Busy Weekend...and a Question For You

I'll start with the question...so you;ll have time to think of a brilliant answer before the end of this post..hehehehe! Ok...I can not seem to come up with a good, kid friendly craft for my babysitting kids to make for their parents for Christmas! I have searched, and thought...I am coming up BLANK! HELP! Any good ideas....cheap and easy would be best!? Thank You!!

This is the busiest weekend of the whole year for us...Today we have a Christmas party at Rob's mother's house with all of his step sisters and their kids...then we have a Christmas party at Rob's dad's house with all of the step siblings and their kids in the afternoon/evening. In the middle of that is dress rehearsal for the church Christmas play! This morning before we go I have baking to do for tomorrow. Tomorrow we have church and Sunday school, the kids will be handing out cute dishes of the baked goods that I am making this morning. Then when we come home, we will build a ginger bread house, and bake some more...then we will go back to church for the Christmas play (this is my Christmas gift from my daughter, I don't watch any rehearsals or even let her talk to me about the play! ) After the play will be fellowship time with finger foods in the gym. After that when we get home I need to put together trays of goodies as a gift for the families we babysit for. BUSY, BUSY, BUSY! Hopefully all can be done with a good attitude and a joyful spirit...after all it is all done in the name of the Lord! Hope you have a great weekend!!

Bad day....for hubby and man kind!

Today has been a bad day :0( Hubby could not find his deer that he shot last night...such a bummer. He walked and walked through the thickest stuff you could imagine....for miles...and still no deer. He was SO tired when he got home...and he's no stranger to hard labor, so I knew he had been through the mill! Later this afternoon I went to Walmart while he stayed home with the kids, and he was burning trash and all of the sudden he felt like he got shot! He said it actually knocked him out of his slippers! A "D" battery had gotten thrown in the burnables!! It exploded and shot him in the leg! It burned a hole right through his pants and left and ENORMOUS welt and bruise on his leg! He said he had never been hit so hard with anything before and really thought at the time he had been shot! Poor guy! He is out hunting now...in the sleet and rain...what a trooper!
As far as a bad day for mankind...The lady I babysit for told me that there was a murder in the next town over...30 minutes away from here! We have NEVER had anything like that here! A lot of strangers are coming due to the gas wells all over the place, and the crews are rough! Not all of them I"m sure....but a lot are! That's who did the murdering...three gas well workers. I guess there were 20 state troopers there! That's a record for out here in the middle of nowhere! This is hearsay...it's not been in the news that I have heard...but I don't watch the news either, so who knows. My daughter has been stopped by gas well workers three times while on a walk to see if they could give her a "ride"! What is that!!! We are not even safe here anymore! Our area is like this....NOBODY locks their house, takes the keys out of their car...even at Walmart...you could leave your purse in the front seat and know it would be safe...we all know each other and people are honest and good (for the most part)...we had a lady move here from California and she said it was like going back in time 20 yrs.! Now it's all changed. I'm sad. Also, a 16 year old girl was raped in a near by town. What is happening out there? Are we safe anymore? It's a sad day!

Mish Mash!!

We have a big week this week!! It started on Sunday with our fun and wonderful Fall Fest at church!! We had SOO much fun! So much fun, I couldn't even fall asleep that night! LOL Then yesterday Rob was home to hunt. That messed up our day (in a good way! ). While he was home between morning and afternoon hunts we played with the kids, got a nice lunch, he helped with school, and during his afternoon hunt he shot a doe. :0)
Today is "Toy Story Tuesday!!" ...Toy Story 3 will be out on DVD, so we will be at CVS at 9:00 a.m. to claim our copy! We also have school, I need to bake as we have company every Tuesday for dinner, and we will cut, grind, and bag our deer meat to freeze.
Wednesday we are going to a friends house to play..then school will get done. So, that will be a late one!
Thursday we have the day off school as we are going to have our girls' sister for the day (the ones we are adopting have an older sister)...that will be all day!
Friday we will be getting prepared for our shoe boxes for church and some of the kids go shopping with their Sunday School teacher.
Saturday we have dress rehearsal, school (because we are taking Thursday off) and we need to take apart the hay maze at church (Rob will do that one! )

On top of all that...we have foster care stuff, adoption stuff, and some kids have Dr. stuff. I need to plan an adoption party, plan my Thanksgiving party, and some day would like to clean my house! LOL
There was a time where I would have freaked out over all of this stuff, felt totally overwhelmed, and drove all of the people who know me nuts! LOL...But, as I get older I seem to be able to take more on in a calm manner. That's a good thing....or I'd be in a bad spot!!

