It was so close to Christmas..

At the time it seemed a really good idea. With a week till Christmas, I decided to make these little babies.  I saw the idea alittle while ago and decided to make it for the kids.  The crayon rolls where a perfect stocking stuffer.

 I had a lot of fun making them!  I put the kids' initals on the outside of it. paired it with a stetch book.  They loved them!

I made these pot holders for my mom.  1st

 time doing them.  I was pretty impressed.  Infact, all of these things are a first time ever doing them.  I was very, very surprised with myself!!  I put them with some coasters as well...they just didn't make it in the picture.

Now these little sweethearts are my babies.  I love the way they turned out.  My sister took the pictures, my husband cut the pieces of wood, and I did the rest.  This was my most favorite thing I made....the night before Christmas Eve....at 3:00 in the morning!  But I thought, I've got tons of coffee, and pop, Matt has been waking up every moment I fall asleep.  I mean come on....sleep is sooo over rated!

                             

Now this, tihs is my almost favorite thing I made.  If it hadn't been for my babies, I'd say it was my favorite!  Mike helped out by cutting the wood! and I put it together.   And in the cup (no I didn't make it...Target did) is some coasters I made to make the present complete! Please don't look at the crazy women in the picture.  She has no makeup and for goodness sakes, she hasn't slept in days.  I'm not kidding....DAYS!!!  Anyway it's the flag we are looking at!  I was so surprised that I could do this!  I had tons of fun and am thinking of other things I am going to try!  How am I feeling about these things I've made...well lets just use a quote from a very famous movie......Tommy Boy........."Well then I get all excited. I'm like Jojo the idiot circus boy with a pretty new pet." 

Can You Imagine??

Can you imagine what it was like when Jesus was born?  I was sitting at Coffee Break this morning and my mind starting to wonder, as it always does at any givin moment.  Someone mentioned gossiping and my mind took off.  I started thinking of all the times I've been caught gossiping and how hard I try not to do it.  And then a silly little thought came acrossed my mind.  What did the ladies in Mary and Joseph's town say about them or even the ladies of Bethlehem.  Cause you know when ladies get together....well you know the rest.  So this morning I came up with a little story.  It's based back in the day with a modern twist.  It's been in my brain all day and I have to get it out.  Tell me what you think.

