Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Here is our Thanksgiving... ENJOY!

Prep for Thanksgiving is HARD work!

Moved to a more comfortable spot...
Turkey: One wing stuck out from under the foil after we covered to prevent over browning...
Table All Set (minus noted items below)...
Here is our healthy, happy, and very Thankful family...
Myhusband always reads Proclamation of Thanksgiving by Abraham Lincoln that they print in the paper ever year...
My husband has the honor of carving the turkey...

Our fridge full of 'leftovers'...

Our Menu:
Cheddar Potato Soup
13 lb Turkey
Stuffing
Mashed Potatoes
Gravy
Squash / Onions sauteed in butter
Green Bean Casserole
(doubled)
Carrots/Peas
Glazed Sweet Potatoes
Deviled Eggs
Cranberry Sauce

(not pictured see bread note)
Cornbread
Bread

(not pictured forgot to remove from pan till after photos)
Apple Crisp
2 - Sweet Potato Pies
Pumpkin Pie

Thank you for all those who helped to make our Thanksgiving Bountiful!

45 Years

35th President

John Fitzgerald Kennedy

May 29, 1917 - November 22, 1963

An Irish Roman Catholic born to Joseph and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy in Brookline, MA... He was their second son and second child... One of four sons (Joseph Jr., Robert, Edward) and five daughters (Rosemary, Kathleen, Eunice, Patricia, and Jean)... He married Jacqueline Bouvier on September 12, 1953 and was father to Arabella (still birth), Caroline, John Jr., and Patrick (preemie/infant death)... The youngest elected President of the United States at the age of 43...

For a short time we had the honor to have him one of the greatest men in history to be president of this country that has been so richly blessed...

Let's take a moment in silent prayer to remember President Kennedy...

God Bless You... Rest in Peace Jack...

Time Off Thursday

I'm going to take some time off... See you all soon...

Happy Thanksgiving...

This, That and the other Thing Tuesday

We had some mild ills go through our house on Sunday... All is well now...

I know many of you will not be happy to read this but there is approximately 35 days till Christmas as shocking as that is... I'm currently trying to figure out what to put on my list... Christmas is a hard time for me one reason I never know what to tell people when they ask what I want... It is so much easier for me to say oh well such in such child needs x or my husband would really love x? For me I'm like uhhh... hmmm... ::silence::

So far on my list I have:

Book: The Duggars: 20 & Counting!: Raising One of America's Largest Families-How They Do It
Music CD: Johnny Cash The Millennium Collection (2 volumes)

Plastic Storage Container Set

Massage Gift Card

Gift Card to Favorite Hobby Supplies Store

?

So, I'd love people to write in the comment section ideas of things I might like or things they might be giving as suggestions for themselves... Thanks!

Towel Bar Replacement

Our only towel bar in the bathroom broke so we replaced it today... Now we just need to mud and paint were the old bar was...

Before:

After:

Where did we go wrong? Wednesday

Well, that thing that was supposed to END today has only become worse... We now are going to the next level and a DATE has been set in January... Praise God it is at least after the holidays... The other side doesn't want to talk about it at all A. because they know it's all just ridiculous and B. if they talk about it then they have to end it because there is no basis for it to continue... So, several more weeks of unpleasantness to come... Of course now it means a lot more money and even more mess to deal with on several levels... Our person remarked one man had been through this for 6 months and it finally just disappeared this morning on the day they had the set the DATE... He was staring at 20 years... So, all this money, and not to mention stress and turmoil of a possible 20 and it's gone in an instance with an opps never mind... That is just wrong... We could really use your prayers in this matter... It has decimated us financially and now it's working on us emotionally and psychologically... ::sigh::

On a positive note Linebacker is now 14 lbs 2 oz... Woo hoo!!! Talk about a silver lining... Speaking of Linebacker he's sounding his where's the milk alarm... ::smirk::

Typing Out Tension Tuesday

Today was going mostly good and then went wrong... I'm too upset to even type out the incident... ::sigh:: So, I decided my life is not going how I like it so I try to type up a schedule to better manage my time and well my life is unscheduleable! I don't know what to do to better manage my time because every day is different... I'm going along and then oh well we have this on this day and that on that day so let's move this here and that there... Despite my cleaning of my plate my life is still a busy mess... Grrrrrrrrrrr.... It's a why me night!!!!

