Pam-fried Family Life

We're having a healthy baby.....

2010-02-05T15:28:00.002-05:00

GIRL!! She wouldn't cooperate at first and kept tucking her feet between her legs. Then she moved them and put her hand there instead! But..the ultrasound tech pulled out all of her tricks and finally said " I'm 99% sure it a girl!"

We're thrilled..especially hubby. ;) So..bring on the bonnets and bows!! :-)

We did it!

2010-01-22T09:31:00.002-05:00

After much thought, we've finally withdrawn our last 2 children from public school! We're officially a homeschooling family! I was going to let my twins finish out the school year in public school, but there was no sense delaying the inevitable. They were ready for homeschooling and so was I. No more morning and afternoon rush to school. No more homework taking up what should be valuable family time in the evenings. No more feeling behind. I can now customize their education based on my children's strengths and weaknesses! If they're having difficulty grasping a certain thing, there's no rush to catch up to the rest of the class. They can take as long as they need to learn it. I'm feeling so much more relaxed already! I know there will be trials to get through, but I've done it before w/ my oldest son and we made it through, tears and all. We're now closer and stronger. :-) The sun is rising my friends, and the view is beautiful!

Hello? Anybody out there?

2010-01-14T14:00:00.003-05:00

Hello???? Gosh..it's been forever and I certainly don't expect anyone to be following me anymore. However...there's something new in my life. Something AMAZING has happened and totally unexpected. Drum roll please ~~~~~......~~~~........ My family and I are expecting baby #6!!!! If you would like to see how it's been going, please check out my new blog that I've dedicated to my pregnancy. :) Here's the link: http://julybun.blogspot.com/

My blog was originally private due to certainly unfortunate reactions...which you can read about there. However, I think now's the time to make it public. Anyone can view it. I must admit...I'm nervous about this as I seem to have some people that feel it's ok to put their noses into my business and then spread the rumors. However, all I say is truth on my blogs. It's where I can vent AND bite my tongue at the same time. Trying to keep the peace is important. ;)

Thanks to anyone who stuck around during my very LONG time away. HUGS!

Old Hollywood & Me

2009-06-13T12:51:00.008-04:00

When I was growing up, my mom would listen to the great artists of the past. Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Ella Fitzgerald, Sara Vaughan, Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Julie London and so many more. Along with her great taste in music, she introduced me to Old Hollywood actors and actresses. I fell in love with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Gene Kelly's dancing mesmerized me and Judy Garland's voice captivated me. Audrey Hepburn in "My Fair Lady" and Debbie Reynolds in "Singin' in the Rain" were certainly among my favorite movies. Of course, my all time favorite has to be "Gone With The Wind". Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable were burned into my brain the very first time I watched that amazing movie. Her stunning beauty was perfection...and her wardrobe was my biggest wish! OH THOSE DRESSES! I knew right then that I was born in the wrong time! ;-)

I was certainly nothing like the teens that grew up around me, and my choices in music and movies proved it. I didn't care though because I knew that I had experienced something that they were unfortunate not to have. That music and those movies taught me more about being a lady and having a strong mind than I think my mother ever knew or intended. I long for those simpler times when dinner was an event, and woman didn't dare go out in their curlers much less their pajamas! Times certainly are different, and all I can do is try to inculcate these classics into my children.

My playlist reveals many of my favorites. Sure, some of them are recent hits, but the majority are hits of the past. So, if you're up to it, take a cruise around my playlist and enjoy! Here's to my mom and all the Old Hollywood greats that have influenced my life and made me...well, me. :-) Incidently, the first song on my playlist is called "Little Brown Jug" by Glenn Miller. It was my Nana's favorite. :-)

A time to think

2009-06-12T09:25:00.004-04:00

I realize it's been quite some time since my last post. I have to be quite honest, I don't when my next one after this will be either! I've just found that I was so overloaded with things that I had to let this go for a while so I could think. I should have said something, made some sort of announcement and I apologize.

So, to catch everyone up to speed (if I still have any readers), I've been doing well otherwise and so has my family. :) School is almost out and I'm actually very thankful! I'll be starting a new adventure this coming school year with Beau. I've decided to homeschool him and feel very good about my decision. He's excited too! I did tons of research on the subject and found two great books at the library that were particularly helpful. "The First Year of Homeschooling Your Child" by Linda Dobson and "100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum" by Cathy Duffy. The latter book really helps to determine the right curriculum and approach for your child's learning style and helps you figure out what your educational philosophy is. If anyone is thinking of homeschooling, I highly recommend these as a start!

I started crocheting some hats and other things for next years craft fair and I'm also in the process of designing my entry bonnet for the Woodstock Fair. I'll post pics when I finish. :-) I hope everyone is doing well and is happy!

Who Knew? .. Helpful Home Tips

2009-03-09T09:30:00.004-04:00

It's been far too long since my last blog post. I just needed a break! Trying to keep up and catch up with life isn't easy sometimes and gets the best of me. But, here's some helpful home tips that I got in an email. Try them at your own risk! ...Most of them sound pretty good though. :)

Eliminate ear mites. All it takes is a few drops of Wesson Corn Oil in your cat's or dog's ear... massage it in, then clean with a cotton ball. Repeat daily for 3 days. The oil soothes the cat's skin, smothers the mites, and accelerates healing.

Kills fleas instantly... Dawn Dishwashing Liquid does the trick. Add a few drops to your dog's bath and shampoo the animal thoroughly. Rinse well to avoid skin irritations. Good-bye fleas.

Rainy day cure for dog odor: Next time your dog comes in from the rain, simply wipe down the animal with Bounce or any dryer sheet, instantly making your dog smell springtime fresh.

Did you know that drinking two glasses of Gatorade can relieve headache pain almost immediately-without the unpleasant side effects caused by traditional pain relievers?

Did you know that Colgate Toothpaste makes an excellent salve for burns?

Before you head to the drugstore for a high-priced inhaler filled with mysterious chemicals, try chewing on a couple of curiously strong Altoids peppermints. They'll clear up your stuffed nose.

Achy muscles from a bout of the flu? Mix 1 tablespoon horseradish in 1 cup of olive oil. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes, then apply it as a massage oil for instant relief for aching muscles.

Sore throat? Just mix 1/4 cup of vinegar with 1/4 cup of honey and take 1 tablespoon six times a day. The vinegar kills the bacteria.

Cure urinary tract infections with Alka-Seltzer. Just dissolve two tablets in a glass of water and drink it at the onset of the symptoms. Alka-Seltzer begins eliminating urinary tract infections almost instantly-even though the product has never been advertised for this use.

Honey remedy for skin blemishes... cover the blemish with a dab of honey and place a Band-Aid over it. Honey kills the bacteria, keeps the skin sterile, and speeds healing. Works overnight.

Listerine therapy for toenail fungus: Get rid of unsightly toenail fungus by soaking your toes in Listerine Mouthwash. The powerful antiseptic leaves your toenails looking healthy again.

Easy eyeglass protection... to prevent the screws in eyeglasses from loosening, apply a small drop of Maybelline Crystal Clear Nail Polish to the threads of the screws before tightening them.

Cleaning liquid that doubles as bug killer... if menacing bees, wasps, hornets, or yellow jackets get in your home and you can't find the insecticide, try a spray of Formula 409. Insects drop to the ground instantly.

Smart splinter remover: Just pour a drop of Elmer's Glue-All over the splinter, let dry, and peel the dried glue off the skin. The splinter sticks to the dried glue.

Hunt's Tomato Paste boil cure... cover the boil with Hunt's Tomato Paste as a compress. The acids from the tomatoes soothe the pain and bring the boil to a head.

Balm for broken blisters... to disinfect a broken blister, dab on a few drops of Listerine, a powerful antiseptic.

Vinegar to heal bruises... soak a cotton ball in white vinegar and apply it to the bruise for 1 hour. The vinegar reduces the blueness and speeds up the healing process.

Quaker Oats for fast pain relief... it's not for breakfast any more! Mix 2 cups of Quaker Oats and 1 cup of water in a bowl and warm in the microwave for 1 minute, cool slightly, and apply the mixture to your hands for soothing relief from arthritis pain.

My Before and After

2009-02-23T09:10:00.014-05:00

Over the last 5 years or so, I've lost quite a bit of weight. 75 lbs to be exact. I'm thrilled w/ this of course! I've worked my butt off..literally, and I did it the right way. Sorry to all of you who were hoping for a quick miracle pill or diet. ;) At one time, I too, was in search of that. But, it doesn't exist. The best way is the way your doc and everyone else has said...changing your lifestyle. I lost 50 lbs. of my weight doing Atkins...but after getting pregnant w/ my 4th child I had a huge aversion to anything low carb and so I stopped...and gained back 20 lbs after I gave birth. A few years and baby #5 later, I joined Weight Watchers Online. What a fabulous program! It's the healthy way to go for sure! I lost 33 lbs with WWO and the rest came off w/ a great support group of friends online. I now walk/jog 4 to 5 miles per day 6 days per week and log what I eat every day on thedailyplate.com . I feel healthier than ever. I feel like superwoman!:)

There is one down side to once being over 200 lbs and having 5 children...then losing all that weight. My body, outside of clothing, push up bras, and shapewear, looks like a saggy mess! Excess skin is not pretty my friends and it can't be toned, or exercised away. Considering the gold gravy doesn't flow in my house, I'm assuming I'll have to live with this since plastic surgery isn't free :( I have to keep reminding myself that I feel great and look a whole lot better in (most) clothes, at least, than I use to! So...here's a before and after shot of me. Not the best pic, but it'll do. :

BEFORE: 205 lbs...or more.

