Trying to get "FANCY"

See what happens when you try to make something look a little nicer??? I lost all of my links--GGGRRRR!! I'm working on it, just trying to snatch a few minutes here and there to get it done. You may see several different "looks" in the next few days. Hang on for the ride!!

"2nd Ultrasound AND...."

On Friday I had a second ultrasound, it looks like a precious little baby BOY will be joining our family sometime around the middle to end of February. We are all very excited!! Baby looks great, and the ultrasound calculated my due date even earlier than before, Feb. 18. That's always a thing to smile about!!

I now have four months to get started on this little ones wardrobe. And, I will be able to say good-bye to the little girl things I have saved from Khara, and Kelsey. (sniff, sniff) Thankfully, I have had garage sales along the way and gotten rid of some, but some of that really, really, cute stuff--Wow, it is really hard to part with.

HAPPY MONDAY!!

"Out with the Old, In with the New!!"

Pulling clothes from the washer that were still dripping is not exactly what you want to deal with when you have a pile of laundry at your feet. I made a quick phone call to Mark. He stopped by one of the appliance stores he delivers to, and by the next day THIS: was in my laundry room.





Yay--for a husband who moves quickly to take care of his wifes needs.
Yay--for an appliance company that delivers 30 miles away with no extra charge, and installs the new washer and removes the old one.
Yay--for the new FISHER & PAYKEL washing machine. Talk about a huge tub; and really, really dry clothes when you take them out. I'm impressed!!!



What we said good-bye to. Yes, it looks like it is in great condition because it served us well for oh, only about 3 years. What ever happened to the 25 year lasting washing machines??

Any Suggestions???

I have been asked to speak, on a panel with two other moms, at a moms meeting next Tuesday on organizational tips. There are 4 major areas that I was asked to touch on:

* Arriving On Time

* Laundry Tips

*Paperwork/ Office

* Bed/Bath/ & Beyond

I already have 1 1/2 pages of notes ready for this "sermon", but I would love to know if you have any great tips in any of these areas!!

Do you make lunches the night before, have separate baskets for laundry, keep all of your childs schoolwork (I have a friend that does---EEEEEKKK!!!), etc. Please share!! :-) I think this will be a very interesting meeting and am especially looking forward to the great discussion that always follows. I'll try to share some of my ideas later!!

Have a great weekend!!

-Latest Project-

Living with a house a few hundred yards behind your own dwelling isn't that bad. When new neighbors move in, that's not always bad either. But, when new neighbors, to the tune of 16 human beings plus 12 dogs start swarming the place, it caused this family to make a trip to Lowe's.


A New Fence in the Making!!!
The first and most difficult phase, digging the post holes- 16 of them, by hand. Each hole was 28" deep . I felt bad for Mark out there working so hard, so I even tried my hand at digging a couple. I may have lasted 15 minutes. :-)


Finally getting the boards up. The easiest part of the project!!!

Our completed privacy fence---120 ft. of it!!!



~Disclaimer~
We do actually try to be very 'neighborly' to our neighbors. All of them. :-) I gave them produce from the garden, their kids have been over a few times to play :-{ This summer their water was temporarily turned off so they asked if they could use our outside faucet for just a couple of buckets. What do you say when there are that many people and it's 95 degrees plus out. SURE!! When we got our water bill the next month it was nearly double. HHMMM-- Wonder if someone used a little more while we were gone every night to camp??? It was time to "draw the line". :-)


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Random pics. from our fall fun so far.

Our first of hopefully several batches this season. YUM!!!

Our camp cook-out, hayride.

Delicious popcorn balls one of the ladies brought.


Watching the Walnut Festival Parade. Another fall family tradition.

"I've Been Tagged!!!"

I was "tagged" by my friend Beth on Sunday. We are also related somehow, husbands are cousins 1st, or 2nd, removed or something.... It's too late to figure that out right now. :-)

7 Random Things About Myself:

1. I am the middle of 5 children, (an older bro. and sis, a younger bro. and sis) and love being a part of a large family!!

2. I am expecting our 4th child February 29th. (Yes, this is leap year.)

3. I was in a very serious auto accident, with my sister Dana, at the age of 14 where I flew out the back window of a truck.