Look at my 'big' boy!

Linebacker is growing up so fast... Here are a few pictures I took today... He can't do this on his own yet ie go from laying and sit up but if we sit him up he will sit and play... If he is 'propped' in a semi reclined position he can sit up right on his own... He does this often in his bouncy seat...
Another exciting event was me cutting Monkey's hair for the first time with a home trimmer system... Doesn't he look great...
Before:
After:

Homesteading Motivation!

One of the best ways to motivate me to accomplish daunting tasks is to stage a before and after... So, here are a few before of things I'm struggling with in my home...
Here is the top of my entertainment center:

Top of my dresser in the computer room:
My 'drawer' in the computer desk (not sure how I even close it?!?!):
After photos...
Top of my entertainment center:
Didn't make it to this one...
Top of my dresser in the computer room:
My 'drawer' in the computer desk:
On a side note gas has dropped under $2... Currently at $1.94 at most stations... Isn't that exciting? We also have light dusting of snow outside... Not even enough to turn the grass completely white...

Struggles

I'm really struggling with a few things here... I'm having that outsider/alone feeling again... My friends and I seem to have less in common now... I'm not sure how to feel/handle that... Hopefully the big mess that exploded mid-August will be over with before the next 'meeting' on Wednesday... We will see... I cleaned off my plate with 'outside' activities yet feel like I'm still overwhelmed and can't accomplish anything... Which isn't logical at all... I despise illogical things! I'm just confused and not sure which way to go or who to talk to in able to sort things out... I just know things are in need of changing but unsure as to how to change them... I'm not sure if I updated but Linebacker is now 13 lbs and 7 oz... I took Monkey to a Dino event at the library... He really enjoyed that... Things are going well with all the children's regular schooling... I can't say so much for their religious education... It's really difficult for me as a convert to grasp it and complete the activities... Either I wasn't absorbing said material in RCIA or they just didn't teach it... Your guess is as good as mine... I'd appreciate prayers... Thank you...

Election Day

The votes have been counted... The next President has been chosen...

President Elect Barack Obama:

Happy Halloween!

Here are photos from our Halloween...

My oldest as Bob the Builder/Construction Worker:

Monkey as Batman:

Peanut as Cow Girl:

Linebacker as Jack-O-Lantern:
The whole crew together...

We did the door to door trick or treating and gathered 17+ lbs of candy to eat... It was a bit on the cool side but everyone had great fun...

Bathroom Linen Closet Curtain

I had to remove the old busted up bi-fold doors... Next it was to remove the track/hardware that connected the bi-fold doors tot he 'closet'.... Going in and out of the bathroom the door would hit the bi-fold doors breaking it apart...
I marked the wood for cutting...

I used my new saws all (birthday present) for the first time to cut the pieces....
Using a drill and 3" drywall screws I installed the blocks to hold the tension rod... Tension rod installed... I bought 2 pieces of fabric after measuring my 'closet'... I have sewn one piece of fabric into a ruffle less single pocket curtain... I need to sew the other piece of fabric to make it's matching curtain to create a fuller look... At least now the 'closet' is covered... It was hard taking a full length shot so I have a top shot:
Bottom Shot:
Full Length Shot:

