Archive - January, 2006

chunkin’

After eight years of being a mom, I’ve acquired some very valuable skills. For example, I am the best vomit catcher EVER! It’s second nature to see it coming, cup my hands and holler for a bowl, without ever losing a drip. Sacrifices must be made to save the upholstery and carpenting. It makes clean up much easier, too.

Anjelia came down with the stomach flu late this afternoon. I’ve enjoyed rocking her the last few hours. We moved her bed into our room for the night. That keeps her near me without my bed getting puked in! Poor baby.

Love is staying up all night with a sick child — or a healthy adult.” David Frost

painting percolations

I had to share a picture of a painting my Aunt Marlis just completed. Isn’t it awesome?!

It’s not your painting anymore. It stopped being your painting the moment that you finished it.” Jeff Melvoin

goodbye nursery

This has been a big week for us and it’s only Tuesday! Sunday afternoon we were given a really nice twin bed, courtesy of Tom’s brother, Kenny. We gave the new bed to Jessica. Elaina had been sleeping in the toddler bed, but was beginning to outgrow it. We couldn’t get her to stay in it. She would sneak into our bed in the middle of the night (James’ side. He’s such a sucker!) or crawl in bed with Lydia. That’s ok on occasion, but it starts to get old when it happens every night. Anyway, she’s very happy now in Jessica’s old twin bed! The last two nights she’s slept in it all night! The poor kiddo needed more space!


Elaina sleeping comfortably in her big bed! She’s surrounded by her favorite things–monkeys and princesses!

Anjelia is beyond thrilled. She inherited the toddler bed. She couldn’t wait to go to bed Sunday night. She didn’t even ask to be rocked! We weren’t sure how she would do, so we left the crib up, just in case. She’s taken right to sleeping in her new bed at bedtime and naptime, so yesterday it happened . . . .James took the crib down. I am doing suprisingly well. It didn’t even hurt my heart to take it down. I did want to keep it, though, but after talking with James, we’ve decided not to haul it into the attic. It’s not in the best shape. It’s been used by five babies. (We had Latecia for the first nine months of her life, so she used it, too.) I’d kinda like to make something out of it for a keepsake. Any ideas?


Anjelia is so happy! She feels like a big girl!

Jessica shares a room with Anjelia. She’s been complaining about the bunny wallpaper and baby decorations. Yesterday, I stripped all the bunny wallpaper down and took the baby pictures and things off the walls. It looks so bare. Jessica was really glad to see it go. I don’t blame her. She’s not a baby!


Jessica loves the color red. I have a little more wallpaper to strip behind the headboard. Isn’t it a great bed!

I guess this makes it official now. No crib, no bunny wallpaper or baby decor. . . the nursery is gone after 8 years. . . It’s sad, but I am surprisingly not heartbroken. I suppose maybe I’ve gone through the “no more babies” grieving period and have come to terms with it. Plus, I am really enjoying the freedom that I’m beginning to have. For example, after years of not sleeping through the night, I now sleep uninterrupted nearly every night!!!! Woohoo! That part is heavenly!

If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you.” A. A. Milne

spring in January?

Mom stopped by yesterday with her new digital camera that Larry gave her for Christmas. I downloaded this picture off her camera. She took it this week in her yard! When was the last time it was warm enough in January for dandelions?! I sure wish it were spring. After Christmas, I am emotionally finished with winter. I guess the wait makes it that much more delightful when the warm weather and flowers come. We have just a few more weeks to go!

If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.” Anne Bradstreet

2000 gallons!

I know you’ve all been waiting anxiously to find out how much water my lovely Singing Neptune is going to save me! After receiving our water bill today, it looks like it’s saving us about 2000 gallons of water a month, which is a monetary savings of about twenty bucks! We figured, if this is correct, it probably adds up to around $250 per year. Not too shabby. It will pay itself off in no time! Have I mentioned that she sings to me?!!

By and large, mothers and housewives are the only workers who do not have regular time off. They are the great vacationless class.” Anne Morrow Lindbergh

penguin tears

I am sure most of you have seen this funny and touching movie, March of the Penguins. If you haven’t seen it, you must. Emperor penguins are fascinating creatures. They are such loving, sacrificial mates and parents. God is definitely evident through His creation.

We watched this movie Saturday. The first thing the girls want to know when we watch something is if it is real or pretend. We told them this is a true story about Emperor penguins. As we began watching, we giggled as the cute little things waddled through the snow and then decided it was easier to skid on their tummies. Our six year old, Jessica, began to get worried however, as you could see them fighting for survival and struggling against the odds to hatch a chic. At one point, one of the moms was eaten by a seal. Jessica could handle it no longer, as she burst into tears. Later one of the eggs rolls out from the dad’s feet and immediately freezes and cracks open in the bitter cold. Poor Jessica buried her head and wept. The most upsetting part was when a bird attacked several of the babies. She cried out, “I wish they didn’t have such hard lives!”. By the end of the movie her eyes were swelled up and red from crying so hard. She said she never wants to see that movie again. She has such a sensitive heart! It was really sweet.

It’s practically impossible to look at a penguin and feel angry.” Joe Moore

March of the Penguins, … the motion picture this summer that most passionately affirms traditional norms like monogamy, sacrifice and child-rearing.” Michael Medved

better the second time

Elaina has decided that the milk jug lid is the best place to save her chewing gum. She can make a single piece last for days! I’m starting to get used to this sight.