     "Did you hear that there was a baby born in a stable about...ohhh a couple of days ago?" Martha brought up at the ladies once a week get together. 
     Martha always knows what is going on in our little town of Bethlehem.  You never want to open your mouth around Martha, cause if you do....well lets just say she doesn't know how to CLOSE her's. All the ladies sat together on a Saturday afternoon, making food and were preparing for Sunday's day of rest, couldn't help but to fall into the topic that Martha had brought up.
    "Yes, I did hear about that.  That poor dear.  I could never have imagined giving birth in a stable.  The smell alone would drive me mad.  But to add all the animals to the mix and I would have been long gone.  I don't know how she put up with it."  added Easter.
     "Yes, she was very brave.  I couldn't imagine what she was going through.  You know maybe we should bring her something.  I wonder if she has any food or warm blankets  What do you think Rachel?" said Ruth.  Ohh Ruth.  She was always thinking of others.  I loved the moment I met her.  I was new to town and she was the first one to befriend me.  It's like she just knew that I was scared to be here.  But Ruth, she helped me through it and made sure I was comfortable.  If it wasn't for her, I'd still be...well I don't know where I would be.
   "I think that's a wonderful idea Ruth,"  I replied,  "Do you know what her name is....Starts with a M right??...Ma something...."
    "Mary.  I think it was Mary."  said Ruth.
    "Yes, it is Mary.  What a beautiful name." I said.
    "I don't know about that girl,"  added Martha, "I heard somethings about her.  I don't know, something just doesn't sit right with me.
    She was baiting us I just knew it.  But giving it was Martha, a person everyone was scared for cause she knew things about everyone, I didn't say anything.  I just let her comment sit in the air, as did everyone else.  We just sat there, working on our meals, waiting for her to continue with her "insight" into Mary. 
     After what seemed to be an eternity, Ester couldn't handle it any longer, finally asked the question Martha was waiting for.  "Well Martha, What Did you hear?"
     "Well, I probably shouldn't say anything, but alittle birdy told me something...it really isn't my place to say...." Martha drug on and on.
     "Out with it Martha."  Ester demanded.
     "Okay, okay since you guys really want to know and you guys are my best friends and all, I'll tell you.  I heard that she wasn't as good as some people would say she is."
     Ruth not liking the way the "information" was going, I could just see it.  She was going to try to stand up for this women they'd never even met, wasn't she?  Oh no Ruth, please don't, your going to ruin everything.  "Well I'm sure non of us are, right Martha?"  Ruth said it.  She said what some of us were thinking but were too afraid to say.  She is going to ruin it for us!
     "Oh I'm not talking about small things.  I hear that she was expecting before she even married this Joseph fella.  And on top of that it's not even Joseph.  Can you imagine??"  Martha said with a knowing look.
      "Are you sure about that Martha.  I talked to some of the Shepard's that were out there that night and they said that she was a very warm, loving woman.  I think we need to stop talking about this now."  Ruth said looking right into my eyes.  She wanted me to say something, to stand up with her.  But I couldn't speak.  I was afraid of Martha and I had just started to become somebody in our community.  I can't lose that now just cause Ruth didn't agree with what Martha was saying.  It's not like Martha was hurting anyone.  Everyone knows she just likes to talk.  So I just sat there....waiting for someone else to say something.
     "Oh Ruth, I'm only saying what I heard.  And it landed in my ears from a VERY reliable source.  Besides, I don't think we should help her at all.  She got herself into this mess and I think she needs to get herself out of this mess.  I for one am not going to lend a hand at all."  Martha said,  "Mark my words ladies, she is going to bring trouble to our little community.  And that boy of hers, well lets just say that I will not be letting my children play with him.  If that is how she was raised, you can only imagine what kind of person she's going to raise.  There's no family values anymore."
    "Well, I agree with you on the family values. It's lost these days.  I couldn't believe the other day when the family down the street was working on Sunday.  I could have died.  I marched right up to that house and laid into her good.  I don't think they will ever cross the line with that again."  Ester voiced.
     "What on earth could they possible be doing on Sunday?"  Martha wondered.
     "Oh they were outside running around, playing tag or something.  Don't they know they are supposed to be inside worshiping the Lord?  Not running around like crazy people."  Ester said.
     "I can't believe you ladies,"   Ruth said with anger in her voice.  "Here you sit and talk about what everyone is doing and yet you guys don't see what your doing.  Who do you think you are to be sitting there and tell everyone else they are wrong for what they did or are doing?  Don't we all Worship the same God?  I for one am not going to stand for this anymore...I'm going to leave and help that girl.  If she is good enough for the Wise men to go and visit her, then she's good enough for me.  Everyone has made their mistakes and I am not going to judge them for it.  If you'll excuse me ladies.  I have somewhere more important to be.  Rachel?"
    What do I do?  If I go with Ruth, I could be shunned.  If I stay here I would lose the only friend I've really had.  What do I do? 

     How many of you judged someone you've never met or seen?  How many of you were the one gossiping about people?  And how many of you were afraid to stand up for yourself or even a friend?  I can't tell you how many times I've been in each and every situation these 4 women have been in.  And I can't tell you how many times I have been ashamed about the way I acted or what I've said.  My prayer as of late has been for others to see the woman I am now, not the girl I used to be.  And even though I am not even close to being perfect, I hope people see that I'm not trying to be better then them, but to be the best me I can be.  Almost every days I fail.  This Christmas I'm going to remember the reason God gave us Jesus. He sent us a Savior for forgiveness, for love, and well just because He could.  Merry Christmas Everyone!

New Traditions....EEEEECCCCCCCCCCCCCKkk!

My attempt at trying to start a new tradition in our household has not come without it's own struggles.  In my mind we would be all sitting around a fire (if we had a fireplace..which I'm totally scared of, so why I would have that in my Norman Rockwell moment is beyond me.) and we'd be laughing, sharing our deepest thoughts, drinking hot cocoa, and there would be no fighting but only saying a kind word to one another.  Ahhhhh.....bliss.

Sooooo, I guess you could say, it didn't really happen like that.

My first goal was to start doing advent every night.  But to do that we needed an advent wreath.  Well, trying to do this without buying one, I decided to make one. 
"Ohh it'll be great," I thought, "We'll make it together. It's easy, all we need is the plate and I've got the rest of the paper here. Easy peasy rice and cheesy!"

So about 3 days later and several break downs later, we had our "homemade advent wreath."  I loved it.  It wasn't a normal wreath, but it was ours.  I picture that some day, years from now, we will be looking back on it and commenting how much Mommy lost it and laugh at the thoughts of perfection that I tried to establish during this time.

