WithSomeTack

Saturday, January 3, 2015

On the twenty-eighth of December...

Headed home...

Chevy was glad to be in his familiar territory!

Time to enjoy a cup of coffee before evening service.

On the twenty-seventh of December...

A beautiful wedding to celebrate...

A lovely reception...yummy cupcakes and a hot chocolate bar...a perfect winter wedding.

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

On the twenty-sixth of December...

attending a wedding rehearsal for a friend! Ted had the privilege to stand up for a friend. It was fun reconnecting with many people from years gone by.

On the twenty-fifth of December...

MERRY CHRISTMAS! We got to see Grandma-great again...

and share with her our special treat of the kiddos playing their instruments. She hummed along with the Christmas carols. What a sweet blessing to watch her enjoy that!

Once again...it was pointed out how big the kiddos have gotten! Oh my! They have...and it was driven home to me again as I looked at pictures around Papa and Grandma's home of these three loves that God has blessed our home with!

Sharing time with additions to our family...

Gathered around the Christmas tree...

Gathered around the table...talking to Aunt Sara...

playing a game...and eating...again!

Boys against girls...and who won again, guys?!

"Hey...Mom...you were holding out on me!"

Can you say too many treats to share?! MMMMM! Thanks, Aunt Kay and Grandma!

On the twenty-fourth of December...

a five hour trip to Illinois for Christmas and a wedding! There was no traffic and very contented riders (sleeping). Our only stop...Chikfila in Rockford for lunch!

Teddy roused from a NyQuil and Dramine induced deep-sleep. Oi! He took both meds before I knew what he was doing.

My special request was granted with pleasure! Mmmm...finger licking good!

Passed out again...as he fought the high fever!

Poor guy...didn't want to miss anything!

Thankful for a safe trip!

On the twenty-third of December...

it was a long, long day!

I'm thankful for a husband who can do so many things to take care of us! First item of business, coffee to start the day! He also had his helpers!

It is much easier to do this in a basement...NOT A CLOSET!

Thank you, Uncle Brad and Aunt Mari, for letting us take showers!

Easy pizza supper...

Special Christmas music...

Family Christmas time and presents...Mom's special gift in puzzle form! Wow! A Kitchen Aid Mixer to make my life easier will be delivered on the 29th.

A slingshot...oh dear!

Girly presents...

A blast from Mom's past...a Caboodle!

Sweet time of remembrance and reflection as a family...thankful for the best gift ever given...Jesus Christ...the Savior of all men!

On the twenty-second of December...

we shampooed our carpets...to get them all fresh and bright and clean!

While that was going on...other cleaning was happening...which revealed a puddle on the floor. Upon further inspection...I found dripping and sizzling in the water heater closet. "Umm, Ted...you need to see this...I think we have a problem!"

A leaking water heater is not something you want to find right before you are to leave town for a few days! Ted and Teddy went to Home Depot...Merry Christmas to us! Oi! We filled drinking water pitchers and flushing buckets then turned off the water.

Sunday, December 21, 2014

On the twenty-first day of December...

sharing Sunday dinner with our family! Truly a special treat!

On the twentieth day of December...

wrapping Christmas presents, finishing Christmas shopping, catching up on laundry, and crashing in our comfy home! It is Christmas break!!!!

On the nineteenth of December...

Cocoa, Cookies, and Christmas with Parents 2014! We had fun activities and yummy treats for parents and students from 8am to 9am.

We had a chance to visit with parents. The kiddos had a fun start to their day.

Our official partying was done right away...and the rest of the day was filled with play.

The aftermath made me laugh! The kiddos beat me to the tables...I was coming with Clorox wipes...they used their bare hands!

I was given such thoughtful and SWEET gifts! One of our mothers is a cookie/cake baker...beautiful as well as tasty!

I love our little class...I really do...but I am so thankful for a break from all the germs they have been sharing with me!!! I am still coughing and not feeling just right! I'm praying for health to return during these two weeks off!!!

