The ONLY nice thing about one of your babies not feeling well....

This was from a couple weeks ago on a day where she had a runny nose AND her shots.  All she wanted was to be held.  Sweet, sweet girl.

Fun Fact Day 2: Nicknames

Bennett:  Norm, Norman T Norman T Norman T Jones, BD
Annabelle:  Annie Miss Annie, Ann, Sis, Anna Banana
Eliza:  Lida Beans, Lidey, Bean Diggity, Beans
CallaMae:  Calla Baby, Super Cal

 We skipped trick or treating this year because the weather was terrible.  But B, A and E went out to McDonald's with Mark and Carol and thought that was a good trade off.  The kids did get dressed up for their schools Monster Mash. It's a dance with various activities for elementary students.  It's to raise money for the Parent Education Group.    And CallaMae dressed up for the sake of a picture.  Every baby has a picture in that honey pot costume.
      Annabelle:  Cowgirl,                  Bennett:  Paul from Gator Boys,             Eliza:  Giraffe

Fun Fact December: Day 1

Today through the end of the month I am going to *TRY* and jot down one fun fact about me or our family as a reminder of how we are/things we do during this season of our lives.

Everyone in this family loves Cinnamon Toast Crunch (or the Aldi's version).  I bought 6 boxes on Tuesday knowing everyone would be home for a stretch of time for Thanksgiving.  We go through about a box a day but I figure it's $1.69 a box at Aldi so that plus the cost of milk is a pretty cheap breakfast.  It's the only cereal Darrin and the kids don't get sick of.  I'm not much of a breakfast eater.  When I do eventually eat, I choose greek yogurt.  I will eat just about any kind.  If you aren't a fan of greek yogurt but think the protein would be a nice added benefit to a breakfast or snack, I HIGHLY recommend Dannon Oikos Key Lime Greek Yogurt.  I'd say it's my favorite and tastes like a dessert.

Today I'm THANKFUL For This Boy!

Eight amazing years of being this boys mother.  NO WORDS for how I love him and how thankful I am he was chosen for me.  He's a cool kid!  We love you Bennett!  Happy birthday Buddy!

Today I'm Thankful For Our Furry Family Member

This sweet boy is 8 years old.  He will be 9 in July.  He has grown up right along with the kids.  He's just a little older than Bennett.  He has put up with and tolerated a lot of changes in our family and he just goes with it.  He has his faults, as do all people (he pulls on a leash and chases small animals off our property :), and it took him a while to get out of the puppy stage.  But patience has paid off.  He is an awesome dog!  His greatest strength is his love and tolerance for his human siblings.  He will tolerate anything and if something does bother him he just lets out a little whine.  He loves to nap on the couch or even on our bed and he enjoys walking at the farm, leash free.   I appreciate him so on nights that Darrin is away.  He has a ferocious bark and can look intimidating.  He makes me feel safer when I home alone with the kids.  We love having our Palmer John!  His nicknames include, Palm, Palmtastic, and Johnny. 

Today I'm Thankful for Family

Having a husband and children of my own is something I have always dreamed about.  I am thankful every day I have the job I do.  I love the activity we have in our house.  We could and would happily invite more children into our home.  More children means more love, more fun!  I love spending my days with my husband and kids.  I learn something new about myself almost every day.  I also think I've gotten better at my job which makes things run more smoothly.  I am currently reading a book called, "The Power of a Positive Mom," and although not far in, I think the gist of it is that the mood and attitude of the Mom in the house can set the mood for everyone else.  It a job not to be taken lightly.

I'm also SO thankful for my parents, parents in-law, and my whole extended family.  Their love and support has shaped who I am, and who we are as a family today. We know that if we are ever in a tough spot, there will always be countless people to turn to who would be willing and ready to help.

I'm thankful for parents who made my childhood happy, who gave us a sense of security and who always made us their priority.  And even when things got tough, they NEVER took it out on us.  I'm lucky to have been born to naturally good parents!

Today I'm thankful for FAMILY!!

