So thankful

So, I have these two friends, Amy and Sarah.  We have known each other for a long time.  Amy and I grew up together in Africa as missionary kids.  I think I was 8 and she was 9 when we met.  The crazy thing is, Amy's oldest daughter is now 8... boy does that put things in perspective!  I met Sarah through Amy at a summer camp conference, I think we were in jr. high or early high school.  They have stayed true friends through the years and now we are all married with children.  Well, these two dear friends came to visit us last week!  

Sarah is pregnant and has two kids, 4 and 3.  Amy is also pregnant and has four kids, ages 8, almost 7, 4 and 2 1/2.  So, needless to say, combined with our 3 kids, the house was full!  There was constant activity for the 3 nights they were here.  They both drove quite a distance to get here and I just so appreciate the sacrifice they made to spend time with our family!  We miss them and my three kids have never seemed so quiet.  :)

We had some fun adventures while they were here, and one scary adventure.  The Thursday they were here we went to this old estate and gardens near our home.  Well, Riley took a bit of a swim in this lily pad pond...  In the below picture you'll see Riley, with an orange hoodie, walking down the steps.  I am in the background with Haddie and the stroller.  Riley had been so cautious around all the other ponds and fountains I wasn't staying right on top of him.  Well, one minute I see all the kids coming down the steps towards the lily pad pond, followed close behind by Amy and Sarah - and the next minute I see Riley walk right into the pond!  Since it was even with the ground I think Riley accidentally just walked right in.  He certainly didn't do it on purpose.  Amy was right behind him and pulled him out by his hood.  The water was deep and he had gone completely under.  I was rushing to him, about to jump in the pond - when Amy pulled him out.  Thank the Lord he didn't inhale any water.  He didn't cough or sputter at all.  He was wet and cold though!  

And... a bit shocked!  He was super subdued for a bit and all the other kids were very quiet and concerned.  They all knew this was serious!  We stripped him down and dried him off/wrapped him up with Haddie's blanket.  Sarah had some extra clothes and shoes in her trunk so Riley was able to get changed and continue on with our day!  

I am SO thankful that the Lord preserved Riley.  I was shaking so bad afterwards and couldn't stop hugging him.  I am so thankful for Amy's quick thinking.  I am so glad, that instead of having some tragedy on our hands we just have a story - a story that ended well!  

Thank you Jesus!

Sweet Treats

So, Jenny, you were spot on!  I am impressed!  Riley and Cora were indeed, Thing 1 & Thing 2, and Sophia was a mermaid!  

My sister, Jeni, brought over some of Cora's old clothes for Haddie and found this in the mix.  It was perfect for her to wear trick-or-treating, especially because it was freezing!

Mr. Thing 1 himself!  

Ms. Thing 2, herself!

 My sister thought of the idea and I executed it.  

I bought 2 sets of red turtlenecks and red pants.  I designed the logos on the computer

and printed them on iron transfer paper.  Ironed them on and voila! 

We used some hair wax to make their hair crazy and then sprayed it blue with some

hair paint.  They were SO cute and mistaken as twins quite a few times!

They both rode in the wagon most of the way since Cora is in a cast (she broke her leg).

The beautiful mermaid, Sophia!

 Jamie hot glued shells and pink sparkles to one of Sophia's ballet leotards that she is pretty much grown out of.  He used the same materials on an old headband to make a mermaid crown.

I bought a pair of greenish-blue satin adult p.j. pants and using fusing tape and my sewing machine, transformed them into mermaid fins.  We sprayed some glittery, pink hair paint in her hair and she was done!

Haddie is chillin' in her Uncle David's arms here.  All tuckered out after trick-or-treating!

And now, the eating of the candy will commence...

No tricks here

Today we're getting things ready for Soph, Riley and Cora to go on a costume-wearing,
candy-collecting adventure...

Any guesses as to what they might be wearing??

And this little lady...

She'll just be along for the ride!

BOO!

Delayed Nesting

 I just love this boy!  He loves "hhhaaaaaats" and was looking SO adorable in this blue plaid one on Saturday.  There is not much sweeter of a sight than an energetic toddler zonked out for a nap!

Saturday we headed to my sister's new house to hang out and help with some projects.  Here is the view of the front of their house - isn't it pretty??!!