For the last 13 nights we've been doing the nightly readings, singing (which, by the way, Nick only wants to sing is jingle bells), praying, and lighting of our fake candles with our fake flame.  And as frusturating as some nights have been, I've fallen in love with it and I know our kids have too.  Each night they run up to the table when we say it's time to do the advent and they ask what's do I get to do tonight.  They might not hear everything we say, but they have been capturing the beauty that is starting to unraval in the story we read each day.  I love hearing the prayers that each of them say.  Anna goes on and on...talking about those we've never met.  Mason keeps praying for his brothers and sister and his beautiful Mommy, and his handsome Daddy.  Nick keeps saying thank God for the animals or thank God for God...and so forth.  Matt is forever saying...mamamamamamama...dadadadadadadada...blalhslfnaskvit.  And Mike and I fill in the other spots.  I don't want the time to end.  Thanks to those who gave me this idea!

Try it sometime, you won't regret it.  And in replace of my Norman Rockwell moments around the fireplace, is my idea of the madness that comes into our house each night as we attempt to light our "candles." Hearing Nick sing, as low as he can, the words to Jingle Bells.  Anna being the sweetheart, full of life girl that she is caring for those she has never met, and Mason keeping it close to home. (He just got a marshmellow gun...and as fun as it is, we will not let him close out everything we do at the table with a honorary shot.  It's starting to get to us, it scares Matt. And I keep getting hit in the rear end with a marshmellow for some reason.  This has nothing to do with lighting the advent wreath, I just wanted to share this moment that we had.) MERRY CHRISTMAS!! 

Old Traditions...New Tradtions..

Traditions.  Something Mike and I have taken to the heart lately.  Like in the past our tradition at thanksgiving is to just show up.  We liked it.  Nobody asked of anything.  But as of late, and maybe cause the kids are getting older, we've been wanting to start some new traditions.  SOO this year we are making a advent wreath and each night we are going to do some scripture readings.

I found a really cool website on how to make your own advent wreath with your kids. Using paper plates, and green, purple, pink, and white construction paper, and yellow paper.  I thought it was a cool thing to try.  So on Black Friday, we are going to have our own "hanging of the greens" in our house.  And then each night we are going to read some scripture that I found on the Focus on the Family website.  The Norman Rockwell moments in my head seem to be bigger than I can pull of in reality. 

I loved the idea of creating new memories in our house.  Ones that the kids will remember.  And in the process learn some more patience.  Hopefully, this coming up Friday, we'll be putting up the christmas tree and decorating it.  Maybe make some cookies and apple cider.  Chili??  Cinnamin Rolls???  Food, Food, and more Food!   I'll keep you posted on how that day actually turns out!

What are some of your traditions this time of the year?  I would love to hear about them!


How to make an advent wreath with your kids:
http://www.ehow.com/how_6657949_making-advent-wreaths-kids.html

WHAT DOES THAT WORD EVEN MEAN??

Accomplish....accompLish....acComplish...Accomplishment...Ablubhulhaant.  What does that word even mean?  Accomplish.  I looked it up.  This is what the dictionary says accomplish means.

Accomplish: achieve something: to carry out or complete something successfully.

Okay, simple enough.  But as I still couldn't grasp my mind around it.  I looked deeper at the meaning of the word, Accomplish.  I came up with a couple of other meanings to this silly word, Accomplish. (I just can't get that word off my mind)

Mommy definition of accomplish.

Accomplish: 1-to wake up 
                   2-make sure the kids and you survive the day with no E.R. visit
                   3-if you get them to bed on time, you've had a successfull day!
                                
                                                              Did I forget anything???

Why am I blogging about this, cause I've been forced to accept defeat.  I thought to accomplish something is to have it be seen. Like seeing the living room floor, or to find out if I may or may not have a counter in the kitchen. Do the kids' toys really need to be everywhere? I mean do we really need clean clothes....okay yes we do, but your getting the jist of it.  I spent most of my weekend recovering from the week of sickness in the household.  Not the kids, but Mike and me.  I picked up the living room,  then started in the kitchen.  Turned around and the living room is right where it started, a big mess. Probably worse than the first time. 
 "Fine, okay, breath, it's just some covers and some small toys. I can do this. CCCHHARGE!" I tell myself.
After alittle time goes by, I'm done and smile. Okay back to the kitchen.  I start on a load of dishes and turn around and there it is...the living room....worse than before.
"Where are those little....Mason, Anna, Nick...what in the world are you doing...and how are you doing it so quite?  Pick up the living room!  Now." ---See that...right there. I'm starting to loose it.  I've been told I have no patience. It's gotten better, but not by much.  That's pretty much how the day went, but with each time I began to wear down, falling more and more into a pit of "am I ever going to get ahead" game.
By the end of the day, I was just besides myself.  Upset, frusterated, irritated, just had it up to here (I'm placing my hand over my head, if you wanted a visual).  
Where does this get me, I don't know.  But I reminded myself last night over and over that God gave me these little rascals to raise with my wonderful hubby.  That's the most important part, right?!?!  As much as I would love to have a house that is clean, clothes that are not piled to the ceiling, or even dishes that we don't have to spit shine to use (just kidding really, I would never do that!)  I know, and have to remind myself ever day that these moments are just that, moments.  And when I get older I don't want to look back remembering the house, I want to remember the fun in that house with the people that I love.   That will be the ultimite accomplishment!

