We're here and things are awesome. We are trying to see everyone here, but there just aren't enough hours in the days.

Hey guys,
Check out the new banner on my side bar. It is for our dear dear friends the Robisons, most of you know them. They are moving ahead to adopt a special needs child from China. So, if you have some extra cash you are looking to donate to a good cause this year, please consider their fund raiser.

ONE MORE DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Three more days and then we fly out!!!!!! I hope I can sleep between now and then....oh wait, I have an infant...yup, sleep won't be a problem, but focus during awake hours might.

We've skipped another week of church shopping. Robert got a ticket to the Browns vs Texans game this afternoon, so we didn't go to church, again. He promises me that we are going to a great church next week, lol! We are watching the game on tv to see if we can see Daddy in HD. So far no luck. Joshua keeps yelling at the Browns to get the Texans legs, even though he says he is for the Texans...and Leah keeps running around yelling "Go Cowboys" with gusto. Can't imagine where she gets good taste from, hmmm. I think Hannah just likes to here the refs whistles blow. She fusses when they go to commercial. Can't wait until we get to watch our Aggies whoop up on the Tsips this week!!!

Other than that, I am just mentally checking my list of things to get done before we leave town. Haven't traveled with a baby in a while, so I have to remind myself of everything not to forget, like the baby monitor. I have a feeling this week is going to drag by.

I made a super yummy potato soup last night for dinner. I'll post the recipe and my review in a bit once I get kiddos down for naps.

Today's Snow Fun

hopefully tomorrow we will get to build a snow man and do some sledding

Snow Eaters Anonymous...

Notice the snow goatee.

9a.m. 24 degrees, windchill is 13. Heavy snow falling. We got 2-4 inches over night, can't really tell from my window and we've had over an inch since Robert shoveled this morning. :-)

Joshua must be going through some huge developmental stage. We cut out tv for him and his behavior is much improved. We also implemented J and L's to do lists from this website They are to-do's and not just chore charts. Their chores are on them but so are behavior to-do's. For example, Leah has to make her bed, as well as be nice to Bubba and not cry or whine. At the end of the day, Robert goes over there list and if we all decide they did good in an area, they get a big smiley face and if not then they get an X. It seems to be working well for them both.

Anyway, Joshua has also become the clumsiest thing I have ever seen in my life. Seriously. He can be sitting perfectly still on the couch and somehow, he'll just fall off and hurt himself. It is the craziest thing. And don't even get me started on walking/running without watching where he is going. People must think I beat him constantly because he is covered in scrapes cuts and bruises all over. Poor kid! I hope he out grows it soon. But, if he doesn't, I've decided he can jsut wear his out door marshmallow man suit all the time and that way he'll just bounce back and forth off of the walls with no problems. ;-)

We are expecting 4-6 inches of snow Friday night!!! YEA! That means Daddy can finally get out and show the kids how to build a snowman and play in the snow. Joshua asks him every day how to make a snow angel but it is getting dark here before 5 already and so Robert isn't home during any day time hours.

My daughter is going have to join SEA...snow eaters anonymous. Seriously, that is all she does. She doesn't even play in it, just eats it constantly. I told Robert that every time she finds a big pile of it, she thinks she's just found an all you can eat buffett. So, I spend 30 minutes getting the marshmallow kids suited up and then they get to play for about 20 minutes. I think they might be able to play longer if they weren't eating snow the whole time!!! Oh wait, Joshua doesn't eat that much, he sticks his head in it. Yup, turns himself upside down in a hand stand and sticks his head in it. Cracks me up! But yeah, the kids are loving the snow. And really, so are we...except

We had to go pick up Robert's van from the dealership yesterday. They've supposedly fixed the problem, we'll see. Anyway, we for sure have the question "front wheel/all wheel or rear wheel drive" answered for us. We will have to buy a 4X4 Suburban next year. It took us two hours to get to the dealership and back last night and that was with Robert babying Big Truck the whole time. So, this winter I"ll be staying home if there is any snow or ice and we have to seriously tighten our belts for all of next year so we can pay cash for a new one. We were hoping to put that off for at least another 4 years or so. Oh well, the Lord has provided well for us, so we just try to be good stewards of what we have.

Good thing Robert shoveled this morning....you still can't see our sidewalk.

I just went out and trudged around in the snow. We had about 4 inches last night and it is still coming down steady. Joshua went out this morning and then I went out about an hour later and I couldn't see his footprints any more. I had to go out to find Leah's missing hot pink mitten. It's still missing. Apparently, when the kids were out with Robert last night, she took it off and no one noticed until they were inside. So, she can't play. I hate that. They had so much fun yesterday and it was such a nice break for me, honestly. But, it's 28 degrees and lots of snow, she has to have mittens. I'm hoping since it is supposed to get up to 36 tomorrow that this snow will melt and we can find the mitten. Those suckers aren't cheap! But this snow stuff is really fun and absolutely beautiful. And our lifestyle lends itself to hunkering down, so we're good.