4. I started working as a waitress at the age of 13.

5. I would like to own a restaurant someday.

6. I really enjoy moving to a new house. My husband has much diff. thoughts on that, he does all the lifting. :-)

7. I turned 31 yesterday and am very happy about that. As my dad always says, "beats the alternative..." :-).

Wooly Work Day

My dad has a pretty unique trade--He's a sheep shearer. He also buys the wool for a company from the customers he shears for. Tuesday was the day for the big semi truck to come and load up the many, heavy, bags of wool. (all 16,000 pounds of it). Mark always tries to go out and help, so we (the rest of the fam.), get the interesting job of watching the action.

We could not get out to my parents house until about an hour after the truck arrived. My mom had helped them load until we got there. I wish so bad that I had some pictures to document that memorable moment, but once we got there she let Mark take over. :-)


Taking a little break before starting the hard job.


Kaden relaxin' on some of the many sacks of wool.


"1-2-3-...toss!!!"


The sacks are put on the elevator and then ride up and fall in the truck. The driver of the semi stands in the truck and organizes the bags.





What Khara, Kelsey, and Kaden did to keep themselves entertained. They were so excited to be able to play on the dirt pile. Aren't you glad kids wash???

Labor Day Weekend

Only a few weeks late, here is my Labor Day weekend post! :-) In the past I did most of my posting after the kids were in bed--usually between 10:30-midnight. Now, for some strange reason, once I get the kids to bed I can't wait to get there myself. Hopefully this to will pass and I will be able to resume my midnight postings.

Labor Day weekend had our little van packed and headed to the far away state of Michigan. We had a great time and as always it just went too fast!! Mark and I had to try to explain to Khara several times, "why do the days go so fast, it seems like we just got there and now we are already on our way home....:-(" Late Monday evening, a little over 1,600 miles later, we arrived back home--safe and sound.


Random pics. for our weekend in a very mixed up order:

A little blurry due to being a night shot-- Kaden and Ryan really hit it off one night around 11:00. I think they were the only two kids still awake.


"And it all started with......"

The cousins had a blast picking and eating some of the grapes that were ready.


Ice cream time. (Kaitlynn even has one in the background) :-)

The newly created fort among the many grapevines.


Brother against Brother.

Our farewell breakfast at IHOP.


Ryan and Evan...need I say more?? j/k :-)


Greg and Kaden.

What most little girls love to do.

"And They'er Off...."

School has officially started and the girls are loving it!!! Kelsey started last Tuesday, Khara's first day was Wednesday. They are going to different schools which makes for a killer schedule for us, but... next year's a comin'. :-)

Kelsey at open house with her kindergarten teacher.


First day, looking just a little nervous. (No tears this year, YAY!!!! )

Khara at her open house, thrilled to be back at school.

With her 2nd grade teacher that she absolutely loves!!! There are 5 second grade teachers and she is convinced that she has the best one!!

Khara's first day, Kelsey's second.

Wonderful public transportation!!

**THE RESULTS**

Ultrasound today----Just ONE BABY!!!!! I must say, "Thank the Lord". I was trying to get use to the remote possibility of twins, but having a hard time. :-) They did move the due date up to Feb. 21. This was the earliest I had ever had an ultrasound, I'm still amazed at our Creator!!!!

I will praise Thee for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Ps. 139:14

Our Week of Church Camp

Last night we said good-bye to another year of camp-- kind of sad!! Since last Sunday, I am now 14 services stronger. For having had temps. in the 100's and still feeling much less that normal, that was quite an accomplishment!! :-) Bro. Pierpoint did an outstanding job of bringing wonderful messages (along with some great stories).

After I get all of this laundry caught up and some girls use to getting to bed early and up early, I think our live may begin to take on a little bit of normalancy.
Khara, Kelsey, and Cara, counting some of the money rounded up for Children's Church.
Kaden really hit it off with the cooks which earned him some special privileges into the kitchen after services. I think it was four bowls of watermelon this night.
He offered some to his little friend, Ireland Moomaw.

Khara and Kelsey look forward to this week of camp all year!!!!

Cara and Kaden about to get plowed over my men moving pews. Notice all the little hands ready to grab and pull. :-)


Some of the kids and teen workers in the Children's Services.

A Very Precious Sound

Today I heard for the first time a very, very, wonderful sound---the heartbeat of our 4th child!!!!! Yes, that's right, Mark and I are thrilled to be expecting our fourth child. After having had a miscarriage in January, I was very much looking forward to the first time of hearing that little "whoosh, whoosh". :-) All seems to be well, so well in fact that due to a couple of dates/sizes/positions/etc. not completely matching up my Dr. wants to do an early ultra sound just to make sure there is only 1 baby!!!!! Now that thought made me chuckle, and Mark... well I think he may have stuttered. hee, hee I don't really think I am, but it will give us something to wake up in the night and think about. ;-) We will know for sure by next week if we have to buy double of everything. :-) I was talking to my mom and telling her that if it really is twins I will probably go nowhere for the next 3 years or so. She told me she would quit her job to help out---now that is true thoughtfulness and kindness!!! :-) Oh, due date--end of February. As for me...I will be more than thrilled when the nausea and extremely sensitive gag reflex chooses to leave my system!!!!!


