WoW it worked!!

Just a quick post to give you all a really cool unusual fix-it tip!!! Last night during the electrical outtage (see below post), my son dripped some hot wax from his candle on our carpet. Yeah..cranberry candle...ivory carpet...just had cleaned last week. I had no idea how to fix it unless I cut it out with scissors, and that really is not fixing it...it is damaging the carpet further.
So I looked it up online and WOW...it really worked!!! You take a hot iron and go over it with a brown paper bag on top of the wax. It melts it and soaks it up onto the brown bag. You have to be sure to keep the iron moving or else you can catch the bag on fire. It took many layers, and there is a slight tinge to the carpet...but it is hardly noticable!

Windy Windy Day

On Sunday we had a tiny tiny taste of Ike, being that we are safely tucked away in Ohio. It was NOTHING compared to the devastation that is happening all over parts of Texas, and our thoughts and prayers are with the people that are going thru it.
For my kids though it was big excitement. We had around 50 mph winds. WOW! We have never really seen such winds before. What was weird, there was no rain and it was still like 90 degrees outside. The house shuddered and banged and alot of our neighbors are missing siding and shingles. It broke tree limbs every where and it pulled our neighbors pine tree out by the roots! Up the street a telephone pole was knocked over across the street. The kids played outside when the worst of it was calmed down some. The were wound up with the force of the wind, whipping you hair all around, and knocking their light weights unbalanced. We were very fortunate, because we had electricity all day long, and every shingle stayed in tack.

By 7:30 p.m. our luck ran out. The children were so excited that the electricity gotten knocked out! They ran around gathering every candle they could find. (Within an hour our house SMELLED like "berries and twigs", spice, and "ocean breeze". I was getting nauseous!)

(picture w/o flash)Tatum had her charged up laptop and put on a movie for the kids. She got real gung ho about the whole thing and cooked the baby and her a can of soup in a pot over a candle flame! The Laura Ingalls in her took over! too funny!

(Picture with Flash)They went to bed late, when the electricity finally came on around 10:00. Just a taste of "roughing it". That's the way I like it. My poor mom hasn't had electricity ALL day, and she lives bordering woods, so her yard is FILLED with broken branches...their pool is filled with debris. She is hoping her food doesn't go bad. My poor husband is getting KILLED at his work (he owns a pizza store). The whole town is freaking out w/o electricity and no one can cook. I heard McDonald's had a line down the street for their drive -thru. I hope he is doing okay...he isn't taking his cell phone calls right now. I hope he can get home! The streets bordering our neighborhood are shut down due to fallen telephone pole and trees.

Big (but safe) excitement here....Tatum went to bed hoping there would be no school tomorrow. I heard alot of schools are closed or delayed..but ours is not on the list yet. Sorry T, but I hope they do have school:)

Mums the Word

Our church is an awesome church. They put all their effort and funds into doing good. It is not fancy. Our pastor says "church is inside you...this is just a basketball court" (it really is!! It is used for youth during the week) They have a free clinic they fund for health care, and a free store right in town.

We have gone to the Vineyard for about 2 years now. There is a long entrance drive to the parking lot and it is lined with rain barrels or buckets. They are always filled with weeds. It has been a little bug in my ear every time we enter how bad it looks. I finally gave in and understood it as God prompting me that ..."you could do something about it...this could be a good job for You!"

God bless the pastor...he tries. One Christmas I was surprised to see PLASTIC chrysanthemums actually PLANTED in the dirt. I knew I had to step in.



My children did not share my enthusiasm. I gathered up who was home. Tatum (almost 15), Matty(age 7), and Summer(17months). As we drove there I tried to explain what good they were doing and why. Matthew in his 7 year old world said " You mean you wasted all your money on these flowers??" I tried to be good mom and try again to explain that God gives us everything we have, even our money, and that is our job to share and do good. Once we arrived we realized we forgot the shovels in the front yard. A town away. The devil will not win this one! We promptly drove home, got them, and drove back

Summer was FILTHY! She threw dirt and rubbed in her hair (see post below..it's her new thing)

Matthew needed a couple of breaks.

I couldn't have done it without all of Tatum's help. As much as she didn't want
do this, she did.

Finally the reward!! It looked beautiful! And we got out of there just in time for the Saturday service to get to see the cleaned up job.

I hope my children can learn by example and not just words. I know they felt tired but productive. And tomorrow when we go to church, they will feel pride in knowing that they helped!