AFTER: 136 lbs... WOO HOOO!!!

My week in a nutshell

2009-02-18T09:21:00.003-05:00

I realize I haven't posted much in the last week, but I've had sick children and some serious hormonal rage going on! ...you know how it is. When you wake up in the morning after very little sleep because your toddler crawled in bed w/ you in the middle of the night and you think to yourself "it can't possibly be morning yet!". Then, all day, you swear you could throw everything out the window of your second floor just so you don't have to look at the disaster that is before you...the disaster your children make and you tell them to clean up every day. Then, they come downstairs 5 minutes later announcing they're done...but you don't hear them because you're too busy with the baby, making dinner, and saving the world to notice they were only up there long enough to pick up 3 of the 28 things they have strewn across there room. So, this would normally tick any parent off...but when this happens w/ raging hormones, it's NOT pretty! Thankfully, the hormones have settled down and now I'm able to deal with the usual every day malarkey without wanting to drive up the coast!

To Perm or not to Perm...that is the Question!

2009-02-10T06:24:00.006-05:00

I know what many of you might say..."perming is soooo out of date". Well, I have to tell you that I'm a firm believer in doing what you like, not what may be "in". This way of thinking, of course, must only be used under the most careful of situations. For instance, if you secretly like black spandex pants and teasing your hair higher than the sky.... you might just want to keep that to yourself. ;-) That being said, my hair is sooo straight and thin. I have a lot of hair, but it's thin. I'm sick of standing in front of the mirror for 25 minutes coaxing volume into it w/ a round brush and a blow dryer! Now, I'm not thinking of tight kinky curls. I would have my hair dresser use her two biggest size rollers. What do you think? Opinions? I really need something different and I promised hubby I would let my hair grow. He loves it when I set my hair in rollers, so I know he would like it curly. I don't know...am I crazy?

Lilly's new specs

2009-02-06T17:10:00.008-05:00

As some of you may already know, we found out last month that Lilly is extremely farsighted and needed glasses. This was difficult for me to adjust to. I'm still not sure why, but I suddenly felt this guilt I hadn't felt before. Did I do something wrong when I was pregnant for her? Am I feeding her the right things? This is my baby we're talking about and she's smaller compared to most babies her age (always has been but is growing steadily) and so I'm always concerned about her. Her doctor assured me that it had nothing to do with my mothering and that I should commend myself for noticing the slight crossing she was having in her right eye. Okay...good. Anyway, we went to pick them up today and she looks to darn cute in my opinion! So, without further delay, here she is! ......

...." Can I take them off now mom? "

Crabby Old Woman

2009-02-02T16:51:00.005-05:00

Food for thought..

This is for all who have ever had anyone in a nursing home or older parents.....think as you read. When an old lady died in the geriatric ward of a small hospital near Dundee, Scotland, it was believed that she had nothing left of any value. Later, when the nurses were going through her meager possessions, they found this poem. It's quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital. One nurse took her copy to Ireland. The old lady's sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas edition of the News Magazine of the North Ireland Association for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also been made based on her simple, but eloquent poem. And, of course, it's on the Internet www.orderofthewhitelion.com/Poetryetc@/Poetry/Remember.html. And now, this little old Scottish lady, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this "anonymous" poem winging across the Internet:

Crabby Old Woman

What do you see, nurses?
What do you see?
What are you thinking,
When you're looking at me?

A crabby old woman,
Not very wise,
Uncertain of habit,
With faraway eyes.

Who dribbles her food,
And makes no reply,
When you say in a loud voice,
"I do wish you'd try!"

Who seems not to notice,
The things that you do,
And forever is losing,
A stocking or shoe.

Who, resisting or not
Let's you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding,
The long day to fill?

Is that what you're thinking?
Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse,
You're not looking at me.

I'll tell you who I am,
As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding,
As I eat at your will.

I'm a small child of ten,
With a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters,
Who love one another.

A young girl of sixteen,
With wings on her feet,
Dreaming that soon now,
A lover she'll meet.

A bride soon at twenty,
My heart gives a leap,
Remembering the vows,
That I promised to keep.

At twenty-five now,
I have young of my own,
Who need me to guide,
And a secure happy home.

A woman of thirty,
My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other,
With ties that should last.

At forty, my young sons,
Have grown and are gone,
But my man's beside me,
To see I don't mourn.

At fifty once more,
Babies play round my knee,
Again we know children,
My loved one and me.

Dark days are upon me,
My husband is dead,
I look at the future,
I shudder with dread.

For my young are all rearing,
Young of their own,
And I think of the years,
And the love that I've known.

I'm now an old woman,
And nature is cruel,
'Tis jest to make old age,
Look like a fool.

The body, it crumbles,
Grace and vigor depart,
There is now a stone,
Where I once had a heart.

But inside this old carcass,
A young girl still dwells,
And now and again,
My battered heart swells.

I remember the joys,
I remember the pain,
And I'm loving and living,
Life over again.

I think of the years,
All too few, gone too fast,
And accept the stark fact,
That nothing can last.

So open your eyes, people,
Open and see,
Not a crabby old woman;
Look closer - see ME!!

Remember this poem when you next meet an older person whom you might brush aside without looking at the young soul within. Remember, too: We will one day be there too!

Handy Man

2009-01-27T09:21:00.013-05:00

Many times I'm inspired by music to keep my blog going. So, while perusing http://www.playlist.com/ last week, I came upon a song that fit my hubby to a tee. You see, he's a contractor and has so many talents. He's a mason by trade, but for the past 8 years or so, he's been doing flooring, roofing, maintenance, minor electrical and plumbing, drywall, and landscaping etc. Really anything that needs to be done...and he does it the RIGHT way! His abilities really come in handy at home where we often need to fix something the kids have accidentally destroyed. ;-) My hubby's a fabulous man and I really can't complain. He cleans, will do laundry, and is such a wonderful father. (OH..and he rocks in the hubby department ) ;-) Now I feel like I'm bragging, but I'm flaunting my best asset. :-)

Don't act like you already knew this!

2009-01-26T07:54:00.006-05:00

A friend sent me this email and I thought I would pass it on. This has always bugged me and although we now have a wrapper station, it's useful info. :-)

I had to go into the kitchen and check this out for myself. Whoever looks at the end of your aluminum foil box? You know when you try to pull some foil out and the roll comes out of the box. Then you have to put the roll back in the box and start over. The darn roll always comes out at the wrong time.

Well, I would like to share this with you. Yesterday I went to throw out an empty Reynolds foil box and for some reason I turned it and looked at the end of the box. And written on the end it said, Press here to lock end. Right there on the end of the box is a tab to lock the roll in place. How long has this little locking tab been there? I then looked at a generic brand of aluminum foil and it had one, too. I then looked at a box of Saran wrap and it had one too! I can't count the number of times the Saran wrap roll has jumped out when I was trying to cover something up.

I'm sharing this with my friends. I hope I'm not the only person that didn't know about this. LOL ;-)

Mom-brain

2009-01-22T15:45:00.007-05:00

Do you ever feel like your mind is so overloaded with things that you swear your intelligence just sort of falls out your ear and plops on the floor in front of the person you don't want to sound like an idiot in front of? Well, this has been me as of late.

Today, I went to pick up my son's glasses at the eye doctor and my mom came along to help. (Thanks again MOM!!) So when we were done, we proceeded to the van where I opened the door for Jack to climb into his seat, then I went around to the passenger side to buckle Lilly in her carseat. Normally, I would buckle Lilly in, then go back around to my side, buckle Jack in, and get in the driver's seat and buckle myself in. Well, this time, after strapping Lilly in, I opened the passenger door, GOT IN THE SEAT, SHUT SAID DOOR and BUCKLED UP. (I drove to the eye doctor in MY van...my mom was the passenger. ) So, it didn't even click right away that I had gotten in the wrong side until I looked over at the empty driver's seat and then out the window at my mom....who was looking at me like I had officially lost it. Go ahead...I give you permission to laugh at me; my mom got a good chuckle out of it. ;-)

After that, I brought my son back to school where upon I met his teacher for the first time. She had been out with a broken foot since the beginning of the school year and so I hadn't gotten the opportunity to meet her yet. I was so happy I was able to introduce myself as Benjamin's mom (he's such a sweetie and all the teachers love him! ). She was incredibly nice and started asking about Ben's glasses. I answered them all of course quite efficiently and promptly...smiling the whole time. Then she says, "Does he have a hard case?". I'm thinking "hard case", like difficult eye situations etc. Not hard eyeglass case! So I start telling her why he needs them and then she asks again.. "but, does he have a hard case?". DOH!! Oh my gosh! I did not just act like a complete moron in front of his teacher! Yes, at times I feel I'm a very flighty woman...and I blame it all on my kids. They took the good parts of my brain and left the irregular parts for myself. Sweet kids I've got huh? ;)

I'm a Woman

2009-01-21T19:25:00.006-05:00

To all those fabulous woman out there that feel (and know) they do it all! Scroll on down to my playlist and listen to this song.. "I'm a Woman" :-)

I can wash out 44 pairs of socks and have 'em hangin out on the line
I can starch & iron 2 dozens shirts 'fore you can count from 1 to 9
I can scoop up a great big dipper full of lard from the drippins can
Throw it in the skillet, go out & do my shopping, be back before it melts in the pan

'Cause I'm a woman!
W-O-M-A-N, I'll say it again

I can rub & scrub this old house til it's shinin like a dime
Feed my baby, grease the car, & powder my face at the same time
Get all dressed up, go out and swing til 4 a.m. and then
Lay down at 5, jump up at 6, and start all over again

'Cause I'm a woman!
W-O-M-A-N, I'll say it again

If you come to me sickly you know I'm gonna make you well
If you come to me hexed up you know I'm gonna break the spell
If you come to me hungry you know I'm gonna fill you full of grits
If it's lovin you're likin, I'll kiss you and give you the shiverin' fits

'Cause I'm a woman!
W-O-M-A-N, I'll say it again

I can stretch! a green black dollar bill from here to kindom come!
I can play the numbers pay the bills and still end up with some!
I got a twenty-dollar gold piece says there ain't nothing I can't do
I can make a dress out of a feed bag and I can make a man out of you

'Cause I'm a woman! W-O-M-A-N, I'll say it again
'Cause I'm a woman! W-O-M-A-N, and that's all.