Crazy Life: Influence's of my life....

Crazy Life: Influence's of my life....: " Awhile back I was reading a book by Lisa Harper called, 'Untamed Heart' and in there she asked, 'Who do you look up to? Who are your hero'..."

Influence's of my life....

 Awhile back I was reading a book by Lisa Harper called, "Untamed Heart" and in there she asked, "Who do you look up to?  Who are your hero's?"  I first started thinking of all the people who have influenced me...by thinking of those I grew up watching.  Number one being, Lucille Ball from "I Love Lucy."  I loved her.  My mom loved her.  We would sit up forever and watch her when I was a kid.  Then I started thinking of another person on t.v.  Bill Cosby....I love him!  I watched his show all the time.  My mom would play his stand up show, "Bill Cosby, Himself"  all the time.  We would laugh and laugh and laugh.  Watching him talk about his life growing up and his life with his own family.  I remember seeing mom laughing saying, "That's soo true.  That's how it used to be.  I remember that!"  Then again another television person, Julia Andrews.  I remember when I was old enough to go to Grandma and Grandpa Van Heuvelen's house and Grandpa would go golfing and I would sit there with Grandma, watching "The Sound of Music."  She would close her eye's and just listen to Julia Andrew's sing with her beautiful voice, some of the most amazing songs.  After I got the t.v. people out of the way...and believe me there was many, many more people I could have listed.  I started to look at why I loved them and how they came to be a part of my childhood.  I look at the obvious...My Grandma Dorothy (Skaar) Van Heuvelen and my mom Connee (Van Heuvelen) Jenness.  These women have taught me so much about life that I couldn't believe that they weren't the first one's that came to my mind.  Instead, the first thing that came to me was people they loved and showed my why they loved them.

 This is my Grandma Dorothy.  I stumbled over these pictures of her when I was going through old pictures looking for baby pictures of my dad.  When I saw this I just loved it.  This, this is what I remember of her.  Her smile, you can see the life that's in her eyes.  Then when I was scanning the picture, I turned it over and saw writing on the back.  It said, "Laugh, cause you look crazy."  That was her.  She laughed about everything and about nothing.  She loved, and was loved by everyone around her.  It took alot to get this women down!  With a life long disease, she taught me not to let the small stuff get you.  She showed me that there is good in everyone.  She was an amazing women!
My most favorite memory of her was when she was at my sister Steph's wedding and her hearing was terrible, her talking was loud!  She kept talking and talking during the whole wedding.  Finally my Grandpa couldn't handle it anymore and started to shush her.  My Grandma, being the strong minded, strong heart women that she is yelled (and I mean yelled) "Don't shush me Bert." During the middle of the vows. Grandpa shot straight up from his seat and wheeled her out.  I'm honored that some people say I look like her.  But I don't think I ever will capture her beauty and grace.

This is my mom.  I love her!  She is another amazing women I have been blessed to know. I mean look at her, the smile, the laugh, the joy of life is just oozing from her. She is a phenomenal women.  Even though she'll disagree with everything I say about her....she is the most influential women in my life!   Mother of 11 children, grandmother of 17 children, and a loving wife. She has taught me more than I can even begin to tell.

All she ever wanted was to have a large family.  She has had a hard road but she's taken it head on and has come out on top.  She's a warrior like non other!  The women I am today started with her.  My Grandma may have been the one who planted the seed of who I wanted to become; but it was my mother who was there for every tear, every scrap, every high and every low.  She's my mom.  She has taught me to laugh....laugh...and laugh, how to cook for a crowd, and how to love fiercely.
My most favorite story was when she backed into Dad's pickup and Dad did his jumping up and down screaming bit.  She locked all the doors and wouldn't come out of the car until Dad calmed down.  Dad kept knocking on the window saying, "Connee, I'm not mad anymore, just open up the car."  Mom would reply, "No, no you will just yell at me."  I think I was in the car with her for about and hour or so until she finally unlocked the car and got out.  I guess the funniest part was watching Dad.

LOVE YOU MOM!

Crazy Life: HIP PADDERS!!

Crazy Life: HIP PADDERS!!: "The word is out and I can't help myself but to answer it. 'Hip Padders' is the name of on everyones lips! I'm telling you, it's going to c..."