Try This One!

Tonight we had these French Dip sandwiches.
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/French-Dip-Sandwiches/Detail.aspx

And oh my, you must go try them! Robert's exact quote was "This is incredible!" I followed the recipe exactly, for once. Then, I served them open face with carmalized onions and mushrooms and some melted provolone cheese. REALLY, TRY THESE!!!! YUMMY!

We got a little over 2 inches of accumulated snow this afternoon, in an hour. I watched it the whole time. It was awesome and my kids are gonna sleep good tonight.

For Angela, here is the chicken and dumplings recipe I worked with.
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Slow-Cooker-Chicken-and-Dumplings/Detail.aspx

But, I added diced carrots, celery and mushrooms with the chicken. I also used one can cream of chicken and mushrooms and two cans cream of mushroom. I used salt and lemon pepper and a little garlic powder to season. You don't need much salt though with all of the soup. THen, I covered it all in chicken broth. I added the biscuits about two hours before eating, but I did four cans and that was too much to get cooked. I'd think three cans would be perfect. I quartered the biscuits and I always use the cheapy cheap biscuits for dumplings. Awesome flavor!!! You'll need to stir once or twice after adding the biscuits to make sure they are all cooking.
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And for my information.
I've been making an awesome no sugar apple cobbler this fall. I use two cups Pamela's baking mix (which we LOVE, best pancakes ever), 2 cups milk, 1 Tbs baking powder, 2-3 eggs, 2 tsp vanilla, fresh ground nutmeg and some chopped pecans or walnuts. Pour it over stewed apples or any fruit! YUMMY!!!

Well, they made it home fine. Robert said he wasn't going to do anything about it. But, this morning we started the van to go run grocery errands for the week and it died about 30 seconds later and wouldn't restart. Nice! Robert is stressed. Yuck. So, dealership is closed today. We'll hear from them tomorrow. It is under 36,000 miles so it is still under the original warranty but we also have the resale warranty too. Good thing.

On a better note, it has been snowing all morning. For real snow. Big huge thick flakes and lots of them. It starts and stops now and then but it is awesome. Nothing is sticking yet, but the kids did get to go out and run around in the blowing snow and try to catch flakes....of course, I took pictures....who do you think you are talking to! Since it was snowing and it was our first real snow as a family, Robert called a snow day and we skipped church. :-)

Crock pot chicken and dumplings turned out great! I put too many biscuits in for dumplings and so I had to work through that but that was my fault, not the recipes. I'll do that again. Alot like my Mom's but easier cause you dump and go!

Pretty low key day today. Robert tried to get out and get the leaves raked to the curb this morning, but it started raining pretty good and at 40 degrees, you just can't stay out in the rain. I've been doing not much. I did dishes and got a crock pot chicken and dumplings going. Also have some brownies baking. I've rediscovered my love of cooking since we've moved up here. I realize that we were just too busy and too over commited in Texas and so I couldn't really cook for joy....it was always just hurry and cook something fast and healthy and run out the door. Or just run out the door and grab something out. It has been nice getting to slow down adn be a family again up here.
Robert and the kids have run out to pick up our milk and eggs. I hope Ada, our farmer's wife, sends something yummy like more fresh cream this week. Unfortunately, Robert just called and said the van died on him. He got it restarted, but now I'm sitting here waiting, wondering if I'm going to have to run out and get them in teh truck. I don't like this feeling. What if it dies on the freeway? Will they get cold waiting for me if they do? The winds are gusting high today, they've downed a tree in our neighborhood and it is cold and will be snowing soon. I don't like my family broken down out in these conditions. Time to stop thinking about an emergency winter kit in the vehicles and get them in there!

Snow in the forecast everyday next week. YIPPEE!!! Maybe we'll actually see some accumulation.