Are You Considerate of Others?

2009-01-19T13:36:00.008-05:00

I feel it's necessary, at this time, to bring up an important subject. Sometimes, we feel that we have a right to say or do what we want because it's a "free world". Although, technically, this is true, is it the best course of action? Please consider all of the following paragraphs when you encounter others throughout the day. Whether in our homes, on the street, or while surfing the web, it's important to be considerate of others. No matter your religion, good advice is never out dated.

CONSIDERATION is thoughtful or sympathetic regard for the opinions and actions of others. This is what we are expressing when we speak softly in hallways or when we turn our radios low at night or when we write a thank you note or a letter of condolence. In fact, we are being considerate every time we say "May I?" or "Thank you" or "Please" or "I’m sorry." The truth is that it is so simple to be considerate that many of us express consideration hundreds of times daily without even being aware that we are doing it. Yet so essential and basic is consideration that without it life would be miserable. Each day’s contacts would rub us raw were it not that others show us some consideration.

Another expression of our basic consideration for others is how we act at home. There are persons who put on their best manners for outsiders, but disregard those nearest and dearest to them in the family circle. Many of these people will wipe their shoes clean before entering the neighbor’s house, but never do the same when entering their own house. They will have the best of table manners when away from home, but discard them when at home. They would not think of leaving a messy bathroom at a friend’s house, but at home they are untidy. They force others to clean up after them. Think of the change it would make at home if they were constant and impartial in their consideration. The house would be neater and relations would be by far friendlier. Each would be looking out for the other person’s interests. That is the way it should be, according to the Bible. Paul, the apostle, writes: "Let each one keep seeking, not his own advantage, but that of the other person." Again he counsels: Keep "an eye, not in personal interest upon just your own matters, but also in personal interest upon those of the others," because love "does not look for its own interests." If such interest is shown at home, then at the dinner table one would not wait for the other to ask for the food to be passed, but would be observant of the others’ needs. The hostess would inquire before serving, appreciating that not all have the same eating habits. Thus consideration makes for a happier, fuller life.—1 Cor. 10:24; Phil. 2:4; 1 Cor. 13:5.

Still other expressions of our basic consideration for others can be seen in the way we conduct ourselves in public. Making a show of oneself is not being considerate of others. Speaking loudly in a crowded elevator or monopolizing a conversation is not only inconsiderate but rude. Smoking in public conveyances or where others cannot get away from you is also very impolite and inconsiderate. Coughing your cold into other people’s faces does not speak very highly of you and your respect for other people. There are other things one might unconsciously do out of force of habit, such as combing one’s hair or cleaning one’s fingernails at the dinner table or removing one’s false teeth in public. But, remember, as to personal habits, it is not considerate to do anything in public that might annoy, embarrass, disgust or inconvenience others.

Good advice for all is to be considerate of the other person’s desire for privacy. The Scriptures state: "Make your foot rare at the house of your fellow man, that he may not have his sufficiency of you and certainly hate you." Do not wear out your welcome by making too frequent visits to the house of your fellow man is the counsel of the proverb.—Prov. 25:17.

Bear in mind that consideration for others is in reality love in action, our showing neighbor love. This being the case, we should be on the lookout for ways to express this quality. We can be considerate of all men by being tactful in our speech and considerate in our actions, thus making life happier for all concerned.

~ Watchtower 12/1/61

Julie!! It's for you!

2009-01-18T18:20:00.008-05:00

It's happened. The thing that tells me it's only going to get more interesting. My 8 year old daughter got a phone call from her friend today. She talked on the phone for 45 minutes! I didn't even realize it was happening! Who came in my house and swapped my sweet little girl out w/ another girl that sits in her room and chats on the phone? WHO??? I never liked talking on the phone, so I was just naively assuming my daughter would be the same. Ummm, no. So, now I have to set limits as to how long she can spend on the phone. Ughh, why? Why do children do this sort of thing to their innocent parents. We incubate them, birth them, feed and change them. Help them take their first steps and kiss them when they get boo boos. We laugh with them when they say silly things and share their pride when they learn to use the potty. So many milestones that I looked forward to, and yet I forget all too often about one thing. They're only called "firsts" for a reason. They grow up. They grow up and stop acting like dependent children. This is a good thing, I know. But the phone?? Can't we just skip that part? My daughter is still sweet, despite that cordless contraption. Now, she's just .... sweet in a slightly more independent way. She has a life outside of school, home, and her father and I. HEY!! Wait a minute. This means that one day, I too, will be independent from my children. A trip to the store without car seats, whining, nagging, and belly-aching? Oh yeah...I could get use to this. ;-)

Lilly's first steps!

2009-01-16T06:51:00.010-05:00

The other day, our sweet Lilly took her first steps. She's 15 months old, and although most babies start walking before this, she's always taken her time with her milestones. I didn't want to push her. ( I wasn't in any kind of rush to see her waddling around...and getting under my feet and into everything else! ) ;-) Here's some photos I took of her. Please share with me my joy (and a little sorrow) of my last child reaching that very important milestone. Here's Lilly...taking her first steps. :-)

Whooops! Hang on to your britches girl!!

The Birth of Soifua's Bonnet

2009-01-11T06:13:00.017-05:00

As many of you know, I'm addicted to a site called Allrecipes.com where I am frequently adding my 2 cents to the recipe exchange. While chatting one day with my AR friends, I found out that Soifua was expecting her first baby girl after having quite a few boys already. I instantly felt as excited for her as I was when I was expecting my first daughter! I remember, when I was pregnant, shopping for girly clothes and buying lots of bonnets for her. I adored them! They're harder to find now, which prompted me to start making them a few years back. So, although being a little unsure if I should ask, I took a deep breath and offered to make her first daughter a bonnet. She accepted! And I felt beyond honored to have a part in welcoming her baby into the world! So, here are some photos I took as I was making the bonnet and the finished product. I hope you enjoy! My bonnets are available for purchase! Please email me for details: LTbonnets07@aol.com (I know, a shameless plug for my business!)

Delicate eyelet and lace trims along with 100% Cotton Fabrics are chosen for her bonnet.

After selecting the fabric and trim, I drape it over my knee to finalize the details before I start making the bonnet.

After pre-washing all materials, including laces, I cut out the pattern. Here is the outside lining, inner lining, and interfacing.

Possibly the most challenging part is the gathering of the crown of the bonnet and pinning to the back. The gathering must be even.

Here is the crown and back sewn together. The same process is repeated for the inner lining .

The first 2 laces are sewn on along w/ the ribbon which was treated to prevent fraying.

Almost done! All trim is finally sewn on as well as the ribbon flowers on top. Next I pin the inner lining to the bonnet and sew in place, turning the bonnet right side out when finished. Sew the opening closed and voila! After ironing, Soifua's bonnet is ready for her baby!

Here is the finished product! I adored making this bonnet and want to thank Soifua for allowing me the pleasure!

Walk Away the Pounds

2009-01-10T08:08:00.007-05:00

So, as you can imagine, it's very difficult to exercise when you have 5 children. Finding the time is like finding the lost city. Lots of searching, planning, scheming, mapping out my course and praying is involved in order to make it happen. However, I have found these walking videos that are nothing but the easiest, most fabulous workouts EVER! You have to understand. I'm not a coordinated person. When I attempt to do those fancy workouts, moving my body like I've been a professional dancer all my life...well, it's just wrong. I mean, I look like I'm being chased by a swarm of killer bees! Now that we've established that I have flaws and am not perfect, I feel it's necessary to tell others about the gems I have found! These are no sissy workouts. I sweat! Leslie Sansone is the genius behind what keeps me active and also helps me save money and space in my home since I don't have to go out and buy an expensive treadmill!