HIP PADDERS!!

The word is out and I can't help myself but to answer it.  "Hip Padders" is the name of on everyones lips!  I'm telling you, it's going to change your life.  Okay so maybe not that big of a deal...but I've had some of you ask about the bar known as "Hip Padders." 

I got this recipe out of the new Carmel Reformed Church Cookbook. If you don't have, find a local Rock Valleyian, Carmel Reformed Church goer and get it from them! It's become a must have in my library of cookbooks!

Okay moment of truth....and a couple of added pounds...The recipie of "Hip Padders!"  (There is a reason for the name!)

Hip Padders

Melt:
2T. Butter
6oz. chocolate chips

add and set aside:
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1tsp. vanilla

Crumb mixture:
Mix and press 2/3 of mixture in a 9x13 inch pan:
1 cup brown sugar
1 1/4 cup flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2cup butter
1 egg.....take it out back and beat the crap out of it.....or get a bowl and use a fork and beat it, either way it needs to be beaten!
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla

Pour chocolate mixture over crumb mixture.  Crumble remaining crumb mix and add 1/2 cup nuts, (optional) Sprinkle on Chocolate mixture.  Bake 10 to 25 minutes. at 350*  Let it cool for a bit and eat, eat, eat!  Then run, run, squat, lung, row, swim, kayak, climb a mountain, whatever cause it's going be too addicting to stop!  I would post a picture of the bars but too late, they are gone!

Have fun...Enjoy!

Crazy Life: It's a battlefield out there

Crazy Life: It's a battlefield out there: "It's 7:00am in the morning, my alarm clock is going off for the 3 hundredth time, and I have to get up and face whatever life is going to th..."

It's a battlefield out there

It's 7:00am in the morning, my alarm clock is going off for the 3 hundredth time, and I have to get up and face whatever life is going to throw at me.  So I pry my eye's open just a crack to check out who ended up in the bed in the middle of the night.  After a couple of moments of reorganizing of the children, I'm out.  After a few of necessary things taken care of, I'm ready for my first big coffee of the day.  I'm the only one in my house who drinks coffee, so it's all mine..mine, mine, mine.  After that first BIG drink, I'm ready for the troup to get up.  But first I've got to get prepared, cause we're going in for battle.  Got my fighting gear ready...laid it out the night before, got my running shoes, what mother doesn't need those?  My shield of armor is on tight!  My game face is on..I'm ready! 

"Kids, it's time to wake up!!"  I yell.

......nothing.......

"Kids, get out of bed!!....Mason, Anna, Nick...get up now!"

somewhere from upstairs, in a weak voice, I hear,

"....wwwwwwhy?"

"Cause it's time for school!!!  Come on guys, get up, get up, get up up up up!  We have got to get going!"

....nothing....

"Alright, I'm coming up there and with me is coming a big cold glass of water...if you don't get up, your going to get soaked!  GET UP!"

"FINE, I'm getting up!"  Mason yells

"AAGGGGHHHHH!"  Anna projects toward me.

"I want peanut butter and jwelly sandwich." Nick yelled.

Alright, let the tug and pull game begin.

"I didn't want toast"...."Okay"
I want cereal..."Fine"
...I want a donut from the bakery...."No, we aren't going to the bakery"
....can't you make pancakes like the other day??.... "No, it's a toast or cereal day"
... Why do I have to wear this"...."Cause it's clean"
..Can I have a sack lunch today...."No, you should have mentioned it yesturday...I don't have the stuff for it."
....so and so's mom lets them get a lunchable and bring it to school..."That's nice."
...Where is my peanut butter and jwelly sandwich..."It's coming up soon Nick."
.Do we have juice?...."yup we have orange juice."
..I don't want orange juice, I wanted apple.. "sigh"
...Mom where's my folder?.."Did you look on the table??? No???  Would you look on the table??"
..Did you get me any socks?.."They were with the clothes I laid out last night."
..What Day is it today...5 or 6?..."I think it's day 6...."
...I don't want peanut butter and jwelly sandwich..."Mason you asked for a peanut butter and jwelly...i mean jelly sandwich...your gunna eat it."
...My name is Nicholas, mom not Mason...."

"STOPPPPPP!!!!!  Okay, Mason it's day 6, get your p.e. shoes on.  Anna, if you don't like the clothes then pick something else out....Nick you did ask for a peanut and butter sandwich now get in the car with it cause the kids are going to be late if we don't get going..."

"Mom I can't find my hat!".....It's over by your shoes."
"Mom, Did I put my homework in my folder?"...."yes, your folder is on the table"

"Okay kids we have got to get into the car, it's 7:56 we have 4 mins! Nick we don't have time, get your shoes on..."
"I don't want to..."
"Fine then, I'll carry you to the car...come on guys let go."