Ho hum. Thursday, yea! That means it is almost the weekend, and we have nothing going on, YIIPPPPEEE!!! Although there is some SERIOUS leaf raking that needs to be done in our back yard before it gets covered in snow. You should see the really cool leaf vaccuum truck they have that comes around to suck up the leaves that people rake to the curb. The kids and I were fascinated watching it.
Went and had some retail therapy this morning. Just needed to get out of the casa. It wasn't a big deal. We took clothes to Goodwill and went to Target. Robert insisted that we all have thermal under wear, and they had some for all but me, per usual. Everyone in my house is so easy to shop for, but me. We've yet to buy me anything but my snow boots. Oh well. The jeans I bought two weeks ago are falling off of me already, so maybe I'm destined to be naked this winter, lol. I ordered a vest for our christmas pics from kohls.com. We tried to get it at our store but they didn't have my size and it was the perfect vest. Anyway, the stupid site didn't update my shipping address, just my billing address and so it is set to ship to Ky and Lori at our old house. The only customer service they offer is by email, so I immediately emailed them about their error. I got a reply. Says they'll answer my email in 24-48 hours. Thanks alot, real helpful since I HOPE that it would ship sooner than that. They are quickly ruining my plans for our pics to be done before Thanksgiving. I usually have everything done before Thanksgiving, but looks like it will have to wait until after this year, grrrr.
We've had a low key week. Laundry, cooking, teaching, reteaching, discipling, rediscipling, etc etc etc wash repeat. I'm trying to cook every meal at home until we leave for our trip so we save a little money. I need to post some of the recipes I've made lately so I have htem for next year.

Get a free 8x10 color photo book from Snapfish. These are fun! I did one for Robert for father's day one year.
http://www.oprah.com/slideshow/oprahshow/20081029_tows_messyhouse/7

Take Action Now.....Stop the Freedom of Choice Act

http://www.fightfoca.com/

Please go and sign the petition to stop the Freedom of Choice Act. Protect the women and babies in our country. This will wipe out every law of protection that's been instated since Roe V Wade. Please help get the word out, quickly!

I'm fed up with Joshua. I just don't know what to do with him. He CONSTANTLY antagonizes his sister. He can get up from time out or a spanking and immediately go right back to it. I'm just fed up to here and I can't take any more. Today my strategy is that he has no freedoms, none. He stays by my side and sits on the floor next to me no matter where I am. Any ideas out there??

If you find sarcastic humor funny, especially in the face of a failing economy. Check this out. SNL skit on the bailout.
http://guestofaguest.com/finance/the-forbidden-snl-economic-bailout-skit/?ref=patrick.net

Recipes Please

Ok, hit me with your best soup recipes. I've never been a big soup cooker, so I'll take anything. Bonus points if it uses a heavy cream since I got some from our Amish farmer this week.

Church #11 was not a dud. I'd like to say it is promising, but I haven't been able to talk with Robert about it yet. It is a bit challenging to tell because they are teaching thru Revelation right now. I don't judge or critique anyone's escatology because #1 I haven't studied the topic enough to do so and #2 some of the greatest biblical scholars of our times disagree in eschatology. Everyone was really nice. Joshua was happy because he got to take down chairs after service. He was thrilled to get to help, and the men were a bit stupored by his enthusiasm, lol. The music was good too, although the drummer couldn't keep the beat consistently...slowed down the further we went (you music people know what I'm talking about), wanted to go give him a metronome... promising...maybe...

And, after being in the 60's all week, we should see snow in the next two hours. Tomorrow morning until noon, as well. Still not supposed to be sticking yet. I don't konw that we'll see warm weather again now. We really should have gotten those leaves raked before this...oops.

Daddy's New Baby

Yup, your eyes do not deceive you. We went car shopping to replace our beloved Baby Car....and came home with a minivan. We decided that we wanted his work car to be able to back up our truck. It is 6 years old and still trucking just fine but in the next years it might start giving us trouble. We also only have rear wheel drive in the truck and the minivan has front wheel drive which is safer in snow and ice conditions. So, he now has gone from a Porsche to a Cavalier to a Minivan. Poor guy! I'm sure he still feels studly though since he's cranking out babies every other year, lol!!!!

Thanks Mom!!!!!! Now we are ready.

Two Months Old

 

Hannah Cole is now 2 months old. She's a big girl, although we haven't weighed her in a while. She's also a great sleeper! YEA!!!! She loves her Bubba and Lele and talks to Daddy every night when he gets home from work! Too cute.

Final days of October

Scenes from Fall

I guess us moving to Ohio wasn't enough. I am quite unsettled this morning. I hope that this massive swing brings us all to our knees to pray for mercy. God is still in control, praise Him! I will particularly praying for my close friends who own and run successful small businesses, this is going to hit ya'll hard.

I'm off to see how our local elections went. We had elections for the state board of education here.

Looks like we'll be car shopping this weekend. Baby car is on her very last leg. We were hoping to make it to 200,000 miles but only made it to 180,000....not bad. She's a good car. I'll miss her!

VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!!!

Tomorrow is the end, thank goodness! Please remember to go VOTE!!! No matter who your voting for, please exercise your right that men and women have died to protect.