So, I guess we have a busy week! But it should be a fun one! :0)

Snow Day!!

Today is so much fun!! We are getting so much snow :) Some of the kids we have now are public school kids and they have the day off. I was planning on doing school with my bigger crew and just giving all the 5 & under's the day off...but hubby called from work and told me ALL the kids have the day off to play in the snow! So, off I went to bake chocolate chip cookies for cookies & milk later...am going to make a yummy fruit salad for dinner along with homemade bread...YUM! And hot cocoa and toast for dessert :) I love thinking that my kiddos will remember all the fun snow days and yummy treats...that's what makes childhood fun, right??
I am in "use it up week"...it is so much fun! That may sound nutty...but it is! So far today I have used up the ends of 3 boxes of crackers...we are using up the last bag of flour and the last bag of sugar ( I buy many at a time, so it's time to get them used up)...I am using up fruit that's getting too ripe for the fruit salad..oh yeah...I used up the last of the chocolate chips for the cookies...I didn't even have enough chips, so I got creative and threw in the last few mini Reese's pieces...so they are neat cookies! I am even stretching my "use it up" thinking to Ashley's B-day party...and am thinking of things to make to decorate without spending and cleaning out. I have a few ideas so I am excited. Her party is Sat....she is having a sleepover and is having 5 girls! There will be 17 kids here...LOL...crazy huh!
Well, I have to go as lunch is over and some kids are making beaded jewelery and some are wanting to play play dough and Ty wants to create something from twist ties (from garbage bags)...lol..when they are left to their own devices they get really creative!
Have a blessed day!!

Kim

Happy Monday!

I LOVE Monday's!!! It may sound crazy...but I do! I cherish the time I have with my family all together on the weekends....well, I guess we are all together everyday (except DH goes to work)...but weekends are different somehow :) Today will be busy with cleaning and playing. This is our first week of "summer vacation" :) I am taking this summer to really get organized and develop some routines in our home, mostly morning routines. I found that during the school year if we are not "on the ball" and we get off track I have "lost" the kids and they struggle to get back on task..I struggle too! So, I will work on that some today as well. I will also be planning to get ready for our anniversary trip this coming weekend. DH and I have been married for 10 yrs on June 5th!! That went fast! My WONDERFUL sister is coming here with all her kids to stay with all my kids for the weekend! She will have her hands full! I'm not sure we have enough chairs for the dinner table! LOL...anyway, DH and I are going to a NASCAR race! We are SOOOOOO excited!
Well, I am off to start blessing my home and making a weekly menu! Lots to do!
I also have to go uncover my entire garden! We were supposed to have a frost last night! ARGG...we did get a light one! DH said we should move farther south! LOL
Have a blessed day!

SHOCKED!!!!!

My 9 yr old daughter and I went into a nearby public library last night and as we were checking out I looked over to where the computers were (in PLAIN SIGHT!) and saw a teenage boy looking at pornography!!!! I was SHOCKED! So, I was trying to tell the librarian, who was hard of hearing, that this boy was looking at trash on the computer without drawing attention to myself or alarming my daughter, this was not an easy task! Finally she heard me and took care of it, but wow!!! Are we not even safe to go to the public library?? Why don't they have net nanny on the computers??? I am so thankful that my daughter didn't glance over that way, wouldn't that have been so sad? She would have been corrupted and a little less innocent in that moment, all at the library! Sad times!

kim

homemaking

Recently I have noticed myself saying that I was bored. What is that?? I happen to LOVE Mondays, it is house blessing day! The kids and I work on the house all day and ask God to bless us and we thank Him for all we have, it is ALL His, but He has blessed us with it :) Anyways, as I am going from room to room looking around I can name off a hundred things that need my attention (along with the help of the kiddos), so I wonder why am I bored? Just say that I was to get EVERYTHING done or just wanted a break from housework, isn't that the time I should use to play with the kids, make a special meal, work on a craft, read a book, you know the fun things! I am shocked at myself sometimes, and grateful for the Lord showing me the way...because if I was leading...that would be trouble! LOL...
So, today I am feeling extra blessed and encouraged! Like I said I LOVE Mondays! Hope you all are finding joy in homemaking, and seeing all that we have to do in a positive way!
Have a blessed day!

WHAT...flowers & reptiles?!?!

I had a lovely Mother's Day! It started on Friday! DH got me flowers, then Sat. the kids gave me gifts, flowers & bird feeders...then on Mother's day we went to Reptile Land! I HATE snakes and lizzars...lol...but the kids LOVED it and had a GREAT time! I was very thankful to be a part of it :) We also ate lunch out and got ice cream later on. It could not have been better! I feel like God has blessed me much more than I deserve! Hope you all had a great Mother's Day weekend!