I got the privilege of helping my sister finish up my niece, Cora's room.  Cora is almost 19 months old and this is her first legitimate bedroom.  My sister and brother-in-law were living in a temporary house after David left his job two years ago.  They were given the opportunity to live in a super inexpensive rental while David looked for a new job.  Little did they know they'd end up living there for about 18 months.  After that they lived with David's Mom and Step-Dad for almost five months before David got his new job and they got their new house!  While living in their temporary rental Jeni had Cora and Cora spent her first year of life.  The house was old and hadn't been maintained too well, and plus, Jeni and David were praying for a job and a move anytime, so Jeni never did let herself truly settle into this space - which means she never got to really nest while pregnant, nor make a nursery for her first born.  So, this room of Cora's is SO meaningful to Jeni and it was such a delight to help her put it all together!

I've never hung wall-paper, but we managed to get this sweet border up with no trouble!  Jeni has had all of this stuff for Cora's room since she was born - or before, so you can imagine how it felt to finally get to use it all!

Here is one view of the finished product.  I had made those CORA letters for Jeni as a baby gift and it did my Auntie's heart good to see them over Cora's crib.  Jeni even wielded the drill like a pro hanging shelves to arrange special items!

Riley is enthralled with their Dog, Molly.  Unfortunately he is two and is either super sweet or a bully.  He is starting to hover over Molly too closely and get on her nerves, so we really have to watch him with her.  Well, at least we know he'll stay out of trouble in here!  :)  He was entertaining himself by getting into Molly's kennel.  

For the most part, Riley and Cora play so nicely together.  I think Riley will be like a big brother to Cora as they grow older.  He loves to play with her and gives her the most gentle hugs and kisses.  Sunday he wanted to see Cora so badly and was crying and saying her name over and over.  So, I printed off a picture of the two of them and put contact paper over it to protect it and he took it to bed with him at nap time.  :)

Sweet Haddie hung out with Mommy and Aunt Jeni while the Daddys took the older three to the playground.  She was a bit startled by getting her picture taken.  :)

Jeni and David live next to a really sweet family with two little girls.  Sophia was desperate to play with them and finally we relented after they invited her over to play.  They had a lot of fun!  She was so busy with that I never did get a picture of her.  :)  She's my social butterfly!

On an entirely different note... I did some gardening Sunday.  A couple of weeks ago I bought three Autumn Mum plants.  They may or may not live through the winter, but they were a fabulous price, so I will enjoy them for Fall and won't be too upset if they die in the cold.  Well, I finally got them in the ground today.  It was a chore.  I always have visions of grandeur when it comes to gardening and outdoor work, but for the most part, I just really don't enjoy it.  I envy those who love to garden and work at keeping lovely yards and flower beds.  I don't care for the bending and the stooping and the dirt and the bugs...  :)  But, I did it anyways today and am pleased with my work!  :)  Do you like working in the garden/yard??

Well, a new week is upon us, and we find ourselves busy with school and housework and hopefully some outdoor playing as the weather is fabulous this week!  Have a great day!

Ahhhh, Shoo....

Cuteness for your viewing pleasure.

Um, Okay

So, yesterday we had something unexpected happen.  The light in our office/schoolroom got blown right off of the ceiling after the wires sort of exploded.  Let me start from the beginning...

The past couple of days Jamie and I had both noticed the light making a strange sound - sort of like a buzzing you'd hear when a fly is trapped by a lightbulb - every time we turned this particular light on.  It would always stop in a few seconds though. 

Yesterday morning, after Jamie had gone to work, I went in the schoolroom to prepare to start school.  I turned the light on and heard the buzzing.  This time though, it struck me just how electrical the buzz sounded.  I left the room, but remember making a decisive decision to leave the light on.  At first I thought I ought to turn it off because I remember being afraid it might catch on fire.  But, I then thought, no, I'll leave it on to see what happens.  I believe that was the Lord.  I am SO thankful it happened during the day while we were home, but not in the room.  I keep thinking what could have happened if this had occurred during the night or while we were away.  God is so good at protecting us.

So... I leave the light on and leave the room.  Not too long after, from the living room, I heard a really loud pop and all the lights went out in the house (or so it seemed.  It was actually just the lights that shared this fixtures' circuit - which almost our whole house is on.)   I knew immediately it was coming from the light.  This is what I found:

Yikes!  You can see in the below picture how the ceiling and bottom of the light fixture is burnt.

Oh, look, the ceiling used to be gold-flecked before someone painted it white!  Interesting discovery to make amidst all of this.  :)

Some of the debris on the floor.  Burnt pieces of ceiling and who knows what else were scattered all over the room.