We voted by mail in ballot last week....seemed easier than dragging three kids to long lines. We voted McCain. Not because I particularly support him as an ideal candidate, but Obama is anti everything that my family believes and lives. If you haven't decided who to vote for, then vote for McCain so my family doesn't have to live in fear of being prosecuted for our lifestyle. It is about more than tax plans! Our country was not founded to be a socialists country, but that is what Obama wants. I don't want to government taking my money to use how it see fit to "help" people. I want my money that my husband works hard for to be used as we see fit and to help the charities and people we want to help with it. Besides, we'll choose charities that efficiently use our donations, unlike the wasteful spending of our government.

Thankfully, Wednesday morning, we will wake up with a new president and we won't have to hear about this stupid election anymore. It has been particularly annoying being in a battle ground state. The candidates are around here all the time and it is annoying how it stirs everyone up. I think Sarah is at the Farmers Market we went to on Saturday, today. Crazy! No matter who is elected, we are called to back and support them, and we will....only if it is Obama, it will be with trembling. Who ever is elected will be our God ordained leader for 4 years....man, I hope it isn't Obama.

We are home today. Church #11 will have to wait until next week. Robert isn't feeling great. I don't know if it is a bug or stress, maybe a bit of both. Everyone is starting the sniffling/sneezing season with the crazy weather swings up here. This week is supposed to be nice, in the 60's all week until Friday and then back into the 40's for highs. The Tomek's say we will probably have snow that sticks in the next week or so.

We've had a nice weekend. Friday night we celebrated Reformation Day the way we have for 5 years now...breakfast out for dinner. It wasn't as yummy as Magnolia Diner with all of our friends, but we do love our Bob Evans. And Chef Mommy needed a break. When we got home, we went over to wish the Tomek's Happy Reformation Day, dressed up as their neighbors, lol. We also let the kids each have one piece of candy. The split the little snickers yesterday and will the other one another day. We are grateful that Martin Luther nailed his thesis to the door in Whittenberg!

Yesterday ended up being a big shopping day. Robert got up with the kids and let me sleep in until 10 with Hannah....that was much needed. Then, we sprung out of bed and headed to a farmers market. We stocked up on some Amish beef since our Paidom order was gone. I can't wait to try it. The man was very very nice. He even said he if putting together a grassfed beef cooking guide and needs a fajita recipe, so if I send him mine, he'll give us some free product. YES! We also got some produce from another Amish stand. You guys should see the greens, actually all of the produce, it is GORGEOUS!!! Seriously, pristine! I can't wait to cook up the greens. Nothing beats greens and corn bread. My favorite meal of all time!!!! I've finaly perfected cooking them to taste just like my Grannies! I just love interacting with the Amish. I get giddy. I wish I could make an Amish friend and learn more about them, but we don't live close enough to them.

After the farmer's market, we went and grabbed lunch at TGI Friday's. So disappointing eating out after buying such yummy fresh stuff. Then we ran over to Eddie Bauer's to try and find me some jeans to fit. It's always been hard to fit me because my legs are so long and I"ve always been skinny. Well, now I'm skinny and long legged but have a belly.....apparently no one in the clothing industry is shaped anything like me. BUT, I tried on a pair of curvy cut Eddie Bauer jeans in their regular longs and THEY FIT....COMFORTABLY!!!!! Except, they are $59. OUCH! So, we didn't buy them, I am watching for them to go on sale online and then they are mine! I have some money from my Mom to help us buy winter clothes and so I can use that. While I was shopping, Leah had a nasty poopy diaper, twice. The second time, we realized we were out of her diapers in the bag. OH NO! Thankfully I had some large prefolds that we use as burp rags and I set her up in those and we huried home. We were hoping it was something she ate and not a stomach bug because we all shared an all natrual Amish ice cream at the farmers market.

When we got home, we tried to get teh kids naps, but they had slept for an hour in the car ride home. So, we headed to the mall. I got the girls Christmas dresses at Gymboree...my first purchse there ever. They were 20% off and I had a 20% off coupon, so they were reasonably priced. We also got Joshua some shoes. I'm embarrassed to say that his were two sizes too small....the kids never complained! OUCH. I also settled on a pair of Gloria Vanderbilt jeans that will do until I can get the Eddie Bauer ones. They were cheap and ok fitting. I still have a long list of shopping that needs to be done, pronto since snow is coming, but you can only shop for so long with a 4, 2 and 8 week old. We got home just in time for bed. Makes me tired just typing it up.

Now, the kids are playing outside, and Robert and Hannah are napping. I am happy to get to sit down for a moment.....although the diapers needed to be put in the dryer and dishes loaded and lunch made.....