"Leslie Sansone’s in-home walking program is the only total-body power-walking program that helps you burn fat, shape and tone muscle, build bone strength, and reduce stress right in your own home. Take a walk in the right direction, and change the way your body looks and feels for life. The small area in front of your television, or computer, and a pair of comfortable walking shoes is all you will need to start walking 1, 2, 3, or more miles. There is no fancy equipment or complicated steps, just pop in a workout video and follow Leslie as she leads you on a total-body conditioning walk. The simplicity of at-home walking makes its effectiveness deceptive. It is safe for all ages and fitness levels, doesn’t place stress on your joints and ligaments, and is most convenient to your schedule and lifestyle." ~ (taken from her website)

So, if any of you are like me and only have the physical talents of doing what comes naturally...walking, then I highly recommend you get these videos. You can find them on her website : http://www.lesliesansonevideos.com/#walking%20packages and also in many stores like Walmart. Whether you're a beginner or advanced, she has a workout for you!

Giveaway over at La Gitana's!!

2009-01-04T09:35:00.004-05:00

So my fantabulous friend is giving away a one of a kind apron over at her blog, Looking Beyond Food. Now, go to her blog and follow her instructions for entering! Well? Did you go yet? :-)

The ultimate song for moms!

2009-01-02T20:22:00.005-05:00

I really feel that every mom in the world knows this song in her heart. It's my favorite...and I say every word of it every day! Follow this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxT5NwQUtVM

My favorite episode of all time!

2008-12-31T19:08:00.005-05:00

My husband swears that the people who created this show secretly watched me for years before creating the character of Debra Barone. I am so much like her it's scary! So here's me (or her) in action. What she does here and in most of the other episodes is EXACTLY what I would do!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMuhSKP9Hco

Emoticons !!!

2008-12-30T19:33:00.009-05:00

Here's a bit of info that may be helpful to those of you new to surfing the web. So Hang 10 and put a smiley on your space! :-)

Smileys are tiny pictures made from ordinary ASCII characters that are meant to be looked at with the head tilted to the left.

Smileys came about when e-mail correspondents felt the need to convey emotional content such as sarcasm, laughter and other feelings as part of their messages.
Without smileys, simple statements could easily be misinterpreted:

You're an idiot! :-)

The Emoticons

:-) - Humor

:-T - Keeping a straight face (tight-lipped)

:-D - Said with a smile

:-> - Alternate happy face

:-) :-) :-) - Loud guffaw

:*) - Clowning around

:-? - Licking lips

%-} - Silly

:-" - Pursing lips

:-r - Bleahhh (sticking tongue out)

:-f - Smirks

:-p - Smirks

:-1 - Smirks

:- - Disgusted

:-J - Tongue-in-cheek comments

:-! - Foot in mouth

:-$ - Put your money where your mouth is

%&$%& - You know what that means...

:-o - Shouting

:-( - Unhappy

:-c - Real unhappy

(:-& - Anger

:-b - Tongue stuck out

:-p - Left-handed tongue stuck out

>--->---(@ - A rose

:-x - Kiss kiss

[] - Hug

;-) - Say no more; nudge, nudge

:-* - Oops! (Covering mouth with hand)

:-# - Censored

:-X - Not saying a word

:-o - "Oh, noooooo!"

:-< - Forlorn

(:-( - Sad

:~/ - All mixed up

#-) - Another all-night partier

:-' - With a cold

<:-O - Eeek!

:-C - Unbelieving (jaw dropped)

I got all of these emoticons from a cool site called Cool Quiz! There's lots more there to see!

Happy Anniversary!

2008-12-28T10:37:00.001-05:00

I would like to dedicate these next few songs to my wonderful husband of 12 years today. You've been the most amazing decision I have ever made and I'm so glad you didn't listen to me when I told you we needed to wait. You couldn't wait. You loved me and all of my imperfections more than I understood. At our very young age, we weren't like most. We knew love, not infatuation, and we knew the struggles that marriage could bring. Now, 12 years later, we have five beautiful children and a bucket load of experience under our belts. I'm so happy to be your wife and mother of your children. I'll follow you to the ends of the earth and farther. Happy anniversary! I love you more than I can express in words and always will. And I can't thank you enough for loving me. :)

2008-12-23T23:30:00.001-05:00

Do you love coffee? Or tea? How about Chai? Maybe some hot chocolate? What if there was a brewer that could brew all of the above. ONE brewer that did it all one glorious cup at a time.
That's what a Keurig does! Win this fabulous machine by following the link below to SITS!!

http://thesecretisinthesauce.blogspot.com/2008/12/win-keurig-platinum-brewing-system-and.html

And the winner is....

2008-12-23T18:40:00.003-05:00

I would like to thank all of you who entered my giveaway! I never expected so many entries and kind words. :) This was such an exciting experience for me and I can't wait to do it again! My children took part in the whole process too!

Beau shakin' it up!

Julie picks the winner!

Benjamin picks the runner up!

And the winner is..... thamesarino!!! You have won a cozy heather gray cable scarf crocheted by yours truly! Please contact me by 12/28/08 with your mailing address. Congratulations!

If the winner fails to make contact by said date, the runner up will be notified!
Thanks again to all!

Welcome to the Family!

2008-12-22T07:04:00.004-05:00

My search has ended...and I mean search! I hunted for almost 2 weeks for kittens and was beginning to think I would never find any! I was seriously getting depressed about it. But, hubby came home yesterday after snow plowing and when he walked in the house, in his coat were two of the cutest 13 week old kittens you've ever seen! It was a huge surprise! Apparently he was driving home and saw a sign on a house for free kittens. so he stopped by and checked them out. They were clean, no fleas, and well taken care of so he took a male and female siblings. :) Everyone is doing well. Bella has some adjusting to do. She's being somewhat protective of us and herself and growls a little. But nothing major and we're seeing little improvements as time goes on. Beau was in tears though. He does not like cats, so he was quite put out...even after I told him he could name the male. He refused...at first. He finally warmed up to the idea and named him Storm because of the snow storm we were having. I named his sister Pennelope. My hubby, who never wanted cats in the first place, bought them a pretty big play house and tons of toys. He looked at me w/ the straightest face and said, " Not one word." HE he he he!!!

Free Kittens Anyone???

2008-12-18T13:52:00.005-05:00

It's been a while since my last post...sorry! I've been very busy looking for a friend or two for Bella! I can't even tell you how difficult it is to find a kitten at this time of year! Everyone wants one for Christmas...we just want to get a friend for Bella and provide a loving home! I've called shelters, ads in the paper, sent out messages, etc. Still nothing! So, here's a shout out from my blog:

If anyone has one or two female kittens that are healthy, flea-free, litter box trained, and socialized, and in the CT, MA, RI area ....PLEASE let me know! Email me: lovemyfamilyfr@aol.com

I'll keep you all posted and certainly put up some pics when and if I can find Bella a friend!

My New Kitty!

2008-12-14T14:54:00.004-05:00

Well, I've dropped hints to my hubby for about 2 weeks now. I wanted a kitty for an anniversary present. He took the hint...but less creatively. He told me the other night that I could get one providing it was a female. I really wanted him to surprise me with one, but I'll take what I can get. ;) So, here she is! Her name is Bella. She was actually my neighbor's cat, but because her other cat had territory issues, they didn't get along. Bella is already fixed and has all her shots. BONUS!! She's still getting use to being here and I'm sure it will take a few days or even weeks, but she's a sweetie! AND...here's the kicker....hubby says if it works out w/ Bella, I can get another one so she'll have a playmate! I'm trying to convince him to let me get her a friend sooner rather than later so Bella doesn't feel like she owns the house and claims her territory.

"The Closet" is done!

2008-12-13T16:33:00.004-05:00

Before

After!

Could it be? Is that...GASP! My sewing closet???? Woo HOOOO!! Oh yeah, I did it, uh-huh. (Come on..dance with me now..~~~)) LOL! I have to thank Soifua from allrecipes.com for allowing me the honor of sewing a baby bonnet for her soon to be baby girl! It motivated me to get to that disastrous closet and straighten it out! Now I can get to the fun stuff! Designing a beautiful bonnet for a beautiful little darling baby girl!

Tax Bill

2008-12-11T09:54:00.001-05:00

This was sent to me through an email today. Too funny!

Dear Internal Revenue Service:

Enclosed you will find my 2005 tax return showing that I owe $3,407.00 in taxes. Please note the attached article from the USA Today newspaper, dated 12 November, wherein you will see the Pentagon (Department of Defense) is paying $171.50 per hammer and NASA has paid $600.00 per toilet seat.

I am enclosing four (4) toilet seats (valued @ $2,400) and six (6) hammers valued @ $1,029), which I secured at Home Depot, bringing my total remittance to $3,429.00.

Please apply the overpayment of $22.00 to the "Presidential Election Fund," as noted on my return. You can do this inexpensively by sending them one (1) 1.5 " Phillips Head screw (see aforementioned article from USA Today newspaper detailing how H.U.D. pays $22.00 each for 1.5" Phillips Head Screws). One screw is enclosed for your convenience.

It has been a pleasure to pay my tax bill this year, and I look forward to paying it again next year.

Sincerely,
A Satisfied Taxpayer

I've been Tagged!

2008-12-11T08:49:00.003-05:00

Momma over at All This Is True has tagged me! So, here are 7 random facts about me!

1. I LOVE babies and always wanted to be a labor and delivery nurse.

2. My favorite color is RED

3. My nickname in school was Jingles (I use to clip my house key that had at least 12 key chains hanging from it. I would jingle when I walked) and Pennelope (given to me by my English teacher).