Statements you don't often hear

If you will not give the Lord your tithes and offerings, you will not give Him anything else either!
In response to my telling the kids to "go find something else to do instead of watching t.v.". "Mom, that is just mean."
"Mom sat around and did nothing all day," according to Teddy...at least, that is what he told his Dad at supper!
"Excuse me for burping. Oh, the fizz tickled my nose and it doesn't feel very good." said Alisa. "Yeah, I know what you mean." answered Teddy.
"Mom, there is stuff in the washer. Would you like me to start it?" asked Alisa.

Suggestion Box

OCT: When proof-reading...read out loud and start from the bottom...or you will miss simple grammar and spelling mistakes! Do this before you publish!
OCT: Always defrost frozen whole chicken the day before you need it...you will have to start the roasting process before you can pull out the little sack of goodies from inside...and it makes a big mess! You may smell like the chicken juices that splash too.
NOV: Never put something (key to cabinet) away in anger or frustration (with, say, children) because it usually, only affects you later (two seasons, I believe). How? There is Christmas music locked in that cabinet and I can't get to it!
NOV: Is an all morning hunt, with no results, worth your sanity? And said children are oblivious to how it affects you..."Mom, you took it away...we don't know where it is."
FEB: When asking your children to fold contents of laundry basket, remember what you added and remove it yourself. Women's foundational articles of clothing can make the task take forever. Children will deem it necessary to try on and model articles for the enjoyment of their siblings...and the amusement of the woman.
DEC: Wise move...put the detangler spray on a different shelf from your hairspray...that way you do not have to recurl your hair!

What Will They Think of Next?

"I wish I didn't have talking sisters!" stormed Teddy
"Mom, your glasses kind of make you look pretty!" said Ashlynn. Well, thanks honey, I was going for the smarter look...do I look smarter? "I guess, you kind of do." sigh
Teddy was scratching his face and a little out of sorts with how bad it itched, "Mom, my face is itching, I think I am getting a beard like Daddy."
"Mom, you have some little brown hairs by your lip...you are going to look like Daddy," said Teddy. Time to wax!
While watching me work on banquet projects, the girls informed Teddy I was doing ladies banquet crafts for the chocolate fever party. "Nuh, uh, if there aren't banks, it isn't a banquet!" he retorted. (he is a little miffed he can't go)
"Dad...just do what Mom does...call them a moron and drive around them." instructed Alisa. Of course, I got the 'look' to which I retorted, "I do not drive around people!"
"Hey, guys, if you don't sniff or smell...you'll die! Seriously!" another piece of wisdom from Teddy. I think you mean breathe, son!
Ashlynn asked as she was looking at our wedding pictures, "Mom, were you afraid to get married?" No, baby, I wasn't...your daddy is the best man in the whole world!
"Mom, it hurts when I bless you." Oh, you mean when you sneeze? "Mom, bless you and sneeze are the same thing!" explained Alisa.
"Mom, we are going to God's house. You know Ash is at God's house. We go to school there!" "Nu-uh, Alisa, God house is up there!" argued Teddy while we drove to pick up Ash from school.
Alisa expressed that she "won't ever get dunked because you can't wear goggles!"
Ashlynn wants to "get dunked in the big bathtub". Umm, that is she would like to be baptized. We will first talk to her and then we will talk with Pastor...about getting "dunked" and make sure she understands!
Alisa wanted to take M&Ms for a snack at school and was trying to convince me "they don't have sugar on the inside!" (referring to the peanut M&Ms) Ask your teacher...see what she says!
Ashlynn informed me she didn't want to get married...ever. "Why?" "I don't want to get yelled at." (Ok, I know what you are thinking...we have moments and so do you!)
Hearing the phrase "you make your bed, you have to lie in it", Teddy piped up and said, "I made my bed!" (Little pitchers have big ears!)
Alisa's prayer request in class this week: Pray for my Daddy...that he wouldn't get fired from his job. She told her teacher, Daddy had two bosses. When asked their names, she said she only had seen one of them.