I'm worn out. I have managed to do all of the laundry, school JOshua, clean the bathrooms, cook and keep up with dishes (sort of) and walk about 5 miles a day holding Hannah, but I am plum (or is it plumb) worn out. I'm just not good at the whole baby thing. Once they hit a year, I'm rockin and rollin but the first year just kills me. I know alot of you say that the baby stage is your favorite part, but not mine. But, thankfully, on number three, I do know that it is just a short phase that we will survive. It doesn't help that Robert is pulling massive double/triple extra duty at work right now. The GM has figured out that Robert is a great go to guy and so, he's gone to him. He is officially managing two full departments now and it has him runnin like crazy. He gets into the office about 6 and has been getting home about 6 also. Of course, when he gets here, he is justifiably wiped out, but so is his wife, but not the babies. So, we are just holding on for the ride. Really, how can you can complain when your "hardships" are massive blessings from the Lord.

SOOOOOOO, in really super exciting news!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are coming to Houston for Thanksgiving!!!! I CAN NOT wait. I can't wait to see my friends, worship at Grace, hang out with everyone, eat at Eden Cafe, have Mexican food, hang out with friends, maybe get a moment alone with my husband since we'll have trustworthy people around our children, hang out with friends, did I mention Mexican food....we are all soooo excited! We got pretty good prices on our flights, but the rental car rates are crazy! Anyone got an extra car that can hold three car seats laying around?

It is 9am here and 26 degrees!!! I can't imagine how cold it was for Robert at 5 this morning. Thankfully, they got our furnace replaced in time and we are warm and snuggly. And, just to prove that Texas isn't the only one with crazy weather, tomorrow we are supposed to hit 60 again!

BIG BIG NEWS coming soon!

IT IS SNOWING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YEA!!!!!!!!!!!! I have pics to prove it, I'll post those later!

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Hannah's appointment went fine. Actually, the appointment itself was awful. They dialated her eyes but then they waited so long to get her in to check her that she fell sound alseep. So, I was holding her while a nurse was prying her eyes open for the doctor. Of course, Hannah did not like that and started SCREAMING. It was horrible. They actually slightly bruised her eye lid on one eye, poor baby.

She has an anterior polar cataract. It is "beyond tiny" in the doctors words. It is extremely rare that they ever change or grow, so they will just watch her periodically as she grows to make sure. They do sometimes affect the shape of the lens, but that would be easily fixed with glasses. He said even that isn't real common, but isn't rare. He wants to see her again in two months but Robert and I both think that would be useless. We'll take her sometime next year. No point in going into a pediatric germ factory during cold and flu season. Same reason we aren't going to the pediatrician either. They can wait until she's 6 months old and flu season is over!

Photo Tag

From Cara at To Be Fruitful and Multiply....
For this one you open the fourth photo album on your computer and post the fourth picture.
My fourth pic is of my mother Lou Juanell Stiles and Granny, maternal grandmother Billy Cole Gregg...Hannah is named after her. This is at my sisters wedding shower in 2006? Is that the right year Amie? You can see my awesome hubby in the background. He was there to wrangle Joshua, Leah was easy since she was still in utero.


!

Last night we had about 5 minutes of sleet. Today we should start getting snow/rain as the day progresses then tonight they are expecting 1-3 inches of accumulation!!!! WHO HOO! I think.

We had a lovely, quiet family weekend. Saturday we slept in (oh wait, that was a delusion of mine, ha). We ate breakfast and watched some cartoons together. Then we all headed up the road a bit and hit a thrift shop that Ruth and Sarah found while they were here. I made a very important realization there. First, thrift stores always smell alike, and it ain't good. Second, I realized why I"m not as thrifty as I used to be....I have small children. It is physically impossible to carry a 7 week old, hold a 4 year olds hand, push a two year old in a stroller and still dig thru mostly nasty, ill fitting clothing. After an hour, we gave up and came home. Robert still wanted to look, but I just couldn't rangle the kids any more. Call me a whimp, I'm ok with it. So, I vow off nasty thrift stores until I no longer have small children....unless we become really poor very quickly, even then, I think I'll hunt everything down on Craigslist from the comfort of my home.

The rest of Saturday we just hung out. Robert and Leah did run to pick up our milk for the week and Joshua and I did some puzzles, but that was it. We even went to bed early, who hoo! (oh wait, another delusion, everyone but Hannah and I went to bed early...I walked Hannah)

Sunday, we visited church #10. Not for us, although we kind of had that idea already. It was worth a try. Music was good. There were lots of slide show/skit things. The pastors message was about the election. Robert and I both walked out wondering if he was preaching for prolife or prochoice and we were pretty sure he was supporting Obama. Really weird. Next week, we'll try again. Robert did say we aren't going back to church #9. He isn't going to put an effort into a church that is so anti family, family friendly is important to us, even if we don't find family integrated.