Many Things To Say Monday

I've been quite busy since the last time I wrote... First off gas here is now $2.19 or LESS! Isn't that amazing? We were inching towards 4 not to long ago and now it appears it may be below $2 in the not to distance future... Crazy! I finally sew up the curtain for the bathroom linen closet... Photos to follow in another publishing... We switched all 4 children's clothes from summery/warmish fall... To coolish fall/wintery wear... Now that we have gone through storage we know exactly where we need to fill in if at all... My husband said it's like shopping in our home... ::smirk:: The highlight of my weekend would have been going to the 'Women's Showcase' and seeing Jo Frost a.k.a. Super Nanny... I didn't take a camera because I figured I'd be too far away for a decent PIC... Well, I was wrong... I sat with three friends from FMCHE... We were only 6-8 rows behind VIP seating or closer and centered stage (right behind the camera for the 'big' screens that were all over the arena)... So, we had a great view and Jo's talk was really good... I didn't see much of the 'Women's Showcase' other then Super Nanny... So, I can't really tell you what the 'Women's Showcase' even is... :-X I picked up Jo's newest book entitled Confident Baby Care... Other then the misinformation on Co-sleeping it is a really good book from what I've skimmed through and read thus far... I hadn't seen and finally met a new Avon lady... Mine has disappeared on me... So, it was a really cool afternoon... After Jo's talk I saw another friend from FMCHE and a friend from CCM browsing the booths and chatting... My husband had to work so I only had a short amount of time to attend the event... For $15 ($12 for show and $3 to park) it was a great deal... I might even consider going next year... ::grin:: Yesterday I made my first ever 9 pound Spiral Glazed Ham... It was DELICIOUS!

Touching Base Tuesday

I figured I'd take the time to touch base with my 'readers'... Things are up and down here... Mostly up... Linebacker had his 4 month check up today (5 weeks late)... He is 12 lbs 14 oz (peanut was 12 lbs 4 oz at 6 mo) and 24-1/4"... So, he is on the small side he isn't small like she was... Our doctor noted his BMI was over 15 which I guess is good... Don't know much about BMI except I'm in the 'you're big fat' range on the chart... ::smirk:: The doctor noted we had visited the lactation consultant earlier in the month... She didn't say the F or S word the whole time... I'm surprised but happy! He had his vacs and did well with that... He was all smiles 2 hours later... He is a bit fussy now but I think he just wants to nap... We are gearing up for Halloween... We have two costumes so far... Batman and Jack-O-Lantern... Should have the other two figured out by next Monday... My new less filled plate doesn't feel any less... I still feel as busy as ever... I'm hoping the less fullness will kick in soon... I'd really like to make a difference around her visually... Ahhh... I hear baby snore noises.... My guess was right... ::grin:: Tomorrow should be a quiet day with time to work on things I've put on the back burner... I picked up some new yarn to make the boys and Peanut new hats for this year... So, photos should be rolling in soon... I also will be knitting up Linebacker a scarf... The weather hear has cooled off much like the gas prices... We are at two - thirty something at some stations... He is in the 30s/40s and occasionally 50s... Too cold to walk very far with Linebacker... So, we will be walking less and driving more... I've been eating and sleeping better... I'm still tried... Hopefully as I continue to eat and sleep properly that will go away... I'm off to make homemade Mushroom Chicken Tetrazzini... Will try to update again probably on Monday...

A Life SAVED!!!

Praise be Jesus Christ, a mother & child have been spared the pains of abortion. We have received word from a young mother who had an appointment scheduled at the abortion clinic. The night before she, drove by the clinic and saw a man praying in the rain.

She said I can't believe that I wanted to get rid of my baby and then there's people out there praying everyday that their 1 pound babies live through the night, and some guy freezing all night in the rain praying for a baby he doesn't even know.

Thank you for your prayers, they are having a profound impact.

Thanks Be To God! Let all us continue in our prayers during 40 Days For Life and year round to save more lives...

This young mother's precious gift from God will be approximately the age of Linebacker (pictured above) this time next year... Amazing isn't it? The gift of life is such an honor... We should all accept this tremendous joy with grace be it biologically or through adoption...