4. I quit high school to care for my very ill mother when I was 14. I drove the car, paid bills, cleaned the house, cooked dinner, bathed and dressed her, and would do it all over again. She's very healthy now and although she drives me crazy sometimes...I love her more than anything! ;)

5. I once weighed over 200 lbs. Now I'm a healthy 140 lbs! :) :) :)

6. I've had 3 miscarriages. :(

7. I'm ,what I call, a Heinz 57....many nationalities brought me into this world. I am (deep breath): Canadian French, Abenaki Indian, Blackfoot Indian, German, Swedish, English, and a wee bit o' Irish.

Now it's my turn to tag 7 other people...so here they are: thamesarino , 5thsister , La Gitana , Lissaloo , Betty , and Tiffany . Have fun!!

Sweets for my Sweethearts!

2008-12-09T11:10:00.014-05:00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My husbands family is real big on deserts. So when I got married, I knew this wasn't something I would be able to change (or willing to for that matter!). My hubby's been craving cake...and although I'm really sick of cake due to my decorating profession, I'd like to think I'm a fabulous wife and mom and therefor gave in and made some cupcakes. I used a box mix (yes, I said a box mix) and doctored it up w/ sour cream, butter flavor, and less water than the box calls for. The frosting though HAS TO BE homemade. I detest the canned stuff. Although I have to admit, it took me a long time to find a chocolate frosting that could stand up to the chocolatyness of the canned. Well, this past weekend I found it and man oh man is it good! So, here's some pics of my finished product and also some of my kiddies enjoying the bowl licking! :)...oh yeah, and a link to the frosting recipe too! http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Rich-Chocolate-Frosting-2/Detail.aspx?prop31=1 **** NOTE: I used less milk than called for in the recipe so it would be of decorating consistency. I also added 1/4 cup Mocha Almond Fudge Coffee Mate Liquid Creamer. But the big thing is I used Gherardelli Premium Baking Cocoa...it's the best!

...... you think they like it?

Dad squeezing out the last yummy bit's from the decorating bag.

Okay everyone...one last pic in front of the bowl!

..... we didn't forget Lilly! She had a finger full too!

Scroll down for my giveway!

2008-12-07T07:41:00.001-05:00

Keep on scrolling down for my giveaway!

Today's post is brought to you by the letter "F"

2008-12-07T07:00:00.001-05:00

Beautiful Betty over at http://emptynesters3.blogspot.com/ has given me the pleasure of particiapting in this game. The idea is to name 10 of my favorite things w/ the letter she has given me. My letter is "F". If you would like to play along, leave a comment either here or at Betty's blog that you want to play along, and we'll send you a random letter. Then make a list of your ten favorite things, beginning with your assigned letter. That's it! Allright, so here I go:

1. Family................

2. Friends...............

3. Falling inlove.................

4. play (he he he...did you get that? ) ;)............

5. Flowers (lilacs to be specific)..................

6. French Country.....................

7. Feeling baby move for the first time...and any time after that :)...............

8. FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!

9. First snow fall...................

10. Funny Faces..........

Daisy Quilts Giveaway

2008-12-06T08:51:00.004-05:00

Daisy Quilts has an adorable give away going on her blog! A little 'stack' of goodies for her giveaway, and all goodies are described on her blog. It really is a fabulous give away and a must enter for all who enjoy escaping reality for a little creativity of their own! Now GO! Check it out! :) Just click on "Daisy Quilts" above or on the link on my side bar. :)

My First Give Away

2008-12-05T09:09:00.008-05:00

Well, here it is folks. I've completed my first give away project. I present you with this grey heather crochet cable scarf done in a wonderfully soft washable wool (it's not at all scratchy or itchy). That's right, it's machine washable and dryable! Wash on delicate, cold water. Tumble dry low. Sure to keep you cozy this winter. It's 53" long and 5" wide. Perfect for a gentleman or lady in my opinion. This is my very first try at crocheting a cable pattern and I think it came out well enough to be a respectable first give away ( I just have to say that it looks so much better on than it does in the picture. I'm a horrible photographer!) I'm going to have to make another for myself! ;)

Entry Rules:

1. NOW OPEN TO EVERYONE!!! (okay, I felt bad that a few who wanted to enter couldn't) ;)

2. Get one entry for leaving a comment, 2 entries for blogging about it on your blog. Be sure to tell me that you blogged about it!

3. Please leave contact info. Either your blog address (if you have one) or an email address. All inquiries can be sent to lovemyfamilyfr@aol.com

4. Because winter is officially here where I am, this give away will end 12/21/08. All entries will be accepted through that date.

5. Winner will be announced on my blog no later than 12/23/08 and will be contacted soon there after.

Thanks for entering!

Poor Presents

2008-12-04T06:27:00.002-05:00

My wonderful hubby and I will be married for 12 years on the 28th of this month. That's right friends, our anniversary is fast approaching and we are broke. Poor. Lacking hard cash. Unwealthy. Bankroll challenged. The gold gravy isn't flowing. So what's a couple to do on their anniversary with no greenback in their back pockets? That's the question of the day. Surely, my sister-in-law will be watching the kids for the afternoon and evening, so we have time. If we stay home we'll end up doing one of two things. 1.) Hanging out doing nothing and feel crummy that we wasted our alone time. 2.) Start catching up on housework without being interrupted...and if that happens, I'll not be a happy woman! So I need suggestions from my pals. What can we do that costs less than ...say...$50. (and I'm really stretching that figure!)

Generic vs Name Brand

2008-12-03T09:23:00.004-05:00

Most people know about the day my dishwasher bought the farm. Well, it's back from the dead! My hubby fixed it and so far so good. So, this brings me to today's generic vs name brand challenge. I've been a Cascade girl forever and I swear by it. However, with the economy going down the toilet and the government finally admitting we're in a recession (DUH??!!), I look for ways to stop the cash from flying out of my account so fast. Hubby and I decided to try Walmart brand dishwashing liquid. So with a little nervousness I put it in my cart, bought it, and used it. I have to tell you, I'm impressed. I've used it for about one month now and notice that my dishes come out just as clean as they did with Cascade. We've always used Jet Dry in our dishwasher, so this comparison was done w/ the use of Jet Dry and my dishes are just as clean and spot free as ever. At under $3.00 for 75 oz, I save lots of $$$$ over time. Great Value Dishwashing Gel is exactly what it says it is... a great value! With a family of 7 and the unfair amount of dishes I'm forced to do, every bit helps. :)

Amazingly Simple Home Remedies

2008-12-01T16:16:00.006-05:00

(I hate to have to say this because I believe that my readers are smarter than this, but these remedies are not something you should actually do. If you do these things, you're an idiot! I repeat...DO NOT perform any of these home remedies!) Some of these may sound cruel and off the wall...but people have gotten on my nerves today and I'm in one of those moods. ;)

1. If you're choking on an ice cube simply pour a cup of boiling water down your throat. Presto! The blockage will instantly remove itself.

2. Avoid cutting yourself when slicing vegetables by getting someone else to hold while you chop.

3. Avoid arguments with the Mrs. about lifting the toilet seat by using the sink.

4. For high blood pressure sufferers: simply cut yourself and bleed for a few minutes, thus reducing the pressure in your veins. Remember to use a timer.

5. A mouse trap, placed on top of your alarm clock, will prevent you from rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze button.

6. If you have a bad cough, take a large dose of laxatives, then you'll be afraid to cough.

7. You only need two tools in life: WD-40 and Duct Tape. If it doesn't move and should, use the WD-40. If it shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape.

8. Remember: Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.

9. If you can't fix it with a hammer, you've got an electrical problem.

Daily Thought:

SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES. NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS.

Feasting with our Family

2008-12-01T13:39:00.003-05:00

This weeks recipe is my father's. Baked Stuffed Chops. It's beyond fattening and so good! Don't even think about leaving the mushrooms out of this one...it's necessary in my opinion. Enjoy!

http://www.grouprecipes.com/66045/baked-stuffed-chops.html

Previous Recipes:

http://www.grouprecipes.com/66279/warm-spicy-dry-rub.html

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Big-Soft-Ginger-Cookies/Detail.aspx

http://www.grouprecipes.com/74536/mashed-butternut-squash.html

http://www.grouprecipes.com/66089/spinachpie.html

http://www.grouprecipes.com/68709/kid-pleasing-taco-pie.html

Many apologies

2008-12-01T12:43:00.003-05:00

I've been so busy lately that I've neglected my blog! I feel terrible! Let's see, I've painted my dining room, made a fabulous turkey dinner all by myself (on the same day mind you), given all the men in the family hair cuts, sort of caught up on laundry and continued on w/ my wifely and motherly duties. I'm exhausted! I seriously need a vacation!...some time by myself to think w/o being interrupted you know? In any case, my apologies to all for my lack of blogging lately. I promise to get back on track. My sewing closet is still a disaster which is a down right shame. I've got no motivation for that thing! So...who wants to come over and help? he he he :)

To all my fellow New Englanders...

2008-11-25T18:30:00.002-05:00

Forget Rednecks .....here is what Jeff Foxworthy has to say about New
Englanders...

If your local Dairy Queen is closed from September
through May, you live in New England.

If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance
and they don't work there, you live in New England.

If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time,
you live in New England.

If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone
who dialed a wrong number, you live in New England..

If "Vacation" means going anywhere south of New York City
for the weekend, you live in New England.