The rest of Sunday we watched NASCAR and football and chilled out. I did catch part of the latest Duggar show where their oldest gets engaged. I just love that family! I love that they are living out what we believe in and doing it on tv.....and people actually watch!
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Much asked for kiddo update.
Joshua- Such a big boy. He's really growing up! He is such a huge helper. He LOVES Hannah and is pretty fond of Leah. He will talk to Hannah and keep her from fussing so I can do important things like go to the bathroom. He's also coming along in school. He knows all of his letters and their sounds, although he still forgets a vowel sounds now and then, but hey, they have a bunch of sounds! He is getting number recognition down better. But he is a math guy like Robert. Robert showed him the basic concept of addition one time and he adds things all the time now. Maybe I'll add in subtration too soon. He also just had a growth spurt, stinker! I had him try on all of his pants about a month ago so I could see where I was for winter clothes. He had lots that fit. Now, every weekend when Robert gets him dressed he pulls out pants that are too short. Back to the shopping drawing board.

Leah- Leah is a hoot. She cracks us up with her little personality. She can pout like anything and turn her moods on a dime. And temper, oh my! We are working thru all of that stuff. She also LOVES to "nuggle", on her terms, of course. If you ask her to nuggle, nope! Must be when she thinks of it and brings it up. Her talking is getting better, but most people still can't really understand her. Her vocabulary isn't near what Joshua's was, but her physcial abilities are way way past where he was at this point. Oh, and she's ready to potty train.....but Mommy still isn't. She's a cute girl, and its a good thing some days, lol! I think I'm going to have to have her hair cut. I was hoping that my sister could do all of my kids first hair cuts, but Leah's is starting to look like a shaggy dog. She has three layers growing in all at different lengths. Her original layer is long long, which will make me sad to cut it, but it is just hair. Hopefully, I will get it done before our Christmas pics.

Hannah- She's going thru a "I want to be held and WALKED" 24/7 phase, so I'm not getting much done. Although right now, she is sleeping in the swing, YIPPEE!!! Better hurry before she wakes up. She's 7 weeks old now and is sleeping thru the night, technically. She sleeps for almost a 6 hour stretch most nights!!!! I don't know what to do with all of this sleep....and I feel like I should be more rested. She is holding her head up pretty well when someone holds her, but not when she's on her tummy yet. She's super sensitive to my diet, which stinks. She's a super chub in her face! I have pics to share, when I can get them up. But her legs are all Stiles chicken legs, no super rolls like her sibs. She likes to coo and "talk" and smile and laugh, especially at her Daddy right after a nap. We have an appointment tomorrow with a pediatric eye specialists for her to check on the spot on her eye. I'm hoping to hear that is nothing but a dot birth mark or something. They didn't sound real concerned when our pediatrician talked to him about it.

Robert has decided that all these weird genetic defects she has are from my side, and he's probably right. I was, of course, assuming they were from his side, lol. But, when Corbin showed up with the same webbed toe, it proved that one was from me. I also think it might be related to Waardenburg's syndrome. I read up on this some when Joshua was born. I really really think our family has it. I also think it may be why my Mom is deaf, even though the doctors said it was from scarlet fever when she was a baby. But hey, that was the 40's and they didn't diagnose her for years and years later. Anyway, we carry a TON of the symptoms. But only genetic testing would tell us for sure. Maybe some day.

ok, wrapping up this book....I'll have to wait days to post again so ya'll have time to read all of this, lol!

Any time we have people stay over night in our home, I like to cook a big breakfast for the next morning (it doesn't always happen, but that is what I like to do). I usually make a yummy over night french toast. I load mine with lots of fruits and nuts, so it is healthy too. But I've always wanted something a little more to add to it. So, I found this idea on the crockpot blog that I've posted here, side note...I still like that blog but I've been quite disappointed in some of the recipes I've tried...apparently my family likes alot more flavor than theirs does, but she has some great recipe ideas, and hey, I never cook by recipes anyway...back to original train of thought....what was I talking about???...oh yeah, breakfast...so today I did breakfast for dinner. I did my usual over night french toast, we'll call it over afternoon french toast....completely different from over easy, are you following me here? Then, I made sausage and potatoes in the crock pot. I diced up some red and russett potatoes (because that is what I had), a little diced onion and to finish off some mushrooms I had, I threw those in too. Put all of that in a ziplock and added a little olive oil, salt, pepper and all purpose seasonings...then mixed it up real good and poured it in the crock pot. Next, I sliced up some sausage (chicken and apple, again, that is what I had) and threw it on top. Cooked on low until dinner time. They are both perfectly cooked and I can't wait to dive in, I've sampled enough to know it will be good. I do like my sausage to look more brown though, so next time, I think I'll brown it a little in a skillet before adding tot he crockpot, just for my picky color tastes. Both will work beautifully over night, and all I'll have to do is get up and make the coffee....oh wait, my coffee maker is programable too, SCORE!