The edicate of eating

We have been trying to let Summer learn the art of feeding herself, and learning how to use a spoon. Now that she is starting the independent streak of "I will do it myself", we get no chance in helping her get the food to her mouth. The child has to have 3 baths a day! She is getting gross!
When she first started with finger food, she would politely let you know she was done by throwing the leftover food to the floor. Very casual and nonchalant you would see her drop piece by piece overboard.(the dog LOVES this maneuver and now hovers closely at dinnertime) Then a couple weeks ago she began to rub (and I mean RUB) the food into her hair. Oatmeal, spaghetti, anything would do. Why she liked this, I have no idea...but she consistently did it! Messy, but tolerable.

Yesterday, she took it to a whole new level.

Tuna fish.

Pushed.

Inside.

Her nose.

Deep.

I had to use q-tips to dig it out. And then had to remove her from the high chair because she wanted to continue doing it! What is wrong with this child!

(I sadly admit she tried food in her ears last week)

So I did all that I know to do...I popped her in the tub and put on her 3rd outfit for the day....and hope by tomorrow she goes back to just dropping it on the floor.....

because she stills smells like tuna....

Happy Year my Friend!

Does this show dedication to a friend or what??


Exactly one year to the date, God blessed me with a precious gift. One that I had no idea how badly I needed. Into my life walk (said tattooed lady above) a fun, and upbeat person. It was during that blasted hot, hot streak we had last fall where every day was above 95 degrees it seemed. I was going along fine in my life, busy and overwhelmed with a new baby, 3 other children, a husband, 2 businesses, and an hour away at least from all family. I was having a terribly rough day and had brought my son to his Flag Football practice. While my other son (then 6) ran amuck in the heat, I sat down and tried not to cry. I just remember thinking...Gosh I hope no one even tries to talk to me! I was not in the mood and consumed with a heated argument I had just walk away from with my husband.

Like a radar (that later to find out we really had), Heather walked over and plopped down beside me, introducing herself and being really hard to dislike, as much as I wanted to at that moment. Before I knew it we were talking like old friends, and when practice was over, I left hoping I would run into her again. We did and hung out at practices, and games and grew to really like each other. When the season was over, I was sad that we would lose touch. We weren't close enough yet to really not seem obsessive, but I knew I would MISS her if I didn't do something! I asked her if she wanted to meet sometime to work out at the Y. Just sometime...you know, no big deal. When she agreed and we started working out 2 times a week, I was giddy with her friendship. We clicked so well. Working out time was a breeze! I looked forward to each time. (and lost all my baby weight!)

And that was all she wrote...from there, our families met, our children played together, our husbands played cards and had dinner dates with us...it has been so fun! I feel like I am in grade school again and have that BEST friend!

Which brings us to the tattoo..... I wanted one for my birthday...and what the hell...she did too! We made a night of it..PF Changs, LOTS of plum wine (LOTS) and tramp stamps as she calls them by Roy from Roys Tattoos. I don't think I laughed that much in my whole adult life as I did that night! We came back to my house after the festivities (my husband was out of town, and my kids were in bed..had been being babysat by grandma till I got home), and as it quietly snowed coating the streets and town on that cold March night....two grown (drunk) friends laid on the floor eating, drinking and LAUGHING.

This I know....it could be nothing less than the hand of GOD that brought you over to me that day. Thank you for being my friend. I Love ya girl!

Muscle Madness

Tomorrow morning I am dreading....my friend Heather is trying to kill me. You see it involves embarrassing myself in front of a group of strangers by showing them how uncoordinated and week I am, all the while not being able to friggin BREATH. You guess it...an exercise class that her friend teaches.(her friend being a size 2 and in terrific shape...the kind of person who CHOOSES to do this for a living!?!?) Not to scoff at our workout regime...I think we do pretty damn good! We are on elliptical machines 3 times a week for usually 40 minutes each time. We are both content with our workout and our lost weight. (tell me again why we are doing this....AHhh the chance for something new!) After a summer of slacking and eating a bunch of crap, we are glutton for punishment I guess.
I will get good rest and look forward to that Cracker Barrel reward that comes after. Now..how do you kick ball change again?......

Happy 11th Birthday JAKE!!!!

Today is my son Jake's 11th birthday!! I can't believe it has gone so quickly already. When he was born he came so fast, he was the only one of my kids that I had to deliver naturally! (Almost born on a toilet!) I remember praying to just die when I was going through it....my husband thought maybe I would. It was so scary and painful, but there is not a doubt in my mind I wouldn't do it again in a minute to get to bring that sweet soul into my life!

This is my dad, Chester Joseph. Jake was named Jacob Joseph after him. He died when Jake was 6 weeks old. I am SO glad he got the chance to hold him!

