a discussion about a great smile

Mike: What a great smile!

Nate: I'm so glad that God made Caden with such a great smile!!


I sure do love my boys!

Christmas Baking? not so much

*kind of a long read...but stick it out!!*

Since we were supposed to be getting a HUGE snow storm (1-2 inches, haha), I decided that I would spend Saturday making Christmas goodies. On Friday night, I bought out Wal-mart's baking aisle and came home loaded down with all the necessary items needed for a day of baking and candy making with the boys.

Round 1: Saturday morning rolls around and I decided to start with the "made in the microwave, seriously simple and seriously delicious" peanut brittle recipe (quote taken right from the top of the recipe). Well, obviously the microwave used to test this recipe was not the same wattage, voltage, whatever as my microwave. The first step is to mix the sugar and corn syrup and then cook it on high for 5 minutes. Easy enough, no problem. The second step is to add the peanuts and butter and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes. Thinking I would play it safe, I set the timer for 3 1/2 minutes. When the timer went off and I anxiously opened the door of the microwave, I discovered a SCORCHED and VERY STINKY peanut creation. Oh, it smelled bad. I scooped it all out into the sink onto a piece of foil and then quickly added water to the bowl so the sticky stuff wouldn't stick. BAD IDEA!! The bowl cracked and then cracked some more. Wow. That was bad. When I tried to put it into the trash can after it cooled off, it shattered.

Round 2: I decide to try this "seriously simple" recipe out one more time. I mix the sugar and corn syrup in plastic mixing bowl. VERY BAD IDEA. When the timer went off after 5 minutes, the bottom half of the bowl had melted!!!! I couldn't believe it. Now, I have oozing melted-plastic-caramel-like stuff covering the bottom of the microwave. I didn't even know what to do. My husband told me to let it harden and then we could chip it off. Wow, so much for the chocolate covered peanut brittle.

Round 3: I decide to make this wonderful pretzel-Hershey Kiss-M&M yummy that my friend Sue introduced me to a few years ago. It's really easy (haha) and the kids can help me. This is now our third Christmas to make them. I preheat the oven to 350 because doesn't everything cook at 350? The kids and I lay out all the pretzels on the cookie sheet and then perfectly center an unwrapped Hershey kiss on each pretzel. Then, I put them into the oven so that the chocolate can melt just enough to push a festive red or green M&M into the center of the chocolate. Well, this time the chocolate just wasn't melting. I couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong, so I called Sue in Maine. We decided that I must have old Hershey's Kisses. After a few more minutes of talking, she asked me what the oven temperature was. When I told her, she laughingly told me that it was supposed to me at 200 degrees. DUH!!! I was burning the chocolate instead of melting it. Fun times. I ruined that complete cookie sheet of at least 50 pretzel thingies. Maybe I should make these things more often than one time a year. AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!

Round 4: Kyle, Ian, Nate, and I start on another cookie sheet of pretzels. I lowered the temperature to 200 degrees. Everything worked out just like it was supposed to! I was so excited. To get the chocolate to harden quicker, I put the cookie sheet in the refrigerator. I cleaned up the kitchen because I was FINISHED with my baking adventure for the day. All that just to get one tray of anything edible. Well, a long while later, I went to get Caden some milk from the refrigerator. Well, I am not kidding when I write that the cookie sheet did a somersault out of the refrigerator dumping all edible goodies onto the floor!!!!

I couldn't believe it. I still can't believe it. I am not a bad cook/baker, seriously.

Christmas tree

Here is our Christmas tree!

Here is our little Red Sox fan in his Red Sox pajamas and ball cap...he's getting so grown up!

Oh the weather...

outside is frightful...



but the fire is so delightful...


And since we've no place to go, let it ice, let it ice, let it ice!!

Well, it doesn't quite sound as good as "let it snow," but we definitely are in the midst of a pretty nasty ice storm. And actually, Mike still has to work, so the song really doesn't fit! We are one of the lucky 35% in the area that have power, so we are keeping warm. We were without power on Sunday for about 8 hours, so we bought an insert for our gas fireplace just in case we need it. I must confess, I am so excited to have a fireplace that actually can have a fire in it! I have never had a fireplace before this house and until yesterday it only had a cool candle thingie in it. I love it!