Jamie was already at work when this happened.  I was afraid to go near the light not knowing what dangers might lie in wait.  So, he was able to come home and take his lunch break (which included no break and no lunch...) at 9 in the morning.  He was able to cut the wires safely and remove the fixture.  He discovered that the two big wires coming out of the ceiling connecting to the light were bare copper.  I guess that is bad news, electrically speaking, and he thinks they touched and caused all of this.  Delightful!

These are the burnt wires on the light fixture once it was removed.

Hey, look - he even cleans!  :)  I love my hubby.

So, we are thankful beyond belief for how all of this went down.  We'll be having an electrician friend come by to look at the hole in our ceiling.  I'll let you know what he finds.  :)  

A List, because it's all I've got

1.  It's bedtime, but I've got to write this all out, because as I just told Jamie, "I've got to clear my head of all  my words."
2.  My Mom got Sophia the new Tinkerbell movie.  In it a little girl makes a little fairy house.  Today, Sophia created her own fairy house.  As she was setting it outside I asked her if she thought fairies were real.  She looked at me and said, "Well, I guess we'll just have to wait and see."
3.  The Amazing Race is back on.  Jamie and I love that show and always talk about how fun it would be to participate!  I find it interesting that there are no married couples and no homosexual couples on this season.
4.  My sister, brother-in-law, niece and their dog just moved into their new house!!!  TWO years ago my dear bil had to resign from his job for some yicky reasons and has been jobless since.  He has stayed at home, while doing the awful, tedious task of job-searching (did I mention, for TWO years?), and cared for my sweet niece while my sister kept up her job that she was hoping to let go of once her babe was born.  They have endured SO much these past two years.  Mental and emotional abuse and anguish.  Physical pain and suffering. Surgery.  A difficult pregnancy and labor and delivery.  Mice.  A super icky bathroom (hey, these things matter).  A husband caring for the child with the wife working when all the husband longed to do was work so the wife could care for the child.  There have been hopeful job opportunities that have fallen through.  There has been moments of deep despair and utter darkness, coupled, thankfully, with glimpses of hope and the light of Jesus.  Well, those times are over for now - Praise the Lord!  It is so hard to stand by and watch those you love walk a lonely and painful road.  We could pray, we could encourage, but we couldn't really do anything.  That hurt.  I rejoice with them over the blessings God is pouring over them.  I am so proud of all they have endured and how hard they have worked to provide a safe a loving home for their daughter.  I am so happy for all they are embarking on now. A beautiful new home, a new community to get to know and explore, and best of all, a wonderful job for David and my sister's dream job coming true!!!!  I love you Jeni and David.
5.  Sophia is in her 3rd year of ballet.  She does well and enjoys it for the most part.  But, her class meets at 5pm on Mondays.  Jamie is still at work.  We have one car.  So, this has meant that I load all three kiddos up in the car in the morning to take Jamie to work.  Then I have to lug them all to ballet right at dinner time.  After ballet we go pick Jamie up from work and get home to a late supper.  Needless to say, I hate Mondays.  So, I did some asking today and we're considering switching Soph to a class on Thursday.  The class is taught by the same teacher she has in ballet and is at 7 pm, which means either Jamie or I could take her and the other could stay at home with the other two.  And, no need to take Jamie to work anymore!  The only thing is, this is a Jazz class, not ballet.  But, we've decided, and Sophia readily agrees, that that just might be okay!  So, this Thursday she'll go try the class out and if she likes it we'll make the official switch next week!  Jazz hands optional.  Hopefully.
6.  Goodness, my list items sure are wordy.  Sorry.
7.  Hadassah is eating food at supper time now.  Mushed banana mixed with egg yolk cooked in olive oil.  I know, you are dying to come over for dinner.  She doesn't seem interested in eating at breakfast or lunch yet.  I'm in no hurry.
8.  Riley is SO boy.  He has this drill that really works.  He used it as a gun to kill Sophia's doll and then used it as a doctor's tool to "fix" her.  :)  I made some  yummy dairy-free caramel sauce tonight.  He abandoned dipping his apples after the first slice and just drank it.  He is talking a lot and it melts my heart each time.
9.  Haddie got a chemical burn from some off brand diapers.  Not a diaper rash, a burn.  It is awful and painful.  My content baby has screamed more the last couple days than she ever has.  Vaseline seems to be doing the trick to protect her healing skin.
10.  And we're at ten.  I think that's a good place to end.  How about with this... while helping my sis move Saturday I was telling my cousin about how homeschooling was going.  He asked if we do it in our pajamas.  I said, "Yes, most days."  Thankyouverymuch.

The words, they are out, for the most part.  Goodnight.