Going Digital

Details to come...

To Do List Thursday

Today was bus-y! I had a lot of places to go... I did however finish it all before Peanut was done with ECSE... I dropped the boys off and picked up Peanut and dropped her off... I dropped the extra donuts from MACH I at my friends house and sat at home and prepared for my day and nursed Linebacker his 9:30 AM feeding... So, I was pleased with that... I went to the bank to make a deposit... Followed by a stop at State Farm to buy our insurance... They give a free gift for your birthday and I planned ahead and chose the ice scraper as my 'gift'... Next I headed towards downtown and dropped off some paper work and filled out forms... It was a stop at the PO to mail packages and bills before I could head back south for a stop at the Dentist to pay on our bill... Next month we can pay it off... Woo hoo!!! I stopped at the south pharmacy to pick up brush on fluoride the dentist recommend (Gel Kam)... Next I stopped at a speciality pharmacy to pick More Milk Plus... It was recommended by the lactation consultant if I wanted to do something if I felt like I needed it... It is better then taking just Fenugreek alone... I went with the capsules over the liquid... I will start taking it tomorrow... For good measure... Linebackers check up is coming up and I want to be well prepared for questions... Next I picked up Peanut and headed home to eat and give Linebacker his 11:30 AM nursing... We ate turkey, stuffing, ham, green beans, carrots, and broccoli... I then went to my friends to help with the twins and socialize... Her sister was there and we were busy... I held one of the twins for a bit till it was time for his feeding and Linebacker needed his 1:30 PM feeding... We made a quick trip to the store together... Her sister's daughter celebrated her 4th birthday today and they had a late afternoon party for mostly family only... I picked up the boys and came home to catch up on things here since I wasn't home much yesterday... I worked on catching up on laundry and cleaning up the clutter...

Wonderful Wednesday

I have a lot to share but Linebacker needs his 9:30 feeding... Well, I didn't make it back till tonight (Thursday)... I fed linebacker and called it a night and headed to bed... So, tired I even forgot to set my alarm... Good thing for early rising children waking me up or today may not have started off so well... Back to Wednesday... I dropped the boys off at school and headed home for Peanut to have ST... Next we headed to the local grocery store to pick up 3 dozen donuts for MACH I... It will be one of my latest as this is one of the 'obligations' I'm dropping... I'm going next week for the first 1/2 only because they will have a speaker talking about advocating for your special needs child... So, even though I hadn't planned on going I changed my plans for that... I will have to leave early though because I'm going to a once a month breastfeeding group... For some support and information... I home long enough to eat before heading to see the lactation consultant about Linebacker's slightly slower then average gain... What I learned is that changing my list of 'obligations' improving my diet and slowing life down in general is all I really need to do... Yes, he is gaining slightly slower but he is still average doing very well... He just happens to be one of the smaller people... So, he is doing wonderful and I feel great! What a relief of stress that has been weighting so heavily on me... She did recommended More Milk Plus if I wanted to do more then what I'm already doing and I will pick that up tomorrow... If the doctor insists on supplementing to supplement with expressed milk... So, I'm going to start pumping after feedings to build a stock for either supplementation or to mix with cereal when that times comes in a couple months... We will be using the Jack Newman method of supplementation if necessary... I checked into feeding tubes and they come in 3 sizes so that will be one of my questions for the doctor if she insists on supplementing... They are $9 and the speciality pharmacy can order one and have it in about 4 days... After that I picked up the boys and Monkey had ST... We rested a bit and then we to the Home school Mass/Pizza party to celebrate the start of a new schooling year... We stayed till almost 9... I came home and popped a 6.52 lb turkey in the oven... That leads us back to where we are at the top of this message with a turkey cooking and me about to sit down and give Linebacker his feeding... Well it is now 9:30 PM (Thursday) and time for nursing session so I will end my message...

Linebacker's Hat

Isn't he adorable... He is now 19 weeks...