Our Christmas tree adventure

Although I don't have a fully decorated tree yet, I do have some pictures to show! I am hoping that Mike can get up on the ladder tomorrow and decorate the top 2 feet of the tree so that I will be able to show a completed project!!

First, I also must tell you about our homeschool Christmas party today. The theme was Christmas Around the World and we had 4 countries represented, Holland, Italy, Sweden, and Mexico. I worked with 2 other moms on the Mexico traditions. It was great and so interesting!! Mexicans truly celebrate Christ's birth...complete with a 9 day tradition called Las Posadas. Youngsters go from house to house each afternoon reenacting Mary and Joseph's quest for lodging in Bethlehem. When they are finally told by someone they can stay in the stable, they are let into a house and they have a party celebrating Jesus' birth. They smash pinatas and have a party! Pinatas were originally star-shaped and "symbolize the tricks the devil uses to lure you into sin, when you brake the piñata you triumph over him and you receive all the good things in life represented by the candy and fruit" (taken directly from an answered Yahoo question I found on the internet, hence the misspelled word.) The kids all received "suitcases" and "passports" that got stamped at each country. Anyway, it was fun and educational!

Okay, now for the pictures!

This is the boys on the hayride to get our tree!
A picture of the lot as we are getting closer! Our excitement was growing!
On the hunt for our pre-tagged tree!!!
We found it!!!!!
The boys are watching as the nice guy cuts the 9 1/2 feet tree down for us!
Caden was trying to figure out how to get his hat back on!
Our four sons in front of our tree!!
Nate, Ian, and Kyle waiting on the stairs for the hayride to come back and get us!

Watching as the guy drills a hole in the bottom of the tree...there were 3 guys all around the tree to make sure it was nice and straight...it wasn't, of course, we didn't find that out until later!
There were tons of photo opportunities, that's for sure!


A family photo...just the six of us!
And here is the tree INSIDE our house...Mike is finishing up the lights with Caden's help...
and with Ian's help!
Here is Ian playing with beads!
and Caden playing with beads!
Kyle, hanging an ornament!
Nate, looking ever so handsome in front of the tree!

Well, that's as far as we got! I am hoping that we can finish up decorating the tree tomorrow and get all the boxes out of my living room! Stay tuned!!!

Nate

Before going to get our Christmas tree that we pre-tagged, we went and ate breakfast at the Cracker Barrel that just opened in our town. The boys all knew that we were going to get our tree next because I have been SO excited about it...I LOVE real Christmas trees and this is definitely the biggest tree I've ever had. When we were leaving, Nate said, "Is there going to be snow there or just grass?" This made me inside laugh because the tree farm was less than a mile from where we were and it was 50 something degrees today. All these boys know are Christmases in Maine. (Although last year there wasn't snow when we got our tree.) I also got a little sad at the same time. We had a wonderful tradition in Maine of going to get our tree with our good friends, the Nerney family, and it really made me miss them.

Also today, Nate said to me something about the way Christmas is pronounced. He is learning to read and recently learned the "ch" sound...it should make a sound like in church. He wanted to know why Christmas doesn't sound like "ch" at the beginning...oh, the English language is so crazy and inconsistent!! I just pointed out "Christ" is in the word and that it is talking about Jesus...the real reason for the season!!

Christmas tree pictures are to follow...soon!!!

It's been a while

We are good. I have just been kind of busy with normal life happenings...diaper changing, laundry washing, road-trip driving (with crying/screaming children), etc. I had a wonderful time visiting my bestest friend Holly and her family as well as my dear friend Angela and her daughter Katy in Texas last week. Then, I had a fun anniversary night...dinner and a movie! I love my husband. He didn't have to work on Thursday or Friday; it was such a treat to be able to spend so much time with him and the boys. We all went to my grandma's for Thanksgiving along with my parents, my brother and sister-in-law, a cousin I haven't seen in 2 years, and some more extended family. It was a great time, complete with a craft I kind of made everyone do (I have become more crafty since homeschooling started)...we made a Thanksgiving tree...even the adults participated!! It was fun! What was even more wonderful is that all I had to take was sweet potatoes, well, and 4 children and a husband, a booster seat, toys, diapers, a port-a-crib...etc. It was a relaxing weekend! We even played the game Life with Nate and Kyle on Saturday night. It was a fun time. It was awesome to see how excited Kyle was when he "got married" and had a son, twins, and daughter...or something like that! He said he definitely wants to get married one day and be a daddy...it was cute. Of course, I had to say something about marrying a wonderful young lady who loves Jesus! He said something like "duh." I love that kid...definitely my favorite 4-year-old in the whole world!!