"Mom you forgot to get Matt."  Mason, always the wise one. reminded me.

"Ohhh shoot...okay, it's not like we left the house...we're just in the car Mason.  I'll be right back.  I want those seat belts on when I get back!"

"Matt....I love you!!!  Did you sleep well???  Okay baby boy lets get into this car seat and we'll get the kids to school and then we'll eat okay...okay???  I woowoo...I WOOOwoo!  a shubooo..aboobooo...you sweetie pie. whoese the big boy??? Matt's the big boy...."

"MOMMM COME ON!!!"

"Alright Mason, I'll be right there!"

Everybody got everything...good...great...wonderful!  We are off!

Getting to the school we wait in the "car line" so I can drop the kids off right by the door.

"*Muuuahhhh* I love you, Mason...God is with you!"
"*Muuuuahhh* I love you, Anna...God is with you!"
"Have a great day at school guys, I'll see you after school is over...right here...no, no kids connection today...I'll be picking you guys up...get up there guys..your going to be late!"

Okay, now I can breath.  The biggest part of the day is done. I survived with little to no damage done. I can get home, relax a little bit, feed Matt, change his diaper.  Hopefully he'll take a long morning nap and then I can sit with Nick and have alittle time with him. Then I can get a few things done this morning so Mike can that I just don't sit around and do nothing.  Then I'll rearrange the whole house, make a 4 course meal for supper (yes supper, not dinner), and then I can try to have a Martha Stewart moment somewhere in the house.  And everything will be perfect!  Oh please, please let it be like that.

Finally, I get home. Get Nick and Matt in the house. I start to work on my second cup of coffee, I sit down ready to feed Matt, when Nick yells...."MOM, WHERE IS MY PEANUT BUTTER AND JWELLY SANDWICH????"

Is my job ever finished? 

I hope not!

Life with Mike and Mason

I'm only writting this one cause in the last couple of days these two boys of mine have surpassed anything I thought could happen.  Or anything I thought they would ever do.  This does not mean it's good or I guess bad...take it anyway you want

This, this is my wonderful husband Mike.  And this is what happens when you let him dress himself.  He is getting ready for "Spirit Day" at work.  I guess he could go as a crazed race fan.  I guess he really wants to get that prize.  Some days I wonder about this man. 

And because of this picture I'm going to tell you about the story of Mason's school picture...and why he's going to have a picture retake RIGHT AWAY!  I want to first say that Mason loves his dad very much and because of this love Mason is starting to want be exactly like his father.  I know, when you look like this picture...who wouldn't want be just like him.  Not to long ago, Mikes mom went through all of Mikes childhood belongings and brought them over.  His nice big box has been sitting in the corner for a couple of weeks.  Some things have been gone through, some things have not.  One of the things Mason zoned in on was Mikes boy scout belongings with all his patches and some hat pins boy scout pants....to name a few.   Now, I am going to fast forward to picture day.  Mason had a couple of tiny pin holes in his shirt.  I say,"MASON, what are these??  Did you have them before or after picture?"  Mason, "Yes... (sad face)"  I was wondering what in the world...great now there's going to be holes in his shirt and your going to see them in his picture.  I sat there praying that it won't make a big deal.  It's a memory and try to make the best of it.  Again, fastforward with me to yesturday.  Now yesturday he comes in marching like he's in a parade with his pictures in the air...he's proud, it's written all over his face.  I smile saying "yeahhhhh!!!! Let me look at them."  I look and stop.  My heart starts pounding in my ear.  Thats not what I think it is...no he wouldn't..would he??  He had 2 pins on his shirt, both were Mikes from his younger years. One was a Luthern Church sunday school pin.  The other (and here's where I was mortified) was a pin with "I love hott women and cold beer" written on it.  You can see it clear as day, he only has a light blue shirt on.  You can' miss it!  The more amazing thing is when I asked him about it he said he wore it all day and no one said anything.  He took them off before I saw him cause he was afraid that I would get mad that he took them.  He cried. I felt bad.  Mark that one down on the, I will never do that again.  I blame Mike for the influeance.  But my, I do love these to guys.  Even I am shocked at what they do!  And yes, retakes are going to happen! 