Yes, it is that important. Every vote does count and it is life and death.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwLY_HRt-AM

This weekend was sooo fun!
Friday, Ruth flew in to surprise Sarah for her last week here. To quote her when Sarah asked how she got here..."I flew and man are my arms tired!" Sarah didn't have a clue that I was picking her up at the airport and so when Ruth rang the door bell and Sarah answered, I think you probably could have knocked her over with a feather. It was fun!

SATURDAY!!!! We went to Amish Country. Now that is a place I could live. It was sooo pretty and life was slow, quiet and simple. It reminded me of growing up in West Texas but with horses and buggies everywhere, lol. We got lost, oh darn, and ended up eating lunch at Mrs. Yoder's Kitchen. What a FIND!!! We all raved and raved and raved about the food. It is all locally grown and harvested and prepared by them. And you just can't beat fresh local home cooked food. Seriously, we all agreed that if that was all we did, then the drive was worth it. It was sooo exciting to me to drive around and see all of the horses and buggies and the Amish people walking around. I've been fascinated with their lives since I read my first book about them in high school. After lunch, we toured a working Amish farm set up. It isn't an Amish farm anymore, but is owned by a family that was raised Amish and have since left the church. It was neat to tour the home and even neater to eat some yummies. We also got to ride in an Amish buggy. Our driver was named Lester and was very friendly. We were running behind to pick up our milk at our Amish farmers home, and so we didn't get to spend near the time that we would have liked to. We've decided that every time we have to go pick up milk (about every 10-12 weeks), we will go eat at Mrs Yoder's and choose a different Amish thing to tour. It really really was the best day. And the turning leaves are just amazing. I ooh and ahh over them every time we leave the house. God's creation at its most beautiful!

Sunday we visited church #9. It was nice. A small congregation. The music was just ok, but they had a bunch of their musicians gone. I missed alot of the sermon, but Robert and Ruth said it was pretty good. They teach line by line, so that is good. All of the ladies in the nursing room were really really nice and I enjoyed chatting with them alot. Most of the congregation are homeschoolers and there are lots of large families. However, someone came up and told Robert during the service to keep Leah quiet.....and she already was quiet. Robert was mad. So, I haven't heard his verdict on the church or not. Robert was pretty annoyed by it. It was really weird too since it is a family church that they would have such a anti-family policy. We'll see. It was the closest thing we've seen to GCC here so far.

More later....including our beach pics from today.

Picture catch up...from our weekends. First, the Horton Apple Cider Festival. Then the Mason's Rennaisance Festival in Medina and finally the Harvest Festival at Rockin R Ranch.

Last night, Hannah and I went to an ICAN of Cleveland meeting. Robert was supposed to go with us, but he had a business dinner sprung on him last minute. It is the International Cesearian Awareness Network, and is basically a support group for women who've had Csections. It was so awesome. I had gone once before Hannah was born, and it really gave me the courage and accepatance to make it thru Hannah's labor and delivery. I can't say enough about this group. If ya'll know anyone that has had a CSection, please get them to go to a meeting with this group. It is very healing to be able to talk and work thru issues involved from Sections with other women that understand. Last nights discussion was Healing from Traumatic Birth. It was good talking about all of the emotions involved with Csections. It was also fun because I got to share my success story. Another girl that was due two weeks after me also made it with her 2 week old to share her VBA2C story as well. God meant for us to be there because there were 4 women there wondering if there was anyway to have a vaginal after 2 cesarians. It was a good night and Hannah was great. I was really worried because the evenings are usually her fussy time, but she was good until we were almost in our neighborhood. Then, shhhhh don't tell anyone....she slept 5 straight hours last night! WHO HOO!!!!

Hmmm, I need to update on the kids, but I also really need to eat lunch. Tonight, Robert and I are squeezing in another date before we lose our sitter and then this weekend is a big weekend. I really have to get some pictures up too.

Two things......
First, next Wednesday's forecast...
Wed
Oct 22


Rain / Snow Showers

49°
40°

40%
Wheeeeeee!

Second, I got this in an email today and love it. So I thought I'd share.
TRADITIONAL VERSION:



The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed. The grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold. MORAL OF THE STORY: Be responsible for yourself!





MODERN VERSION:



The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter.



The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away.



Come winter, the shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the ant should be warm and well fed while others are cold and starving.



CBS, NBC, PBS, CNN, and ABC show up to provide pictures of the shivering grasshopper next to a video of the ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food. America is stunned by the sharp contrast. How can this be, that in a country of such wealth, this poor grasshopper is allowed to suffer so? Kermit the Frog appears on Oprah with the grasshopper, and everybody cries when they sing, "It's Not Easy Being Green." Jesse Jackson stages a demon stration in front of the ant's house where the news stations film the group singing, "We shall overcome." Jesse then has the group kneel down to pray to God for the grasshopper's sake.