Overheard from the 4-6 year old crowd

"Mom, I'm going to stay plain!" said Ash. What do you mean, I asked? "I mean, I am not getting married or having babies and I will just live with you." hmmm
"Mom...don't believe whatever Teddy is going to tell you...." shouted the girls as Teddy came bounding down the stairs.
"Hey, I see Grandma in the sweat room!" said Teddy while looking out the window from the play area at the Y.
"Mom, will you inside out this for me?" asked Alisa.
"We have two girls, one boy, one daddy, one mommy, and one lazy dog living in our house," cited Alisa.
The first day of school at 10 am, Ashlynn raised her hand and asked her teacher, "Are we going to be here tomorrow ?"
Ashlynn asked, "Mom, have you ever lost weight? Does it hurt? Can you ever find it again?" QUIT MEDDLING, LITTLE GIRL!
"A tickle wickle...look, a tickle wickle!" screamed Alisa as she was swinging. I looked out and saw the little white puff (seed puff) floating in the air.
"Look, I have shiver bumps!" explained Alisa to Grampy while she ate an ice cream sandwich.
"Little Miss Muffin, sat on her tuffet, eating her curves and waves..." quoted Teddy.
"Oh look, we have cocktails!" exclaimed Alisa at supper one night. Trying to dress up their lemonade, I added a red popsicle...thanks to Sandra Lee...my kids know the word...and thanks to me they know Sandra Lee...
"Come on, Mommy, it's a sunny day, wake up!" shouts Teddy every day! I'm up but not happy about it always.
"Mom, why aren't you turning on the windwipers...it's raining!" asked Teddy.
The kids were discussing indians and Alisa let us know that girl indians wear "skirtians with their moccasins".
"Ashlynn, you are six and you know better." "Dad, I am not six yet!"
Daddy trying to ask Teddy what he was doing as he ran through the house..."Can't talk now, Dad!" (on the run to the indoor bathroom...yes, this has been a problem!)
During pm church service, Ash was getting fidgety and ornery, "My Sunday school teacher taught me all about Jesus, so I don't need to learn anymore."
Alisa was commenting as we weeded the flower garden, "We are the weed girls, Teddy is just a play boy (he wasn't helping us)."
"I goaled a score!" shouted Alisa while playing bball with her siblings.
I was proud of a shirt I bought for "just a dollar and some change". Alisa said, "Oh, you mean a rectangle and some circles!?"
Ashlynn to her uncooperative brother, "You are making the devil happy right now!"
Alisa commented that she just loves to eat skillets! (skittles, dear)
Caden asked his mommy (Mari) why she had two chins.
Teddy was not thrilled with the clothes that were layed out for him: "This shirt is ridiculous!"
Alisa asking about the ice cream social after church: "Is the ice cream situation tonight?"

Things I Have Learned (and counting)

WHEN A BATHROOM DOOR IS SHUT FOR A LONG TIME...IT IS NEVER GOOD!
Ranch dressing is not a condiment for a child, it is the entree...the entree is the condiment!
Manners don't exist at grandparent's houses...it is mortifying!
Being an adult is not as fun as we once thought it would be!
Our worst days are often repeated in child's play.
Pre-schoolers and Kindergarteners have a fascination with scissors.
A mother's purse is a child's playground.
Doing work in the garden causes broken nails, dirty fingers, and sensitive hands.
Girls...make you wait...it starts at a young age.
Boys think differently about everything!
The Magic Eraser by Mr. Clean is a great invention!
Markers are not for 3 year olds! Neither are ink pads!
Check pockets for gum, chapstick, pens, receipts, rocks, pocket knives, AND money before washing clothes.
Baking soda makes horrible biscuits! Use baking powder!
If you turn your oven to broil, accidentally, cookies will bake from the top down!