I have been very blessed to be given an opportunity to lead worship again. I am the interim worship leader for the church I grew up attending. I feel so honored that I can serve my God in this way. I leave each service feeling so blessed, renewed, challenged, and spiritually fed. God is so good. In spite of me and my shortcomings, He allows me to serve Him and I am amazed by His goodness and grace. I truly don't understand how anyone can doubt Him or His existence. I feel His presence everywhere...He is my sustainer and provider and I am so blessed.

Lately, I have been seeking to "let my gentleness be evident to all" (Philippians 4) and in this "all", I must include my children...which proves to be my biggest challenge in my quest of gentleness. Sunday, God revealed something new to me in a passage that I have heard over and over again. I love when that happens. Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Jesus is the ultimate model of gentleness and humility. Seeking Jesus is how I will learn to be gentle so that my gentleness is evident to all. Yes, going to Jesus to learn gentleness...duh. :)

Oh Jesus, may I learn to be more and more like you. Amen.

Backyard fun

Caden's latest feat is figuring out the slide. I don't think I would have let any of my other boys try this at such a young age...but he's my fourth!! I still can't believe that it is November and this is how he is dressed OUTSIDE! It was close to 80 degrees yesterday. Crazy.





And here is a picture of Nate and Kyle. Nate is confused...am I Batman or Luke? The boys are really into Star Wars right now. I think this is supposed to be his scary face or something...not for sure.

Nate is quite a character these days. He is really starting to amaze me with how sweet and thoughtful he is at times. I love it! All of the boys are starting to open the door for me wherever we go...which is all sweet and cute except for when they start fighting over who is going to open the door. Then it's a little frustrating!!

Christmas Tree

Today, we picked our Christmas tree. It is a beautiful 9 1/2 feet pine tree. We went to the local Christmas tree farm, dressed in our t-shirts, shorts, and sunglasses, and tagged our tree to be picked up at a later date. When we go to get the tree, we will take a hay-ride down to the field where it will be cut down. They (Mike and the guys who work there) will then throw it up on the wagon and take it to load it up on our van. We will sip hot chocolate, take lots of pictures, and enjoy the fun Christmas decor. I am so excited!! There is a very good chance that this will all occur in 70 degree weather, but it will still be fun!! I know the kids will be so excited and this is definitely our biggest tree yet!!!!

But first, we will take time to celebrate Thanksgiving and give thanks and praise to our Father for all of our blessings and for His constant care and provision! My God is so GOOD!

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever. 1 Chronicles 16:34

You are my God, and I will give You thanks; You are my God, and I will exalt You. Psalm 118:28

Mike's job

It is 6:24pm and Mike still isn't home; again it is at least an eleven and 1/2 hour work day. Absolute craziness. I would have really liked to go to church tonight, but I just didn't feel like going by myself with the kids...sounds more like work than fun. I am continuing to pray for relief from this. On a positive note, we did get to see Mike this afternoon because he locked his keys in his car and I had to go unlock his car for him! At least the kids got to see him for 15 minutes today.

My mom was here the last two days, which was a real blessing and provided some break-time from my "job". Also, I have been getting a small break from the kids during my work-outs at the YMCA. They have a good child watch program that the boys seem to enjoy.

I know that my kids are so much work, but I truly am blessed by them. My dear friend has been trying to get pregnant for 3 years. Last week they tried in-vitro and found out yesterday that she isn't pregnant. It's one of those times when I really question what God is doing. I know that He is so big and has a plan, but it is absolutely heart-breaking. I wish I lived near her just so I could give her a big hug. Okay, now I am crying, again.

wow

Monday 5:30am - 10pm
Tuesday 6:30am - 8pm
Wednesday 6:30am - 8:30pm
today 5:30am - well, it's already 5:20, so sometime later tonight

These are the hours that Mike has been away from the house this week...working. Yes, you read it right, 5:30am to 10pm, that means he worked 6am to 9:30pm on Monday. Because of his 30ish minute commute, he is gone from the house 1 hour longer than what he works.