Life with my kids

Do you find it strange that I don't even get mad when I find something my kids did?  Infact, at times, I find myself thinking, "WOW!  I'm impressed.  I would have never thought to hide that there."  OR " How did they do that?  They are crafty little stinkers."  I am truly amazed at some of the things they think of. 
For example.  I was getting the laundry out of my daughters room and for the thousandth time she moved her hamper.  She likes to do that, makes it into a game for me.  Isn't it nice that she thinks of her mother like that? :)  Anywho, I found the location of the hamper in the closet.  And as I turned around there where 2 perfectly formed circles on the wall made out of toothpaste.  Now some of you would have sat there crying wondering where you went wrong with your child. Thinking, "Why didn't I teach them better?  Now they are damaged for life, and will never make it into college, and will be shunned from all forms of life, living on a mountain and will become the next unibomber!" (Okay so maybe some of you might not be thinking that or really anything close to that.  Sorry I ran with it.)
I looked at the circles, touched the cicles, and then I smelled the circles.  Just to make sure it was toothpaste.  Guess what, it was toothpaste.  I looked at it a second time and realized something.  She had two perfectly round circles. Impressive.  I'm pretty sure my son Nick was with her when she did this.  So then I thought,"What team work, she's helping Nick with his shapes! She's going to be a great Teacher someday!" 
Kids to me have never stopped amazing me.  Everyday I turn around and they just teach me something more about life.  I love my kids with all my heart.  It has taken me 7-8 years to figure this whole parenting thing out.  Hopefully with Matt, our youngest, we will have it all figured out. ( Okay God stop laughing, it's just a thought!)
Nick on the other hand....I dont' know about some days!  We were on our way to Le Mars the other day and he was talking to me, but I couldn't hear him so really he was talking to himself.  After alittle while he must have senced that I wasn't paying attention and said I don't woove you mom (woove mean's love.  He used to say woo woo and I would just die when he said it.  It was just soo cute!) I said, "What?  I love you!"  He said, "Nope I don't woove you."  Me, "Well I love you!"  Him, "I don't woove you! HAHAHA"  Now thinking of a good stratergy, I say, "You don't Love me?"  He said, "Yes I do, I woove you Mamma!"  He is just a little stinker!

Crazy Life: Attack on Life

Crazy Life: Attack on Life: "Have you ever had spiritual warfare so bad that it just chews you up and spits you out? These are things I've been tossing around these las..."

Attack on Life

Have you ever had spiritual warfare so bad that it just chews you up and spits you out?  These are things I've been tossing around these last couple of days.   Case in point, this morning I was at a mops meeting with some of the most amazing women I've ever met.  I love these women, they've become very close to my heart in such a short time.  I was great going in the meeting, but half way through I started what most call a panic attack.  We had to share somethings about ourselves.  At first I was great, I started thinking what I was going to say.  But the more I thought about it, the more I was getting the feeling of self doubt.  In my heart, I knew God wanted me there.  But in the back of my mind, I started to hear, "You are not wanted here, they don't want you.  Who said your good enough for this? Why are you even here? Go away. Nobody wants you."  It started eating at me and eating at me till I couldn't stand it any longer.  When the meeting was done, I got out as soon as I could and walked as fast as I could and just cried.  I started beating myself down, cause that's what I'm good at, asking myself, "Yeah Lisa, Why are you here?  I'm sure they just needed someone to fill a spot."  And after a couple min. of banter and bringing myself down. I started to sing,

 You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains; You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas; I am strong, when I am on your shoulders; You raise me up: To more than I can be.

I started feel alittle bit better.  I picked up Nicholas with alittle bit more zip than what I had about 5 mins. before. On and on it went today with the back and forth banter that's it's been a very hard day, spiritally and emotionally.  I get to the point where I allow the evil one to put me in such a cornor that panic soon follows and I soon begin to believe the lies that are whispered in my ear, alittle to often as of late. 

I've come to a conclusion to why I've been feeling like I've been getting more attacked than before.  I have just recently started to put peace in a place that I haven't allowed to touch in for about 15 years. It's something I knew I had to do.  It was eating away at me and I knew deep down in my heart that if I wanted to move on in my spiritual growth that I had to truly learn the phrase "forgive and forget."  Those words are very important words.  How do you teach that phrase to your kids, if you yourself won't practice it.  Demonstrating to them how to love one another and not hold something over someone else's head and heart.  If I was truly, truly going to grow in life, in love, and in spirit, I needed to look into my own heart and stop hiding from the dark cornors that where slowly taking over all the places of my heart.  I know I need to keep fighting and keep moving.  This old girl isn't ready to give up. 

Crazy Life: My love for FOOD.

Crazy Life: My love for FOOD.: "I love to cook. I love it when I can take all these simple ingredients and create a master peice from it. What is not to love? What I lov..."

My love for FOOD.

