Mike has been working CRAZY hours. I almost just typed, "Mike has been working crazy hours, again." Well, that wouldn't actually be truth, because Mike pretty much has ALWAYS worked crazy hours, so I left off "again." Pretty much since he moved off the evening shift that he was working when we first moved here, 3pm - 1am, he has been working 12-14 hours days. It's been really hard for all of us.
Anyway, I have just been praying and praying for his job. God sees the big picture. God has plans to prosper Mike and our family, not to harm us. God knows all, is in all, through all. God is in control. I know, I know...but it's still hard in the midst of it. It's hard to consider trials "pure joy" when I just miss my husband/best friend. It's hard to hear Mike say he just has SO much to do at work when I am thinking, "there is SOOOO much to do here."
Well, God is moving there. I know it. I really, really can see it. God is using Mike there. God is blessing Mike there, even though it is hard to see it in the middle of 60-70 hour work weeks.
For example, yesterday, sitting on Mike's desk was a brand new-in-the-box 4GB mp3 player with the words "God says hello" written on the box. It was a gift from one of the guys that works there. Wow! Mike feels so blessed.
I love him and pray that he always knows how much I love him!
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Mike and his work and blessings
Monday, October 27, 2008
Kyle funnies
Today we had pajama day at school (yes, that means we were in pajamas all day during home school). The older two showered and then asked if we could have pajama day. I thought, what the heck? We had nowhere to go today...sounds like fun! (I was actually wearing work-out clothes, which was a good thing b/c the doorbell did ring today!)
So, tonight before dinner, Kyle was telling Mike about our pajama today.
Then, Kyle says, "Can tomorrow be underwear day? AAAHHHHHAHAHAHAHAHA (laughing VERY hard)"
That kid cracks me up, seriously! Love him!!
BTW, if you want to see a family picture we had taken on Saturday...head on over to LE Portraits blog, and scroll down a little and there we will all be! I am excited to see the rest of the pictures!
Friday, October 24, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
6 months
Six months ago today we disconnected our cable, unplugged our TV, and put it in a closet. We have been TV-less for 6 months! I must say, overall, it has been a very positive thing for our family! My house has probably suffered the most...I must have used the TV as a baby-sitter while cleaning my house! I can't believe it has been that long. I think everyone should try it for a week or maybe a day :) Now, for some TV humor...it probably holds some truth for many people, actually! 
By the way, I have had SO many people tell me they could never go TV-less in Oklahoma because of all the bad weather. Well, guess what, you can watch the weather LIVE from channel 8 online if there is severe weather! Oh, and we do still watch movies occasionally on our computer...family movie nights!
Monday, October 20, 2008
APPLES!!
On Sunday afternoon, we visited an apple orchard! Yippee! I found it online and we drove the distance to find some apples to hand pick! The website boasts of a hayride, pumpkin patch, apple trees, children's play area, and more, so I was SO excited to find a very Maine-like thing to do here in Oklahoma! We got there, and it looked perfect! It was a beautiful day, just a little windy, as you will see from the wind-blown hair! However, upon arrival, we discovered that the children's area and hayride, which leads to the pumpkin patch and apple orchard (too far to walk), required a wrist band that cost $3 each per guest age 2 and up (remember Caden JUST turned 2). My dear hubby was looking at me with a did-you-know-about-this?-type look. Well, of course, I didn't know about it. It IS NOT mentioned on their website. I just actually looked again, and it definitely isn't there...there is actually NO mention of a cost. You see, in Maine, it's just kind of part of the experience. I understand that gas costs more now; I just like to be prepared a little. Plus, we would have bought MORE if we hadn't had to pay so much up front! Anyway, Mike forks over the $18 and we board the tractor-pulled hayride. Now that I think about it, we did pay for a hayride at a pumpkin patch last year, but it INCLUDED a pumpkin. Maybe I'm just cheap, I mean frugal! Anyway, it was fun. Here are some pictures...
My 5 blessings!
mouths full of apples
Check out the hair!
action shot...Ian and Kyle running through the pumpkin patch!
Nate took this picture! LOVE my hair :)
LOVE this picture!
APPLES!!!!!! I can't wait to make an apple crisp!Thursday, October 16, 2008
Happy 2nd Birthday, Caden, take 2
All day Caden has been walking around singing "Happy B-day" to himself!! SUCH a cutie! Of course, I had to record it and share it with you all! (Please pardon the outfit! My sweet friend Lisette made some yummy cupcakes for us all this morning, and most of Caden's ended up on his jeans! He sure did love it, though!)
Seriously...he is such a rock star! He can even dance :)
Then, while I was trying to download the video, Caden kept right on singing! So, here is another rendition of "Happy B-day," complete with what appears to be a BOW at the end! Sweet...
