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This is nothing special, well to you anyway. I'm not a scrapbook type, or a baby book writer, or even a picture printer. I'm terrible at recording memories. This blog is my attempt at holding on to some of my life as a Christian, a wife, and a homeschooling Mom of 5. I am a country girl that lived in a big city for 14 years, and moved to the Deep South for quiet, quaint, small town living.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Yum Yums

This is the Monster.
Really, that is what it is called.  
Yum Yum's doughnut shop in Lansdale, PA makes them.
Troy has begun a tradition of hitting up his favorite sugar factory when we leave his parent's house.
It is like bringing a little bit of Nana and Pop Pop home...
You know, the place they can eat Popsicles anytime of the day, 
(along with anything else sweet they find.)  
No Rules at Grandparents!

Just trying to keep the memories alive for the kids.  
It has nothing to do with the Peanutbutter Cup, or the Chocolate Thunder doughnuts that Troy and I are wiping from our chins.....

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Cowboy George

I'm awful at gifts.  Um, doughnut maker, ahem.  So I was/am still terribly excited that George proclaimed his Western town the Best gift of the year!  I found it at a consignment shop in the Fall and all the kids found it at least once in the basement before Christmas.  Never the less, he loves it and plays with it every day.

 Old school Fischer Price!
 The cowboys snap off the horses to stand bow legged like real cowboys.
 Even the Natives like having a place to belong.
The stage coach even has a hidden cannon to blow away the bad guys!
 Even this city slicker who dreams of being a cowboy is plum tuckered out.
 I guess they sleep with their hats on?
I've heard it said, "A Cowboy is a man with guts and a Horse."

2nd Christmas

Like many families we swap holidays.  Since this year was a Pocomoke Christmas, we had Christmas #2 in PA on New Years weekend.

 Ginnie was in rare sorts, pacing the fire place, itching to open gifts.  She usually doesn't care that much.
 I am wondering if Ginnie got that attribute from her namesake (Nana).  She is rarely sitting down, unless she is working and multitasking.
 As if her Pop Pop is any better.
 Maggie is much more subtle than Ginnie, but she can grab your attention and keep it.
 After Nana and Pop Pop's gifts were handed out, Ginnie got to open hers.  The older kids were more mellow.  You know, Christmas professionals.
 Then the weekend began.  Eating, eating, and more eating!  Maggie is digging her first oatmeal cookie!
 The traditional pomegranates, mangoes, oranges from the stockings (along with a lot of really good chocolate and $) are always a hit.  My kids will nosh on pom seeds all day.  Troy's dad just laughs at them eating the seeds and not thinking anything of it.  It's good roughage.
Ginnie Jr. is earning a place in the Nana movie chair by sitting still for more than 2 mins at a time.
 Yes, we brought heavy coats, but is was strangely warm for snow on the ground.  (Not that I was out there.  Don't be silly.  There is SNOW out there.  Gross.)  Besides the thin layers that bring our parenting in question, who let's their kids build snowmen with BARE HANDS?? 
 She is pretty cute.
 And, if that wasn't enough, the kids decided she needed a friend.
 Did you know that Troy's Mom will walk around outside barefoot in 2 degree weather, and then complain that her arms are cold?  These folk are a strange breed. I shouldn't question the bare hand snow building too much, I guess.
 George is caught with a mouth full of snowman nose.
And the smart ones are inside, in jammies, still eating and playing.

I would like that to be my New Year's Resolution.  To live the year inside in my jammies.  I pretty much do it during the winter anyway....

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

kitty kitty

Buddy and Jovie are surviving the Stouffers.  I'm relieved.  If you know anything about a certain 3rd child, you may understand why.  They are fitting in our family nicely, realizing they need to nap when Ginnie naps.  That makes me think they are pretty smart.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

I'm reading, go make me some doughnuts!

Tell me this is cool.  Everyone wants a mini doughnut maker.
Right???
Because I gave Troy this for Christmas.  
I'm a little self conscious because he broke the alloted money rule and got me a Kindle.  
Not quite equal, but 
NO BACKSIES! Ha ha!
Poor Troy.

 His Saturday tradition is to make waffles or pancakes for us, 
so I thought this would be a nice change. 
The combos he already makes are incredible.  
PB pancakes with jelly sauce, chocolate waffles with strawberries, apple pancakes with walnuts.... 
it goes on and on.
I'm excited to see what he does with the doughnuts.
I love that creative man!
 He started off with plain chocolate so the kids could decorate with icing and sprinkles.


I'm not sure if Ginnie was awake yet.... but she ate her fair share later on that day.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

This helps

I miss my Jeep.  I miss the awesome tire cover Marcy gave me that proclaimed Life is Good to anyone and everyone who drove behind, parked near, or was looking for my vehicle.
It made me smile.
Now I have a van.
An awkward, like the middle school years, toy strewn, just like every other mom, v a n.  blah.
Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for my van, and especially the reason we had to move on from the 5 seater jeep..... but it just doesn't shout out to the world Life is Good.

My friend Sherry gave Maggie this cozy sleeper, and what do you know- she is sporting Life is Good on her spare tire!  When I see that, I'm over my plain ole van resentment and remember that no matter what I'm driving, LIFE IS GOOD!

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Who needs dress up clothes?

We have a trunk of dress up clothes.  It is currently doing it's 3rd sentence in toy time-out.  I have no tolerance for dress up clothes (or any toys) thrown all over the floor, all the time.  
(What I don't get it why they never picked up the easiest toy to clean up?  Just scoop the fabric in your arms and dump in the trunk!)  
Anyway, the kids are dress-up-less again, but it doesn't stop them!  I actually prefer this kind of dress up better.  They have to think to create, manipulate materials, then play.  
That is a learning melting pot!  
Then, I just have to get on them to clean up the paper mess... sigh.