I am tired. I am tired for him. Someone commented lately that I always seems joyful. Well, I do have joy in my Jesus and know that He always will take care of us, but I am weary, again. I know that Michael is exhausted and is completely unhappy with his job. I am just praying for some relief from this...I just really don't want to live like this. I love my kids...they are awesome, but this really, really, really makes for some really, really, really long days. Oh, I really don't mean to complain; I'm just tired. I am praying for strength for my husband because at least I love my "job".

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4 something

Halloween fun

Our family has never really "celebrated" Halloween. Last night, for the first time ever, we went to a Halloween party down the street and then all went trick-or-treating together. We all had a really fun time. We only went down three streets in our neighborhood, but the kids got TONS of candy. The kids really enjoyed dressing up...Nate and Kyle were both Spiderman, Ian was a monkey, and Caden was a frog. Mike, sadly, missed the festivities because he was stuck at work, again. We are praying for a job change, soon. Anyway, here are some pictures!

Kyle and Nate...I mean, original Spiderman and Spiderman 3

The boys wanted to wear their costumes during school time.
The four of them at the party.

fun Oklahoma autumn

On Saturday, we all went down to my parents' house to help out and do some chores for them. My dad had surgery a week before and just needed some help around the house. While helping out my dad, we found a new family fall tradition...picking up pecans (pronounced "puh-cohns", not PEE-CANs!!)!!! I was so excited on Saturday when I realized that the boys were having so much fun doing something that we couldn't do in Maine!! As previously recorded, I have discovered that I miss Maine falls. Now, I am excited to have an Oklahoma thing! And finally, the leaves are changing to reds and oranges!

my dad, who should have been resting, with Ian and Kyle
Mike, Nate, and Caden
Caden...he loved this!
Nate picked up TONS!!
Kyle, showing off his pecans
By this point, Ian was ready to go inside, but he really did have a good time!

I also wanted to put these last two pictures in here of Caden wearing the awesome sweater that my dear friend Holly T. knitted him and gave me shortly after he was born. I was so touched by this gift! I am excited that the weather has finally gotten cool enough for him to be able to wear it!
And, in case your wondering, that little bitty scrape on Caden's forehead happened when he fell at my parents' house. It was practically squirting blood when he fell. I was crying because of all the blood...totally freaked me out. He's all smiles now! (Well, actually right now he is crying because Kyle just woke him up...frustrating!)

finally...

Draw near to God

Today I read 1 Samuel 14. Jonathan and his armor bearer had just took off to possibly fight the Philistines; God gave them favor and they were successful. The Philistines were actually so confused that they began to fight each other. Anyway, verse 36 says, "Then Saul said, 'Let us go down after the Philistines by night and take spoil among them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them.' And they said, 'Do whatever seems good to you.' So the priest said, 'Let us draw near to God here.'" (NASB) The Message says that the troops said "Sounds good to us...let's do it!"

God is challenging me today to DRAW NEAR TO HIM HERE. Just because something sounds goods, doesn't necessarily mean it's God's plan. It may be, but a wise person will seek out God's plan before making a decision in haste! What a wise priest that was who reminded Saul to draw near to God.

Oh Jesus, help me to draw near to You. Let me be right in line with Your will and Your plans.

Happy Birthday Caden!

It's hard to believe that Caden was born one year ago today. Wow! It stirs up all kinds of emotions to think that he is our last "baby". I praise God that He blessed us with Caden! I can't imagine life without our always-smiling Caden! God gave him to us despite some pretty big odds; I just know that God has BIG plans in store for our little Caden!

Here are some pictures from a year ago today! It's funny that he is such a happy, sweet-spirited baby, because when he was born, he did nothing but scream and cry for about an hour!

Meeting our precious baby boy (he was nameless for about 2 days!)

Some sweet daddy-and-son-time

Pastor Mike with Mike and Caden


I'll post some from his little party in the next couple of days!