If you measure distance in hours, you live in New England..

If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once,
you live in New England.

If you have switched from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day and back
again, you live in New England.

If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging
blizzard without flinching, you live in New England..

If you install security lights on your house and garage, but leave
both unlocked, you live in New England.

If you carry jumpers in your car and your wife knows how to use
them, you live in New England.

If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit,
you live in New England.

If the speed limit on the highway is 55 mph -- you're going 80 and
everybody is passing you, you live in New England..

If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled
with snow, you live in New England.

If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and
road construction, you live in New England.

If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car,
you live in New England.

If you find 10 degrees "a little chilly", you live in New England.

If you actually understand these jokes, and forward them to all your
New England friends &others, you live in New England..

What's your secret?

2008-11-25T06:22:00.004-05:00

Admit it..we all have secrets hiding in our closets. Well this is mine. This is my, err, well, is suppose to be my sewing closet. Can you spot my sewing machine amongst the disaster? Needless to say I haven't been getting much sewing done lately. When I started cake decorating about a year ago, my sewing closet turned into a place to stash all of my cake stuff. You know...cake plateaus, gumpaste tools, tips, cell pads, molds, etc. Now that I'm not decorating as much and plan on stopping all together after January, it's time to tackle "the closet". This is not a task I'm looking forward to. The end results will be great, but the process will be beyond stressful and I'll give you one word to explain why. Jack. Yup, he's going to make this a challenge for me because I believe it's his goal in life to remind his mother that if I had had him first, he would be an only child!! When I'm finished with my, sure to be, migraine of a task, I'll post an after pic. So come on ...fess up. You know you have a secret like mine in your house somewhere!

The Fish Tank Revival

2008-11-24T09:51:00.002-05:00

This past weekend hubby and I did as promised and fixed Jack's BIG boo boo. We bought new rocks and fish for Beau's aquarium and set it back up. He wanted to keep the plant and shark thingy..so we didn't have to change that. He chose a red wag swordtail and 2 neon tetras. He's beyond thrilled and so are we. Jack is officially not allowed in his room any longer. Poor guy. No worries though. He's moved on to other things...like getting into my kitchen drawer and pulling out my tongs to use as pinchers to pick up his hot wheels cars. ;)

Giveaway in the making

2008-11-22T09:01:00.000-05:00

So I've been inspired by all of the great blogs I've visited that have a monthly giveaway and I feel I should jump on the generosity band wagon. I have to think about what it's going to be. It will most certainly be handmade by me...probably crochet, and very usable. I'm thinking a family of hats, scarves, mittens...or maybe a throw for your couch or bed. I'll try to do these things in somewhat neutral colors and leave room for personalization when the winner is chosen. For instance...leaving the trim color or flower off the hat for the winner to choose etc. I just finished making my oldest daughter a hat and it came out so cute! See the "Hobbies make you Happy" thread for a peak at it. :)

Hobbies make you happy!

2008-11-22T08:58:00.001-05:00

I've established that my winter hobby is crochet. It really takes my mind off of the chaos that consumes me and my home on a daily basis. The hat on the left you have all seen before. The hat on the right I made last night for my oldest daughter. ("Mom! I want a hat just like Lilly's!) Da da da daaaaa...mom to the rescue! She's going to be 8 and it fits her perfectly! The hat I made for Lilly is a bit big on her though. She just turned 1 in October and has a tiny head still...only about 18". She'll grow into though. ;)

The Secret is in the Sauce: Saturday Spotlight: November's Giveaway!

2008-11-21T18:31:00.000-05:00

Enter to Win a Bissel Healthy Home Vaccuum from:
The Secret is in the Sauce: Saturday Spotlight: November's Giveaway!

Beauty Giveaway!

2008-11-21T10:29:00.003-05:00

After 5 children, there is no one that needs this giveaway more than I. However, I'm a considerate woman and sympathize with all mom's out there that feel their skin has seen better days. So here's your chance to enter this giveaway and be my competition!

Here's what you could win:
1. Elizabeth Grant Advanced Cellular Radiance
2. Elizabeth Grant Vitamin C Eye Cream and Collagen Face Pads

So just click on the beauty giveaway button on the left sidebar or click on this link to find out how to enter! http://unlikelyhousewife.blogspot.com/2008/11/beauty-giveaway-3-winners.html

Dear Coffee

2008-11-21T06:50:00.003-05:00

Dear Coffee,

On this cold groggy morning, I ask thee to comfort my sleepy brain with your smooth, creamy,CAFFEINATED, self. May you make me aware of how quickly I must start my day. The rush of a school morning awaits and I must endure the chaos that is five children on a weekday without the help of my loving husband who gets to take his leave for work (lucky bugger). I thank you, as well, for providing me enough of yourself for a second cup....I really may need it today.

APPLICATION FOR PERMISSION TO DATE MY DAUGHTER

2008-11-20T16:48:00.009-05:00

A friend of mine sent this to me and I thought it was hilarious! ..so if you need a good chuckle and have a daughter, read on! (This is all in good humor people...so don't take it seriously!)

APPLICATION FOR PERMISSION TO DATE MY DAUGHTER

NOTE: This application will be incomplete and rejected unless accompanied by a complete financial statement, job history, lineage, and current medical report from your doctor.

NAME_____________________________________ DATE OF BIRTH_________ HEIGHT___________ WEIGHT____________ IQ__________ GPA____________
SOCIAL SECURITY #_______________
DRIVERS LICENSE #_______________
BOY SCOUT RANK AND BADGES__________________________________________
HOME ADDRESS_______________________ CITY/STATE___________
ZIP______ Do you have parents? ___Yes ___No
If No, explain: _____________________________________________________________
Number of years they have been married ____
If less than your age, explain ____________________________________________________________

ACCESSORIES SECTION:

A. Do you own or have access to a van? __Yes __No
B. A truck with over sized tires? __Yes __No
C. A waterbed? __Yes __No
D. A pickup with a mattress in the back? __Yes __No
E. A tattoo? __Yes __No
F. Do you have an earring, nose ring, pierced tongue, pierced cheek or a belly button ring? ___YES ___ NO (IF YOU ANSWERED 'YES' TO ANY OF THE ABOVE, DISCONTINUE APPLICATION AND LEAVE PREMISES IMMEDIATELY. I SUGGEST RUNNING.)

ESSAY SECTION: In 50 words or less, what does 'LATE' mean to you ? _____________________________________________________
In 50 words or less, what does 'DON'T TOUCH MY DAUGHTER' mean to you? _____________________________________________________
In 50 words or less, what does 'ABSTINENCE' mean to you? _____________________________________________________

REFERENCES SECTION:

Church you attend _________________________________
How often you attend _______________________________
When would be the best time to interview your: father? __________ mother?__________pastor? __________

SHORT-ANSWER SECTION: Answer by filling in the blank. Please answer freely, all answers are confidential.

A: If I were shot, the last place I would want to be shot would be: ___________________________________________________

B: If I were beaten, the last bone I would want broken is my: ___________________________________________________

C: A woman 's place is in the: ___________________________________________________

D: The one thing I hope this application does not ask me about is: ___________________________________________________

E. What do you want to do IF you grow up? ___________________________ ______________________________

F. When I meet a girl, the thing I always notice about her first is: _______________________________________________

F. What is the current going rate of a hotel room? __________________

I SWEAR THAT ALL INFORMATION SUPPLIED ABOVE IS TRUE AND CORRECT TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE UNDER P PENALTY OF DEATH, DISMEMBERMENT,NATIVE AMERICAN ANT TORTURE, CRUCIFIXION, ELECTROCUTION, CHINESE WATER TORTURE, RED HOT POKERS, AND HILLARY CLINTON KISS TORTURE.

_____________________________________________
Applicant's Signature (that means sign your name, moron!)

Mother's Signature ______________________________

Father's Signature _______________________________

Pastor/Priest/Rabbi/State Representative /_________________________
Congressman___________________________________________

Thank you for your interest, and it had better be genuine and non-sexual. Please allow four to six years for processing.You will be contacted in writing if you are approved. Please do not try to call or write (since you probably can't, and it would cause you injury). If your application is rejected, you will be notified by two gentleman wearing white ties carrying violin cases. (you might watch your back) To prepare yourself, start studying Daddy's Rules for Dating.

