasing each present.
While I enjoy gift giving as much as he, it is different.  All year long I listen to what the kids want, try to record it, then buy a couple things that they have requested or that I know they will enjoy.
Our difference mainly lies in the fact that I want to be done with the purchases by Thanksgiving and he thinks the best sales are at the last minute.
Yesterday, with snowflakes falling, it felt like Christmas.  Upon mentioning getting some shopping done, for reasons yet unknown, Shannon AGREED to go shopping with me.  We perused through the stores in search of perfect gifts, and this, all before the middle of November!
It is wonderful, it is blissful ~ there are presents purchased, wrapped and stowed away just ready to be placed under our tree.
It is the best present ever...he doesn't have to get any presents for me!
I cannot wait for Advent, actually having the freedom to prepare my heart for Christmas without thoughts of purchasing gifts crowding meditation time.
Baking cookies with all the cherubs will be so much sweeter knowing that I have extra time.

Thank you, Shannon, for this Christmas gift...this December will be so peaceful you'll want to shop early every year!


Again, no rhyme or reason, just pictures of everyday life ~ the ordinary that makes me smile ~

Nickles with cousin Pierce...I do not even want to know what they are thinking.

Another late night snack for my bread lovers, cheesy bread and cinnamon toast

Kath's first deer ~ she was so excited.

The older girls were gone tonight so dinner dishes were left to Eric, Joshie & Annika.

They worked so happily together, singing songs from The Sound of Music.

I'm their mother, so I may be a bit partial, but they sound darn good!

Touching Bases

Often a person doesn't realize what is important until it's gone.  That is the way it has been since Mom has left for Seattle.  From time to time each of the kiddos will kind of linger about in the kitchen and non-nonchalantly mention calling Grandma.

My typical response is, "No, Grandma is probably really busy."

I should let them call more often.  Some of them have felt the void more than others.  Joshie always seems to have something that he needs to pass on.
When she called on a day that she had extra time, each child was eager to be the next one on the phone.  We had a hard time prying Dom off!

Mom ~ you are such an integral part of our family ~ we miss you!

Chattin' with his girlfriend, Grandma

Me Time

The term "Me time" always makes me laugh.  

Or roll my eyes.

It seems to be used in conversations about pedicures and manicures and hair treatments and spas.  

As women we often don't take time to refresh our souls and thus, somehow, we believe that we need these extra treatments in order to be whole. 

Not that there is anything inherently wrong with the aforementioned special treatments, in moderation.

This week has been insane.

Actually the last two weeks.

No, no, no, realistically the last ten years....oh never mind.  

It seems it is a law of nature that when we are really busy things happen to make our household even crazier.  We butchered two elk this week, along with everything else that is going on right now.  Butchering always entails a lot of clean-up, which means a lot more laundry.  

It was Friday and we were breathing a collective sigh of relief that the week was over...just one more subject to finish for the day.  

I called all the kids in for history and we were half way through reading the lesson when Michaela came in and asked why there was water coming through the laundry door and into the kitchen.  

Turns out Eric had left the water running in the laundry room ~ and plugged the drain.  

We had water running through all the cupboards, as well as leaking through the basement ceiling and out the can lights.  

Out came all the towels in our entire house, and the laundry began again.  

Looking at the bright side, the laundry room was thoroughly cleaned.  

So, this morning Shannon knew that I needed some time to myself and he passed up going to a football game so I could have time to renew and restore my scattered soul!  He purchased a membership at a new gym a month ago and this was the first time I was able to go and swim by myself.  

When the kids are with me it is fun but a bit harried.  

Today was delicious.

I swam and swam and swam ~ then swam some more.  

I even had time to spend a few minutes in the sauna ~:o) 

After that there was time for Adoration as well as  all the grocery shopping for the week.    

It was the best "Me time" ever!

The pictures are totally unrelated, but happiness that I do want to remember in the years to come.

Not just my flooded house! 

Dr. Annika, giving her more-than-willing-brother M&Ms medicine.

Watching Cars 2 with Father Stu

Nickles and Tristen scouting out the deer 

Butchering ~ man, were they dedicated!

This shirt cracks me up ~ it just fits Dom's personality so well!

For you, Theresa, a little bit of snow! 

Bobbing for Candy

Dom ~ looking for the perfect piece of sugar in his Halloween pillowcase ~ 

Looking, looking....

It's right there....

Drat, my fingers lost it....

Finally ~

All that for a Dum Dum!