Chewing Gum is really gross, chewing gum I hate the most.” Willy Wonka

When I’m an old lady

When I’m an old lady, I’ll live with each kid,
And bring so much happiness…just as they did.
I want to pay back all the joy they’ve provided.
Returning each deed! Oh, they’ll be so excited!

When I’m an old lady and live with my kids

I’ll write on the wall with reds, whites and blues,
And I’ll bounce on the furniture…wearing my shoes.
I’ll drink from the carton and then leave it out.
I’ll stuff all the toilets and oh, how they’ll shout!

When I’m an old lady and live with my kids

When they’re on the phone and just out of reach,
I’ll get into things like sugar and bleach.
Oh, they’ll snap their fingers and then shake their head,
And when that is done I’ll hide under the bed!

When I’m an old lady and live with my kids

When they cook dinner and call me to eat,
I’ll not eat my green beans or salad or meat,
I’ll gag on my okra, spill milk on the table,
And when they get angry…I’ll run…if I’m able!

When I’m an old lady and live with my kids

I’ll sit close to the TV, through the channels I’ll click,
I’ll cross both eyes just to see if they stick.
I’ll take off my socks and throw one away,
And play in the mud ’til the end of the day!

When I’m an old lady and live with my kids

And later in bed, I’ll lay back and sigh,
I’ll thank God in prayer and then close my eyes.
My kids will look down with a smile slowly creeping,
And say with a groan, “She’s so sweet when she’ s sleeping!”

When I’m an old lady and live with my kids

Anjelia Hope


I caught her in the act, pretending and playing with toys!

An amazing thing is happening in our home! It’s a transformation. Anjelia is beginning to play with toys!!! She is also reading books and posing for pictures and watching half hour cartoons! I have loved these years of babies and toddlers and I will surely miss it for the rest of my life, but this is also great! Anjelia’s past activities did not involve toys (as hard as I tried). She wanted to explore and get into things and make messes. Until now she liked to spend her time doing such things as the following:

*Climbing on chairs to reach anything in the house that was supposed to be out of her reach.

*Squirting dish soap all over the countertop and floor and smearing it on herself.

*Eating butter out of the tub with her hand and smearing it all over her hair!

*Scribbling all over her face with my makeup.

*Smearing her body down with diaper ointment and wiping it on the floor and on her toys.

*Rubbing hand sanitizer in her eyes. OUCH!

*Getting into her sisters panty drawers and throwing them all over the bedroom.

*Unrolling toilet paper rolls.

*General mess making.

I am beginning to feel like I have somehow “arrived”. Like I’ve made it to a crucial sanity keeping milestone! My baby is slowly becoming a little girl. As sad as that is, I am beginning to see some benefits of this metamorphosis!

“We do not remember days, we remember moments.” Cesare Pavese

nutty fun

I think the strange weather around these parts is doing a number on my sinuses. Ugh. Today was 60 degrees and tomorrow the high is 38 degrees. James is thankful for the warm weather. It keeps construction from stalling. I think I inherited my sinus problems from my mom’s side of the family. Some of her family gathered Saturday for our yearly after Christmas celebration. The nice weather was a plus for the kiddos, who got to play all day outside on the farm. My head is throbbing, so I hope this makes sense! I wanted to post some pics of our gathering. We had a very fun day together.


Mom and Grandma pose with Mom and Larry’s tree, Forest! He was a Christmas gift from James and I.


Aunt Marilyn and Aunt Marlis (AKA, Punky and Tootsie) unwrap my craft.

I saved all the blue jeans that we wore out this year and cut off all the pockets. I glued magnets to the back and they’re great for the fridge to hold grocery lists and pens. It was an easy and very cheap craft!

Kandis and I were very excited about the doilies that Aunt Marilyn made especially for us. Mine are shaped like stars and crocheted with sparkly thread to go with my Christmas decorations. I love them!

Mom made pretty, aromatic sachets and Aunt Marlis painted jars for everyone. She’s such a good artist! Kandi gave out yummy smelling body lotions.


The kiddos, of course! Jessica, Lydia and Ian

Sometimes we bring door prizes. Mom gave away a pretty set of embroidered tea towels. Aunt Marilyn won those. Aunt Marlis brought a beautiful hummingbird painting. She gave it to Aunt Marilyn because everyone else had won a painting in the past.


Kandi and her new love.

After Christmas this year I went to Wal-Mart and purchased another giant nutcracker. It was marked down and I couldn’t resist. I began to debate once I got it home if I should keep it. It’s identical to the other one, except that the new one had a hat instead of a crown. I thought they looked too much alike. This week as we were putting all the Christmas stuff in the attic, I didn’t feel like I was supposed to keep the new one. I decided to bring it and give it as a door prize on Saturday. I had no idea that Kandi was wanting to start collecting nutcrackers, but God knew! The story gets even better! Today, I wasn’t feeling well so I stayed home from church. James went and came home with a set of nutcrackers for me from my friend and Carl’s sister, Abby! Thank you Abby! She gave me a set of four six inches nutcrackers and one bigger 12 inch one. Isn’t that amazing! God wanted Kandi to have the big one and He replaced it with five smaller ones! I don’t believe that was a coincidence! See how much He loves us Kandi!

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

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