Daddy's Rules for Dating ~ Your dad's rules for your boyfriend (or for you if you're a guy):

Rule One: If you pull into my driveway and honk you'd better be delivering a package, because you're sure not picking anything up.
Rule Two: You do not touch my daughter in front of me. You may glance at her, so long as you do not peer at anything below her neck. If you cannot keep your eyes or hands off of my daughter's body, I will remove them..
Rule Three: I am aware that it is considered fashionable for boys of your age to wear their trousers so loosely that they appear to be falling off their hips. Please don't take this as an insult, but you and all of your friends are complete idiots. Still, I want to be fair and open minded about this issue, so I propose this compromise: You may come to the door with your underwear showing and your pants ten sizes too big, and I will not object. However, in order to ensure that your clothes do not, in fact come off during the course of your date with my daughter, I will take my electric nail gun and fasten your trousers securely in place to your waist.
Rule Four: I'm sure you've been told that in today's world, sex without utilizing a 'Barrier method' of some kind can kill you. Let me elaborate, when it comes to sex, I am the barrier, and I will kill you.
Rule Five: It is usually understood that in order for us to get to know each other, we should talk about sports, politics, and other issues of the day. Please do not do this. The only information I require from you is an indication of when you expect to have my daughter safely back at my house, and the only word I need from you on this subject is: 'early.'
Rule Six: I have no doubt you are a popular fellow, with many opportunities to date other girls. This is fine with me as long as it is okay with my daughter. Otherwise, once you have gone out with my little girl, you will continue to date no one but her until she is finished with you. If you make her cry, I will make you cry.
Rule Seven: As you stand in my front hallway , waiting for my daughter to appear, and more than an hour goes by, do not sigh and fidget. If you want to be on time for the movie, you should not be dating. My daughter is putting on her makeup, a process than can take longer than painting the Golden Gate Bridge . Instead of just standing there, why don't you do something useful, like changing the oil in my car?
Rule Eight: The following places are not appropriate for a date with my daughter: Places where there are beds, sofas, or anything softer than a wooden stool. Places where there is darkness. Places where there is dancing, holding hands, or happiness. Places where the ambient temperature is warm enough to induce my daughter to wear shorts, tank tops, midriff T-shirts, or anything other than overalls, a sweater, and a goose down parka zipped up to her throat. Movies with a strong romantic or sexual themes are to be avoided; movies which feature chain saws are okay. Hockey games are okay. Old folks homes are better.
Rule Nine: Do not lie to me. I may appear to be a potbellied , balding, middle-aged, dimwitted has-been. But on issues relating to my daughter, I am the all-knowing, merciless god of your universe. If I ask you where you are going and with whom, you have one chance to tell me the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I have a shotgun, a shovel, and five acres behind the house. Do not trifle with me.
Rule Ten: Be afraid. Be very afraid. It takes very little for me to mistake the sound of your car in the driveway for a chopper coming in over a rice paddy near Hanoi . When my Agent Orange starts acting up, the voices in my head frequently tell me to clean the guns as I wait for you to bring my daughter home. As soon as you pull into the driveway you should exit the car with both hands in plain sight. Speak the perimeter password, announce in a clear voice that you have brought my daughter home safely and early, then return to your car - there is no need for you to come inside. The camouflaged face at the window is mine.

Saying Goodbye

2008-11-20T10:33:00.004-05:00

I've just done something that I've been putting off for about 9 months. I've finally gone through all of my daughter's baby clothes and put them in bags to donate on Freecycle, a worldwide gifting movement that reduces waste, saves precious resources & eases the burden on our landfills while enabling our members to benefit from the strength of a larger community. I think this has been the hardest thing I may have ever done and I'm trying to figure out why. Having struggled w/ my fertility since I was 17 and newly married to my hubby, I've learned a tremendous amount about my body and how it works. My fertility has become part of who I am and being that I enjoy every minuscule detail of becoming a mother and being a woman, it hurts to know that I will never experience that again. Yes, I'm sure I don't want any more children but I still have a right to grieve over loosing that part of my life. The part that makes me feel incredibly beautiful. The part that makes me feel young, and meaningful....that gives me suspense and hope and connects me to the amazing privilege of experiencing the gift that only God has given to women. So, on this bitter-sweet day, I'm passing on my daughter's beautiful baby clothes to someone in need and have only kept a few very special items. I raise my tea cup to all women today who have had to make the same difficult decision as I have and lived through it. Cheers.

Generic VS Name Brand

2008-11-19T18:32:00.001-05:00

Okay, so here's the thing. Hubby and I (especially hubby) are big on ice cream. But have you noticed how insanely expensive it has gotten and how, strangely, the containers have gotten smaller whilst the price gets higher? With a big family, this sort of thing really hits us in our wallets hard. Anyway, to make a long story short, we decided to try our local grocery store's brand of premium ice cream. Truth be told, the price was great! $2.99 for a full 1/2 gallon...that's right, a FULL 1/2 gallon! It's called Central Market Premium Ice Cream distributed by Price Chopper stores. We bought two flavors:

~Bear Claw, which contains Chocolate ice cream swirled w/ Denali Caramel and Chocolate coated Cashews.

~Praline Almond Crunch, which contains Vanilla ice cream w/ Caramel chunks & Almonds

Oh my gosh! We were incredibly impressed. I especially found myself dreaming about the Bear Claw. I don't think I've ever tasted an ice cream with such a deep, creamy, smooth chocolaty flavor and the chocolate covered cashews were fabulous! ( I should point out that this is coming from 2 Ben & Jerry's fanatics.) I encourage you all to try your local generic brands too!

P.S. I will be doing monthly consumer testing (me being the consumer) of other generic products like cleaning supplies as well as food. If you have any suggestions for future products for me to test, please let me know! Let's keep them relatively inexpensive though shall we? I can't exactly afford to be buying generic and name brand electronics and appliances unless someone wants to sponsor me! ;)

My First Awards!!

2008-11-19T12:34:00.000-05:00

Many thanks to The Ordinary Housewife for giving me my very first award! Along with the Sparky Blogger Award, she has also given me the Kreativ Blogger award! I'm loving that giant spoonful of peanut butter loaded with chocolate chips on her blog right now! You must check it out!

To support my fellow bloggers and give them 2 thumbs up, I would like to pass these awards on to : One Healthy Mama and Keeper of the Skies Wife . I think I'm suppose to pass this on to more than just two, but I'm new to blogging, so forgive me for breaking the rules!

Anything to make it all better

2008-11-19T08:56:00.000-05:00

Well, I have bad news. The fish didn't make it. My poor son was in tears this morning as he saw his beloved fish belly up in his tank. I can't tell you how bad I felt..and still feel. So the promises began and they are as follows: New, better fish. New, different rocks. A new plant. A new decorative item. New food (of course). And we will also finally set up the 30 gallon tank that has been in our dining room since summer with nothing in it. Am I bribing my child to move on? Probably. Do I feel guilty? Absolutely not! What can I say...anything to make it all better.

Jack's at it again!!

2008-11-18T10:18:00.000-05:00

Here it is..cloudy, but starting to look better.

Ugh...where do I begin? I've finally figured out why I'm never caught up on laundry. You see, our laundry room is upstairs on the third floor. So in order for me to do laundry, I must gather it all together, haul it up 2 flights of stairs, separate, pre-treat, etc. Well, I was doing that very thing this morning and Jack decided to come up w/ me. The laundry room is combined with the third floor bathroom and is also on the same floor as my bedroom and my oldest sons bedroom....where he has his mini aquarium. Oh yes folks...can you see where this is going? I'm just about finished pre-treating clothes when Jack comes in the bathroom and says "That's enough, mom...that's enough." So 1/2 second goes by and I remember Jack was standing on his brother's entertainment center yesterday looking at the fish. CRAAAPPPP!! I ran into Beau's room and sure enough, Jack dumped all the fish food in that little 2 gallon tank as well as a huge mega block, 3" tropical fish figurine, some other toy, and his sister's hair clip. OH MY GOSH!! I start screaming (I totally lost it) he starts crying (now I'm feeling bad, but still fuming) and I'm automatically having flashes of the future when Beau comes home and blames me for letting Jack in his room. Sigh....the clean up begins. It took me an hour to scoop out as much food as I could, replace the filter, add some fresh water, and say a quick prayer that those poor fish don't die. I proceed to the 1st floor and find Jack kneeling in front of the coffee table with the box (yes, that's the whole box) of pop tarts having himself a snack. How did he get over the gate that separates the living room from the kitchen you ask? He took his potty over to it and climbed over of course...the potty that he should have used because now I can smell his dirtiest deed of all!!! I cannot wait for hubby to get home 'cause beer:30 can't come soon enough! (I would like to state right here and now that I'm not a drinker...but today I make the exception!) Aside from it being impossible to catch up with laundry when you have 5 children...it doesn't help when one of them is Jack. I love him immensely, but that doesn't mean I don't need a break!

Potty Training Bites!

2008-11-17T10:23:00.000-05:00

Potty Training my little boy, Jack, leaves much to be desired. I swear there are times I think he'll never get it. Then there are days he'll use the potty consistently. I've trained 3 children so far and in my experience the boys are much harder. My daughter was a genius when it came to potty training. She just decided one day that big girls don't wear diapers and use the potty...and she was definitely a big girl. Voila...done. She was trained in one day. Her twin brother, on the other hand, wasn't trained until he was almost 3 1/2. He just refused to do what had come naturally to him since birth. My oldest son was a "big boy" just before he turned 3. But it wasn't w/o constant grilling from his mommy dearest asking him if he had to go pee in the potty. What can I say...I had twins on the way and seriously wanted him out of diapers!

Jack is completely different...has been since birth. Most of the time he's been way ahead of schedule. He said his first complete sentence when he was 6 months (and yes, you KNEW what he was saying), was the size of a 3 year old by the time he was 18 months, and pretty much acted that way. He does however have a stubborn side and chooses to express it through potty training...darn it! We've tried it all. Stickers, m&m's, Hershey kisses, skittles, praise, dancing, singing, books...and frankly, I'm exhausted. A big part of me wants to just let him train himself knowing that he won't be wearing diapers in Kindergarten. The other BIG part of me wants to get him out of diapers so I'll only have my baby girl left to change. And...let's face it friends, changing a toddler who will be 3 next month is not exactly pleasant. So...there's my vent. Open to all comments and suggestions! Now, I must go and prevent him from sneaking around the corner to fill his Nemo undies w/ something that doesn't belong there.