Kim

Special Day

Today is DH's B-day. This is a picture of the "mural" the kids made for Daddy! We all got him gifts for the garden, shop...and the baby got him socks...lol...The kids made him cupcakes and decorated them by themselves, and I made him a 9x9. Chocolate cake with peanut butter icing!! :) The kids picked out trick candles that won't blow out! We went to a grocery store that has the BEST meat around and bought big steaks to grill....and we will have ice cream later on. It should be really special. His mom is going to stop in and give him his favorite pie (strawberry rhubarb!). He will be a happy man :)

We have a busy weekend ahead! Tomorrow is the Mother Daughter banquet at church, we are going with a friend and her daughter :) Then we will cut grass. Sunday is church and Mother's Day! What fun! I am so blessed!

Have a GREAT day!!!

Kim

WOW!!! It's been a while!

It sure has been a long time since I last wrote! LOTS has been going on. We are getting finished up with school, getting the house all cleaned out and organized...the garden planted, we started mowing, my FIL had back surgery so we have been helping them out...church...family...KIDS...friends...you know, all the usual stuff :) LOL
Today has been CRAZY! I got all 5 kids ready and out the door to go to Walmart as DH's b-day is Friday, we were going shopping for him....we get there and it's CLOSED!! the power was out! I decided to NOT wait....we went home. I put the baby down for a nap, he climbed out of his crib and messed his room all up by the time I got up there he had toy boxes tipped over and the room trashed! ARGG...time for a big boy bed, I'd say! Then I had two more kids to put to bed and cleaning to do, so we have not yet made it to the store. The baby is back to sleep and all is well in the world. I still need to go because the cats need food. Oh well.
The Lord has been working in my heart and life so much as of late it is amazing! We have such a wonderful God, don't we :) He is showing me MANY areas where I need major growth, for that conviction I am pleased! We are studying the Fruit of the Spirit right now...so there is LOTS to learn!
I am working on getting school ready for next year. I have most of my stuff bought, but it is a mish mash of materials. I like them all and am grateful to have them (very frugal finds, I might add :) So, I need to really spend some time putting that all together, and making sure that God is in the center of it all!
I am working on sprucing up the house, but in frugal ways...so that has been keeping me occupied too...fun!
Well, I hear my baby...so I am going to try to load all 5 kids AGAIN and head to Walmart...then home for cooking supper, finishing wash, and running the sweeper...and cleaning the baby's MESSY room! LOL
Have a blessed day!!

Kim

frugal day!

Today I took DD out for an afternoon of shopping as she had a lot of Birthday money to spend. While we were out I got 3 Christmas gifts for next year on clearance....I got 2 pairs of pants and an outfit for 90% off! And to top it all off we went to a new thrift store in town and I got 3 sweaters for 50% off!! I was pretty happy! DD got a few of her toys on clearance as well, she is learning to be a bargain shopper! YEAH!!
Not too much is new here...just trying to keep up! The weather has finally broken and we have been playing outside a lot. It is going to be time to collect sap soon and make syrup :) It is fun, but takes forever and we get just enough to last us the year! LOL. I am also working on lowering our grocery bill...I feel like I am spending too much and am working on that. We have been doing some Spring cleaning, but that is getting really boring, so I am going to take a break and sort through some kids clothes and get ready for Spring and summer, that will be a nice break :)
School has been going ok, but we are ready to start wrapping things up for the year. We are making sure we are getting in the things we really want and learning what we had planned....this school year has zipped past!!! Before we know it it will be time to plan for next year!
Foster child #2 is really going through some hard times, so that is going to be time consuming. And all 3 foster kids have court next month. We are hoping to be able to adopt two of them :) We are praying for God's will here.
Well, it's time to put the 3 little kids to bed...so that's it for now!

simplify

This was interesting....about a month ago we moved all the toys into one room (all the downstairs toys)...and when we did that we cut our toys in half...(we have 5 little ones who play with them)...not one child noticed that there were less toys! So, Monday we went through and cut the toys in half again..still not one child noticed! That is telling me that I wasted hundreds of dollars on toys that nobody cares about! It made me sick, but also encouraged me at the same time. I realized that we don't need much to be happy or "entertained". I have always felt bad if I could not get my kids a lot of toys for Christmas and Birthdays...but obviously they are not feeling bad! If they don't play with most of the toys they have that shows me that they don't need them and I NEED to quit buying so much! I feel even more refreshed and can't wait to go through the house with my walmart bag and get rid of more "stuff" that is not needed. I bet I could really cut my cleaning time in half! I have already done this and decluttered a lot...and I keep doing it. But this time it is a bit different, I am seeing the difference between what I want and what I need and how long will I care about getting something that I just "want" compared to something really useful?? I don't know if that makes a bit of sense or not..lol...but that is what is running through my simple mind today :) Have a blessed day!