In other news, my sister Dana flew in on Monday to make some wedding plans. We have been having lots of fun and have gotten several things accomplished--thankfully, since she has an October wedding planned.

We also started our camp this week. We have a great camp ground with an open tabernacle. With temps. well over 100, we have only made it to the morning services so far. The girls LOVE to go to the children's services and thankfully, there building has AC (along with the dining hall).

Well, that is our week so far. Hope yours is going well. :-)

~Still Here~

I think this has been one of the longest gaps between posts for me. Along with the rest of the world, we have been keepin' on keepin' on. :-)

Last Friday night our family went to Kansas State Holiness Camp for the weekend. It's a camp I went to a couple of times while growing up. Mark had been once, back when he was traveling with G.B.S. quartet. I am sad to say, I did not take my camera. We ended up having 30 family members there and had a wonderful time!!! This camp is all AC, has a beautiful auditorium for the services, serves delicious food, and has great dorms!!!! Bro. James Keaton preached some powerful messages, along with Bro. Joseph Smith who gave some incredible admonition for the day!!!

I came home to lots of laundry on Monday (we weren't priviledged to have wash./dry. in our room this time :-)). Thankfully, it was rainy and dreary--a great day to get caught up on the house chores.

Tuesday, I took the kids to storytime and to run some errands. That kept us in town until lunchtime, so a trip to McDonalds was requested and granted. (One of their favorites, not mine.)

Wednesday, we were invited to a picnic and play party for some friends who are moving. (Once again, I forgot my camera :-<.) He was a Doctor here in town but got a job offer closer to his home town, so we said good-bye. There kids were 7, 4, and 2 , so we will miss them. Today is Thursday!!!!! I've been canning tomatoes,and shelling peas. ( By the way, if anyone wants to swing by, I would love to load you down with garden produce. With the rain we've been getting and the hot weather, our garden is thriving!!! ) The kids are playing outside so I'm trying to take this quick moment to type away. :-) I'm sure they will be busting through the door anytime wanting water and snacks. Oh, and tonight, I head to the first P.T.O. meeting of this school year where I am holding the position of V.P.--eeekkkk!!! These meetings are so interesting!!! If you want to really know what goes on--join!! Hope you have been having a great week!!


Kelsey and Khara love to take pictures (which I guess is a good thing since I forget to so much), so I'm sharing a couple of their recent photo shoots . :-)




With the rain, we have gotten more than our share of raking in!!!



Posing for each other instead of cleaning their room.

WE'RE BACK!!!

We are home safe and sound and had a Great week in Branson!! We found out that condos are the only way to go--esp. when traveling with children!!!! Having a washer/dryer, fridge, and stove right in our living quarters made life a lot easier. (Plus, we also came home with no dirty laundry, which made my Monday much better!!)

We went to one of Branson's newest attractions, the Branson Landing, and fell in love with that place immediately. Shops, restaurants, play grounds, trolley... and everything right on the water. Very neat place!!! They also have a great Joes Crab Shack that served us some wonderful King Crab Legs!!!

I could go on, and on, but I know "a picture's worth a thousand words" so I'll let my photos do the talkin'. Had a great time--can't wait to go again next year (or sooner :-).


The place we called home for a week.


The kids first Ferris Wheel Ride.


Khara and Kelsey loved this ride. It took you straight up and then let you drop. :-}


Our wonderful friend Barney at Celebration City. Khara is a big Andy Griffith Show fan (the old black and white ones, that is) --she thought seeing this guy was pretty cool. :-)

Kaden with his bump and black eyes still shining!!

And then, Curious George, at Silver Dollar City.


Incredible ice cream cones at Celebration City. They didn't have a kids size cone and the regular ones were HUGE, so I think Mark got stuck with the remains of 2 or 3 extra ones.


Great kiddie pool at the condo.


Is any vacation trip complete without shopping??? Branson has some wonderful outlet malls. With two little girls starting school in a month I had a great excuse. ;-)

Patiently waiting outside of Olive Garden.