Nancy Pelosi, John Kerry & Harry Reid exclaim in an interview with Larry King that the ant has gotten rich off the back of the grasshopper, and both call for an immediate tax hike on the ant to make him pay his fair share.



Finally, the EEOC drafts the Economic Equity and Anti-Grasshopper Act retroactive to the beginning of the summer! The ant is fined for failing to hire a proportionate number of green bugs and, having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes, his home is confiscated by the government.



Hillary gets her old law firm to represent the grasshopper in a defamation suit against the ant, and the case is tried before a panel of federal judges that Bill Clinton appointed from a list of single-parent welfare recipients. The ant loses the case.



The story ends as we see the grasshopper finishing up the last bits of the ant's food while the government house he is in, which just happens to be the ant's old house, crumbles around him because he doesn't maintain it.



The ant has disappeared in the snow. The grasshopper is found dead in a drug related incident and the house, now abandoned, is taken over by a gang of spiders who terrorize the once peaceful neighborhood. MORAL OF THE STORY: Be careful how you vote in 2008.

Politics and the Economy

Ok, I've been meaning to chat about these here but haven't yet. I will. But, I'm wondering how everyone is feeling in the rest of the country. I am in a swing state, so I have a feeling that the political feel is running different than else where. So, what's it like where you live? I know I have readers in at least 5 states, so please reply and tell me what you think.

We did have another great weekend. We went to a harvest farm called Rockin R Ranch on Saturday. It was in Columbia Station, which is right next to us, so it was nice not to have too long of a drive. We got to watch their cheesy character show. The kids rode ponies. Joshua was in one of his whiney boy moods, but I think Leah loved it. Of course, I have pics to post of it. We also got to go on the hay ride and JOshua and Leah got pumpkins. We did their "Fun" house, which turned out to be a spook house....we were NOT pleased....I'm pretty sure Robert was out right mad about the false advertising. It was not a place we would choose to go and we certainly would never take our children there. After that we went and got the kids faces painted. It was small but fun. The scenery was beautiful! I just can't explain to ya'll how awesome the changing colors are! I'm still trying to get any pictures that do it justice. Maybe this weekend.

On Sunday, we went to church #9. It wasn't awful. The music was very traditional baptist (even the upbeat songs were sung at a snails pace) but they did sing some praise songs, so that was nice. The message was good. You can tell what pastors are students of the Word and those that aren't. He was. We enjoyed hearing a message with scriptural cross references and everything! The location isn't ideal for where we want to buy next year, so I don't know that it will be our home, but I think Robert said we are going back this week so he can talk to the pastor and others. After church, we went and ate at everyone's favorite (including Sarah) Bob Evans. Yummy. Then Robert and the kids took naps, or were supposed to while Sarah, Hannah and I ran some errands.

I'm pretty tired. I feel the lack of rest catching up with me, but after Sarah leaves, will be staying home on the weekends and I'll have more of a chance to catch up. That is if Hannah lets me, which isn't guaranteed. Of course, the ankle deep leaves in our backyard might get some of that rest too. And we've only had one tree lose its leaves yet, yikes!

Darcy is home!

http://darcyanne.weebly.com/

Please continue to pray for the Ramos family as they grieve.

Ya'll, these snow birds that come to Texas every year, sooooo know what they are doing! The weather up here is just amazing! The summer was so awesome not getting hot at all and this fall weather is great. We are in the low 70's/60's in the day and the 40's at night. I know that the winter is supposed to be brutal, but man, the other nine month of the year here just rock.....I'm assuming spring will be fab like everyone says too. And the leaves are turning. I can't wait to get some good pics to show everyone. I hope I can even remotely do it justice with a camera. I wish Nicole or Shona or Shannon were here to photograph the colors. We serve an amazing God! Creator of all things beautiful!

We have another busy weekend planned. When the kids wake up from naps, we are going to get Joshua's 4 year pics and the first sibling pics done. Wish us luck! Tomorrow we are going to a pick your own pumpkin farm that also has all kinds of fun hay rides, corn mazes, petting zoo, etc. Sunday will be church #9 which Robert will announce when he gets home from work. Yea!

Well, apparently webbed toes do run in the fam.... My sister called last night. Corbin, my nephew that is exactly one week older than Hannah, has the exact same webbed toe as Hannah. We were cracking up! She said she didn't notice it for two weeks. Honestly, I have no idea how long it would have taken me to
notice Hannah's, but Robert is more detail oriented than I am and he noticed it in the hospital.