Shh....do you hear that??

Oh yes, the sweet sound of SILENCE! I have an exciting day ahead of me! DD and DS got a call from the grandparents, they were inviting them to come play for the day...foster children #1 & #2 have a visit with their family, and foster child #3 is in public school...so all that leaves is my 2 yr old babysitting kid :) It will be a quiet afternoon....as she will nap! I will be enjoying a cup of coffee and a good book...with the ringer turned off! It will be short lived as DH will be home about an hour after I get my "alone" time, but that's OK...I'll enjoy his company :)
Have a blessed day!

Laura Ingalls Wilder's Birthday

I just wanted to pop in and let you all know that Saturday (the 7th) is Laura Ingalls Wilder's Birthday. She was born in 1867. We are using this for school. I found a map of her travels, and interactive time line...and of course we will watch Little House and read a biography...and probably eat something from the Little house cookbook...and look up lots of pictures about the REAL Ingalls family, I want the kids to see the real people and not just the pretty tv people...lol...

Have a blessed day!

A fun weekend ahead!

Well, things have been really SLOW here as of late! I can't seem to get moving...my head is in a fog! And one of my children in particular is seeming to give me a hard time! But...that's OK, because we have FUN weekend ahead :)
Today we are having school and house blessing. We usually do our house blessings on Monday and Friday...but we are getting overnight company!! YEAH! My sister in law and her kids are coming to stay tonight and play tomorrow...so NO SCHOOL...then from our house my sister in law and her crew are going to my father in law's...so we might just tag along and have some extra playtime! Saturday we are supposed to have warmer weather...like 40, so we will take FULL advantage of that! And maybe have a friend over for DD...not sure. We are so excited! Hope you all have a blessed day!

When to lay off....and chit chat

Well, we are going through a very hard time with tow of our foster children's grandparents. The boys are very well settled with us, call us mom and dad...they are happy. BUT...the one set of grandparents want the kids. There are 4 of them, the other 2 are older than mine, but the grands are only trying to get my two because they are upset that the kids have bonded so closely with my family. I know doing foster care that you have to give the kids up...we have been doing this for years, we know the routine.... but these grandparents just sat back and watched these kids be neglected day after day, year after year, and did nothing to stop it and now they want the kids!!! NO WAY!! the kids' quality of life would be so poor living with them that I actually think they would be better off back with the parents! (and no, that would not be a good thing! )....we are willing to adopt them, and the family who has the other 2 are willing to adopt them ( we are related to the other family,so the kids would even have the same last names! )...but we are waiting to see what happens with these grandparents. When the grandparents have the kids...they come back smelling of smoke (very smelly), only have eaten junk, the baby always has wet through at least 2 outfits, and they are exhausted! The case workers know all of this, but still the judge can do what he wants! Now, to my point...I am trying o hand this over to the Lord...it is SO hard, And I am feeling very torn. Where do I lay off?? Am I to sit back and just wait, or do I keep voicing my opinion, emailing and calling those in charge?? I DO NOT want to take this into my own hands as I KNOW I will fall short...only God can take care of this. It is incredibly hard to wait and do nothing. I wish my flesh was stronger. Please pray for these boys and their little lives, as they are so worth saving!

Ok...so my chit chat :) Today is Monday! Back to the grind! I am excited to get back to it...it always refreshes me when Monday rolls around..the kids are too, believe it or not! We have a lot to do today! I am going to clean house...do school...and I am getting back with my diet and exercise routine. I am also back to making a list each morning! you would be shocked if you knew all that I forgot to do while I was not making a list each day! I was disgusted with myslef...lol...So, I feel re-newed and refreshed today! It's only morning, the kiddos just walked down the steps, so I hope I can carry out this feeling throughout the day!

Today's frugal doing I am going to talk about it my long distance....we use Grand Central...it is free long distance offered through google....we don't have cells anymore as we didn't really like them, so we can get by with just a land line..much cheaper! My sister, sister in law, and brother, brother in law, and a few friends are all long distance, so this really helps out!

Have a blessed Monday! I must go...the baby is up!