This baby brought so much joy to my grieving mother. That first few years she practically lived with us, and she holds Jake especially close to her heart. When he learned to talk he called both her and me "Mama".

He has aways had a creative heart and soul. That boy can get into anything!! We always said it was lucky that he was so darn cute, because he is constantly into messes.

Jake really wanted to be in the recital with his big sister when he was 2. Finally after much persisting on his part, we dressed him in a tutu. Mike was not happy when he came home to this!

Jake and his Kitten "Pumpkin."

age 4

Jake got into my make-up.

Jake got into a mud fight.

Jake had the chickenpox(hence the calamine look) and "Yelped Sissy" with a flashlight while she did chores.


Mike with the kids at Disney. (note the broken arm...broken the week we left! Jake was HUGE into monkey bars.

My 4 babies.

Jake is a FANTASTIC big brother to Summer. He loves her so much! He is Matthew's BEST friend in the whole world. He and Tatum have their good days:)

Jake and his BEST FRIEND EVER..Aidan!

Jake...we love you so much. You have brought so much laughter and joy in our lives! I love that you are so sweet with animals, you taught ME how to play chess, you take Matty on EXTREME bike rides, you have stuck it out for football, even though you are 1st year, you remind me of your Uncle Timmy, you can take a fish off the hook, you taught yourself how to ride a bike at 3, you loved Santa SOO much I had to sing you Christmas songs instead of lullabies, you hold your hair as a comfort and give yourself a "horn" most mornings, and best because YOU are YOU! Happy Birthday buddy! You totally Rock!

Freedom

The other day it was ridiculously hot and all of us were kind of grumpy. Tatum and I took Summer out to water the flowers. Whether I was just plain lazy from the heat or decided it was something to do, we let Summer try her hand at the hose.

She was so naturally free to spray herself with the cool water and not care whether or not her hair got wet, her clothes were slipping off, the windows were getting spotted, there would be more laundry to do, her diaper weighed 10 pounds...... it didn't matter....IT FELT GOOD!!!!

We all sat in the grass and laughed with her...she was so delighted and funny!
What a gift children have in their innocence and inhibition!

Goodbye Summer

The calender says September, but my thermometer read 95 degrees. I am so ready to embrace Fall and say my goodbyes to Summer but my OCD ways won't allow it until mother nature complies!! I am tired of the humid Ohio hotness, and ready for mums, and apples, and sweaters, and colorful leaves! All the signs are there.....

We have had our first day of school..

Jake starts 5th grade and Matthew starts 2nd

My baby (how did she get so darn big!) starts as a FRESHMAN this year. Man I feel old.

We have done our quota of trips to get ice cream....

We have gone swimming a gazillion times..

We have started the football season, full of games and practices...

I know, I know I need to be patient! But even the lower 80's now would be welcomed! I've got chilis and soups and baking to be done!! My mom always says I am rushing it and need to enjoy where I am today. I know this to be so true, because before blink it will be over. This proves to be a very hard lesson for me.

So I will try to embrace my last few days of summer (even though we had Labor day) and remember how I felt this spring waiting for those warm days to arrive (and they had the huge WEBN fireworks which Always means the end of summer) and listen to those beautiful crickets outside (there are school clothes the kids can't even wear in their closet because it's too hot!) and enjoy these remaining summer days.

Our newest addition

Each of our children have been promised a kitten in their childhood (much to my husband's dismay!) And through the years I have tried to keep that promise. I LOVE animals and as a kid EVERY year for Christmas I asked for a puppy. (that had to wait until I had a house of my own) I did have cats though and they were such a love and comfort to me. I knew how important they were to me and decided that as an adult my house would be overflowing with babies and pets! My oldest (my daughter Tatum) has had her cat for about 6 years now. He is an 18 pound white fluffy longhair. If cats could be gay...Chance is totally there! Given the name Chance because he got a 2nd chance...he was found in a bucket on the side of the road when he was 3 weeks old...left with his sibling to die. He is sweet and shy and likes the good life...air conditioning, food, 23 and a half hours a day of sleep. My next oldest (my son Jake)has his cat named Pumpkin (he got her when he was 4 and named her) She lives outside due to her love of pooping in my house...but is EXTREMELY loving and shows this by daily bringing us presents. (without their head...what's up with that!)
The next in line is Matty and he has been WAITING for his kitten to come into his life. Put on hold due to Summer being born he has been more than patient. At 7 he has finally gotten his kitten!

He named her Abby. This was the name he wanted for his sister (that or NARD?) so we encouraged to use it for his new cat. She has fit right into our crazy house and we all love her to pieces.

Only one more kid to go...thank God my husband is such a sweet man!