Happy 2nd Birthday, Caden
Caden is 2-years-old today...I can't believe how fast time flies! He is a reminder to me of God's faithfulness! I sure sure love this kid!
We had cake and ice cream for Caden on Tuesday night, since my parents could be here. I had EVERY intention to make Caden a "puh-ball" (football) cake. However, when it was 3pm that afternoon and we were at the mall in Tulsa and I hadn't made the cake yet, my mom gently said to me, "Margo, you can't do it all; let me just go pick him up a cake." So, that was what happened and why we ended up with this bright yellow cake! I don't think Caden missed the football cake at all :)
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Weekend Fun
On Saturday (and then again today), all six of us went on a bike ride together! Mike loaded up the bikes and one of our bike trailers on the bike rack on his car, aired up tires, filled up his CamelBak, and off we went to a park here in town. We had such a great time! We rode on the trails through the park to a playground and then back to our cars. After our bike ride, we went to a new burrito place in town for dinner. It was really yummy; even the kids liked it!! What a fun family time!
I am looking forward to many, many more family bike rides! The boys LOVE riding behind Mike on the trailer...they get to go "sooooooo fast," they say! It seemed like everyone that saw us riding smiled and made nice comments about the six of us. I even saw people from a distance pointing at Mike and Ian on the bike/bike trailer. It seems like most people have never seen the ride-behind type of bike trailers before! We sure love it...what a blessing!
Friday, October 10, 2008
Flashback Friday
In less than one week, my little Caden will be turning 2-years-old! I just can't believe it! For Flashback Friday, here are a whole bunch of pictures taken in October 2006, in the couple of weeks before he was born. We lived in Maine at that time, so Pumpkin Patches and Apple Orchards were plentiful!! I miss Maine autumns!
Our family of 5...yes, that is me with blond hair!! I was blond my whole life until a year ago!
One of my all-time favorite pictures of Ian
Kyle always loves picking apples!! He enjoys eating them, too!
Here is Nate, showing me one of his finds!
Nate, me, and Ian at a Pumpkin Patch! Kyle was at preschool.
Ian is finding his pumpkin
And here I am, the night before Caden was born...almost 2 years ago...in my house with the awesomely painted walls!Thursday, October 9, 2008
I LOVE THIS!!!
Here are pictures of my second and third-born eating their SECOND helping of salad tonight at dinner!! I was so excited that I HAD to grab my camera!! Of course, you know me, it was an organic spring mix blend with an organic ranch dressing (trans fat-free and high fructose corn syrup-free)!! I thought I was going to cry; I was so excited! Now, if only my first and fourth-born would join in the salad-eating fun!! :)
Sweet...eating those vegetables!!Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Welcome Baby Hailie
Mike's little sister Marissa had her baby on Friday!! (I went to Marissa's baby shower last month. You can read about that here!)
Hailie and Marissa
Brandon admiring his little girl...I think this is such a sweet picture!
What a cutie!I am so excited for Brandon, Marissa, and Hailie We can't wait to meet her and hold her! The boys are excited to have a GIRL cousin!! :)
Father, I pray for protection over this family. Please make the transition to parenting as easy as possible! May they look to You for guidance and wisdom, always remembering that little Hailie is Your workmanship and a BLESSING!
Saturday, October 4, 2008
$3.02
Gas is down to $3.02!!!! Since we put our monthly budgeted money for gas on a Wal-mart gift card and use it instead of our debit card or cash, we just filled up the van for $2.99 :) Seriously, so excited, yet again :)
Friday, October 3, 2008
excited again
I am SO excited that gas here in town at QT is $3.09!!!! Yippee!!
BTW, ten years ago, if someone had told me gas would be over $3 one day, I probably would have laughed and then fainted. Now, I am excited that is this "low." Crazy.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
funny Ian
We are going to see Seussical the Musical this morning in Tulsa. I've been talking about it all week with the boys, and we've been looking at a display about it at the library. I guess Ian still doesn't know who Dr. Seuss is, as evident in this conversation:
me: Are you excited to go see Dr. Suess today?
Ian: Mom, I not hurt.
It made me LAUGH OUT LOUD!! Sweet kid!
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
It's the little things
I am so excited!! Let me share the two little things about my day that made me get this excited!!
1. The road to the recycling place here in town is FINALLY paved...I think it has been under construction for MONTHS. I'm so excited!!
2. The recycling center FINALLY got an adequate-sized bin to replace the entirely-too-small bin for the phone book/magazine/paper board recyclables!! I, again, am so excited! Much of this excitement is actually for the nice man who works at the recycling place. He told me that he kept asking for a larger bin, and the city just wouldn't give it to him. This was making his job so much harder than it needed to be...he just had a HUGE mess to clean up all the time. Let me just say, I am all about efficiency, and that little bin just wasn't cutting it!!
See, it's the little things!!
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