The Transformation

2008-11-15T09:59:00.000-05:00

Okay, Here it is folks. My before and after pics. You have to know how much it pains me to show anyone my before pic...so feel privileged people! Notice how dark my eyes are in the before? Yuk! Unfortunately I couldn't get the best pics and the lighting wasn't great, but you get the idea. I felt like I was posing for my licence! My niece took the photo. Anyway, see my post below for products I swear by. :)

Saturday Morning Breakfast

2008-11-15T08:01:00.000-05:00

We have a tradition in our house and that's a family breakfast every weekend. About twice a month we go out to breakfast at our favorite place "Bill's Bread and Breakfast". Hubby and I have been going there since they opened, about 13 years ago. The pancakes are the size of your head and the Sausage & Biscuits are fabulous! Our money tree isn't doing all that great lately so we've been having more breakfasts at home. Sometimes I'll make waffles, but generally it's hubby in the kitchen whipping up pancakes. (I readily admit that pancakes and breakfast in general is not something I'm good at.) So here's his recipe for pancakes. :)

Saturday Morning Pancakes:

4 eggs

3 1/2 cups milk

1/2 cup oil

3 1/2 cups all purpose flour

4 Tbsp sugar

8 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

blueberries, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips (you get the idea)

Heat griddle to medium high heat (400 * F). In a large bowl, beat eggs; stir in milk and oil. In a separate bowl stir together dry ingredients and add this to the wet, stirring just until large lumps disappear. For thicker pancakes, thicken w/ additional flour. For thinner pancakes, thin w/ additional milk. Lightly grease your heated griddle (or in our case cook in the grease from the sausage you've already been cooking). Griddle is hot enough when a drop of water sizzles and bounces when dropped on the griddle. Ladle your batter onto griddle, then top w/ your blueberries, chips..whatever. Cook until bubbles form on the top of the pancake and the edges start to dry. Flip those babies over and cook on the other side for a minute or so.

Keep in mind this recipe feeds our family of 7 (for now) so if you had the ability to stop having children a long time ago and bought yourselves a TV, you may want to cut this in half. ;)

"You Always Look Great" (LOL)

2008-11-14T06:58:00.000-05:00

Someone said something to me yesterday that was so sweet, but at the same time she must be looking at me through rose colored glasses. She said, "You always look great!". HA HA HA HA HA!!! She's kidding right? Those of you who know me KNOW I don't always look put together, which I think is true of most women and I, for one, completely believe and admit that makeup does an amazing job at transforming my uneven skin and dark eyes to a beautifully rested and "natural" state! So...that being said, here are my favorite products that I use daily to keep me looking like I don't have 5 children. It helps my face, but only a tummy tuck and implants will help my body!

1. I wash my face w/ St. Ives Makeup Remover & Facial Cleanser. It's a creamy cleanser and doesn't harm my sensitive skin. http://www.stives.com/skin-care-products/facial-beautiful-makeup-remover.cfm

2. I remove any excess eye makeup w/ baby oil. It's does an amazing job, is gentle,and here's the important thing...IT"S CHEAP!

3. Nothing's better than Witch Hazel for toning my skin after I wash my face and remove excess eye makeup! And again, it's cheap.(Are you noticing the trend here?)

4. I swear by ANEW CLINICAL Eye Lift by Avon. My eye lids are starting to get a little puffy and someone has put more skin up there in the middle of the night so I've been using this for a few weeks and LOVE it! I noticed a difference in the first week! (OK. admittedly the next few item's aren't cheap..but these are the ones worth splurging on ladies!)http://shop.avon.com/shop/product.aspx?src_page=product_list.aspx&level1_id=300&level2_id=302&pdept_id=322&dept_id=&pf_id=33437

5. I also love Avon's ANEW ADVANCED All-In-One MAX SPF 15 UVA/UVB Cream for my daily moisturizer. It lasts a long time and I stock up when it's on sale. http://shop.avon.com/shop/product.aspx?src_page=product_list.aspx&level1_id=300&level2_id=302&pdept_id=327&dept_id=405&pf_id=6150

6. For those nights when sleep hasn't happened or just when I think I need the extra help I use Look Alert Eye Brightener by Avon. I use the light shade. It really helps w/ the darkness I have inherited (thanks mom). http://shop.avon.com/shop/product.aspx?src_page=product_list.aspx&level1_id=300&level2_id=301&pdept_id=314&dept_id=398&pf_id=32756

7. Mineral Makeup. I use Bare Minerals, my loving mother uses Sheer Cover. I've tried both and love both of them. Sheer Cover comes with a creamy concealer..Bare Minerals does not. So it's what you prefer. I haven't tried the mineral makeup in the stores..but I would almost bet it's pretty good. I will NEVER wear a liquid foundation again! I always shop on EBay for this stuff! Save your money!

8. I have always used Maybelline Expert Eyes Twin Brow & Eye Pencil in Dark Brown. (Thanks to a scar on my left brow, I must fill it in and even out the rest). It's horrible as an eye pencil, but I love it for my brows. I can't speak for the other colors though. It's cheap and I've tried many others and still go back to this one. Not saying there isn't better, but it works for me and why mess w/ a good thing? http://www.buymebeauty.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=419

9. Curl your lashes ladies! Opens your eyes right up!

10. My eyeshadow pallet has been similar for many years. I use a pale pink almost cream (that's the color cream) base under my brows and on my lids. Then accent the crease w/ a shade of brown. This shade varies throughout the year. Right now it's a warmer shade of brown. Sometimes I'll mix it up and use pinks. I have blue eyes, so it's perfect to bring them out. Here's a link to something similar to what I use...( I would give you a link to what I'm using now but it's been discontinued :( ) I would buy the Cocoa Glow color. http://shop.avon.com/shop/product.aspx?src_page=product_list.aspx&level1_id=300&level2_id=301&pdept_id=312&dept_id=390&pf_id=30754

9. I'm a faithful buyer of GLIMMERSTICKS Eye Liner from Avon in Cosmic Brown. I line my upper lid sweeping out slightly at the corner, (sometimes I stop right here if I want to be less Va Va voom) then I line under my lower lashes (not too heavy) and then line on the inside of my eye above my lower lashes. I then use the darkest brown shadow and applicator and blend the outer corners of my eyes and slightly under my lashes just to soften the line. http://shop.avon.com/shop/product.aspx?src_page=product_list.aspx&level1_id=300&level2_id=301&pdept_id=312&dept_id=391&pf_id=30990

10. WASH-OFF WATERPROOF Mascara in Black by (you guessed it) Avon, is my mascara of choice. It's just plain fabulous ladies! http://shop.avon.com/shop/product.aspx?src_page=product_list.aspx&level1_id=300&level2_id=301&pdept_id=312&dept_id=389&pf_id=30926

11. Right now I'm using Avon's Be Blushed Cheek Color. It's a creamy blush and I really like it. I'm looking for a change though and thinking of going to powder again in a more pinky color. Either way you can't go wrong! Lasts FOREVER! http://shop.avon.com/shop/product.aspx?src_page=product_list.aspx&level1_id=300&level2_id=301&pdept_id=314&dept_id=395&pf_id=33655

12. For my lips, I love GLAZEWEAR Liquid Lip Color ( I won't even say who it's by). I have this in a few colors. http://shop.avon.com/shop/product.aspx?src_page=product_list.aspx&level1_id=300&level2_id=301&pdept_id=311&dept_id=387&pf_id=30992

Well, that's it. There's the miracle...everything in a bottle, wand, and brush. To prove to you all how terrible I look without my bag of tricks, I will be posting a before and after photo of myself this weekend. If you can bare to see me without all of this stuff on, I encourage you to check out the transformation.

A day in my life

2008-11-12T18:51:00.000-05:00

I have come to realize that life is not what you think it is. ..EVER! There are some days I wake up thinking, " Same old day, same old stuff." But you know, it never is the same old stuff. For instance, yesterday I was getting ready to clean my kitchen (a job I truly detest and put off using every excuse I can think of) and my oldest son was kindly emptying the dishwasher (per my instructions) when he said, "Hey mom, a lot of the dishes aren't clean". Excuse me? What does he mean they're "not clean"? I know I started the dishwasher. That's when it hit me. My poor dishwasher finally gave up. Nine years of dedicated service to our family of 7 and she just couldn't do it anymore. It was a sad day. Took me all day to clean up the mess she left behind. Fast forward to today. I woke up knowing my kitchen was clean, disaster behind me. Just another day right? Nope. After I picked my children up from school (as well as a neighbor's daughter), yours truly decided to be nice and give in to their requests of hot chocolate. Like a good mom, I dutifully prepared their warm drinks to bring comfort to their stressful lives ( ha ha HAAA!) and brought it to them at the dining room table. I proceed to walk into the living room and sit down at my computer when I here " Julie spilled her hot chocolate!!" What!!! Sure enough...a full mug all over the floor and my daughter. Ugh. That's okay, this kind of thing happens once in a while right? I cleaned it up and 1/2 a roll of paper towels later, sit back at my computer. Five minutes go by and I hear what can only be my fried brain playing tricks on me, "Ben spilled his hot chocolate now too!!" Thus proving that every day is not the same old stuff...just new stuff wrapped in the same crazy and beautiful packages...my family.