I love to cook.  I love it when I can take all these simple ingredients and create a master peice from it.  What is not to love?  What I love most is to challenge myself in cooking.  I take something that seems like a difficult recipe and make it my own.  If there's something I don't like, I change it.  It's whatever I want it to be.  Maybe I love it so much cause this is an area where I know I am in control.  (an ongoing problem with my husband and I)  The moto in our house when I try something new is, "If it sucks, There's always the Pizza Ranch."  How can you not love cooking when your thats your moto? 

I do have one problem with the eating process.  Just one.  I have, what I like to call, Food Amnesia. 
Have you ever had Food amnesia?  I have.  Plenty of times.  Going in for the flashback....once a couple of years ago, I discovered the most wonderful bar alive.  This bar is about 5000 calories in one bite and you have to do about a thousand sit ups just to make up that one bite.  But soo well worth it!  It was called the twins bar.  I mean it has a sugar cookie crust, Carmel filling and a milk chocolate top.  How can you get any better then that?  The first time I made it, I was in heaven.  It had all the qualities a bar should have.  Chocolate and Carmel.  This bar and me were made for each other.  Later that night, I went to put the bar away and half of it was gone.  I wondered, did my son get into it? Nope, he's only one.  He has yet to realize that he can climb.  Mike just got home, he couldn't of had that much already.  Where did all of it go.  I searched my food journal, only one bar was written down.  What in the world happened to the bars?  Deep down  I had a feeling I knew.  One of my brothers and sisters came into the house and took half for themselves.  Greedy little jerks.  That is mine!  Okay so for about a half an hour, I finally realized that they couldn't have taken it.  I was in here all day.  Sorry.  Then the whole puzzle came to when, I was sitting in the kitchen with something in my hand.  THE BAR.  It was me...I ate too many and now I thought I was going to be sick.  I didn't get sick, but then again I never made the bars for a "just at home snack."  These bars are for a big get together and I'm not taking any more home.

So there's my horrifying story!

Want a great bar recipie---you'll love it---full of fatty goodness.

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars

INGREDIENTS
1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1/2cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup coconut, if desired
1 roll (16.5 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated chocolate chip cookies
DIRECTIONS
1.Heat oven to 350°F. In small bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar and egg until smooth. Stir in coconut.
2.In ungreased, 9- or 8-inch square pan, break up half of cookie dough. With floured fingers, press dough evenly in bottom of pan to form crust. Spread cream cheese mixture over dough. Crumble and sprinkle remaining half of dough over cream cheese mixture.
3.Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until golden brown and firm to the touch. Cool 30 minutes. Refrigerate at least 2 hours or until chilled. For bars, cut into 4 rows by 4 rows. Store in refrigerator.

Crazy Life of Mine

A friend of mine suggest that I start a blog.  So that's what I'm doing.  I am not a good writer, or speller, (i'm pretty sure I flunked out of English) but oh well, I thought it might be good for me to let myself go and try to do this. So okay, I'm ready (I hope).

As I writing this, my only daughter, the apple of my eye, is putting on makeup.  She's 5 going on 30 and she's one of a kind. REALLY!  And right beside her is my wonderful son Nicholas, age 3, putting on makeup trying to be like his big sister.  Again Nick is one of a kind.  Things you never thought you'd say to your children, goes to this kid.  For example..."You can't wear the snow white dress you peed in it!"  Now this might start to think that my son is girly.  Not at all...he's very much a boy.  He ate half of the makeup and he was playing football in the dress....so there!  He just loves doing what his only sister does.

Anyways, I think I got off track there for a second.  I am Lisa.  I have been married for 8 going on 9 years, to avery wonderful man named Mikey.  I have 4 kids, 3 boys and 1 girl.  They are my life.  I love those stinkers, but some days.... Mason (our oldest,) Anna (our princess), Nicholas (our monkey) and baby Matt.  I hope to share lots and lots of stories about them.  Some will make you laugh soo hard that you'll pee yourself.  Your going to have so much fun!

I love to cook. Love, Love to cook.  It's my favorite thing about being a housewife.  I love trying new things and share them with my mom.  Maybe I'll add some of those things on here as well.  Another thing I love is reading.  Infact, I just got done with a wonderful book.  I would have read it in one sitting but the kids made me get up and get them food.  Selfish I say!  Well whatever, back to the book.  It was "Angel Song" by Shela Walsh and Kathryn Cushman.  I stole it from my mom who got it at Women of Faith (if you haven't been there, GO!)  Wonderful, amazing, inspriational, just no more words..it was good!  Okay where was I?  Oh yeah...reading.  I'm going to share about the books I've discovered, and maybe learn some of other's favorite books!

Well enough for now.  This was kinda fun! See you soon.