Today I'm Thankful for Saving Money

Over the years we've gotten better at this.  I stay home with my babies and feel so fortunate for that!  We've had to get creative sometimes but it works!  It was tough when Bennett and Annabelle were babies but now we're at a place where we feel good about the financial choices we've made and things we've been able to do to have some security in the future.  Our kids will not likely have their college paid for in full by us but we'll be able to help.  We won't be taking yearly anniversary trips or family vacations to faraway places.  Camping will have do do.  But we're happy and it works for us.

Here are some ways we've been able to save money.  Many are ways we've been blessed by others.  We continue to try and return the blessings in ways we can.

Money saving blogs like savingaddiction.com that matches coupons to sales at various stores.
Aldi when I don't feel like clipping coupons.
Many generous people who think of our family when wanting to clear their home of clothes that no longer fit their children.
Friends who barter for babysitting/sewing/carpooling/photography services, etc.
Family who have gifted us furniture and items we need for our home when they are no longer in need of them or are upgrading.
Online shopping with coupon codes.
A town where you don't have to "keep up with the Jones's" to fit in and be accepted.
Amish stores for an occasional GREAT bargain.
My liking of Walgreens brand diapers and their occasional BOGO sales on them.
GARAGE SALES!
Kids who are content hanging out at home.
The LAKE!  Fishing and swimming are summer activities that keep the kids busy for the cost of worms.
The local libraries.  Free story times, music classes, programs and rentals!
And this one I think I was born with.  I do not like to shop.  I hate crowds, trying clothes on, and spending more than $5.00 on clothing items (especially for the kiddos).  That's why in a few long days of garage saling, I always hope to find the items we need and I usually do.  If not, I am so, so thankful for the computer and free shipping deals :)!
The town barber.  Both my boys can get their hair cut for 18.00 total.  As much as I'd like to say I can use the clippers to cut their hair...I just can't.
Pinterest!  So many creative crafts, activities and recipes.

Take any picture of these 4 sweeties, the total cost of all 4 outfits will likely be no more than $5.00.

Today I Give Thanks For FRIENDS

In honor of the upcoming holiday (and because I didn't participate in the daily thankful posts on FB) today I wanted to express my thanks and gratitude for my FRIENDS!  

Having friends who are supportive, giving, and fun is an amazing gift.

Today I'm thankful for the friends I've made in Colon who I see on a regular basis and who are a huge support to me in my mothering role.  As a result, my kiddos have a sweet group of friends to call their own. I love this group of kids!

  I also have an amazing group of friends I made long ago who are the friends I can talk to once in a while and I know without a doubt our friendship hasn't changed.  Like family!   

And I'm forever thankful for my best friend for life...my sweet husband who was made for me.  Love him.  

  

Oldest and Youngest

Look a lot alike!  Even more so if CallaMae had more hair and teeth!

Squishy Love...

9 and 1/2 months

19 pounds 13 ounces 

27 and 3/4 inches

75th percentile for weight and height

4 teeth partially through

Happy, Silly, Cuddly

Ball of Squishy Love!!!

Today

C started sucking her thumb.  It's funny to see.  The first of my children to do so.

C also gets up on her hands and toes like she's wanting to bear crawl.  That would be interesting.

E took a catnap on the boat while the big kids did some tubing.  She's been partying hard during the day but hasn't been sleeping in as long as she used to.

E didn't want her chicken at dinner but loved the tortellini and blueberries.

A was rocking a pretty creative outfit.

A caught the first fish of the night

B caught a turtle on his pole.

B helped his dad paint a piece of football equipment.

A. E and I walked around town this morning/afternoon to check out the magic week events.

A, E, and I went to the village market where the Kiwanis was selling 1 dollar lunch meals.  I bought 5 so I didn't have to cook.  For 1 dollar you got a hotdog, bag of chips, bottled water, and a mini ice-cream sandwich.  Can't beat it.  The Village Market was giving away free samples.  I got a whole box of crunchy granola bars and two packages of pudding cups.  I love free things.

I tried an IT WORKS wrap last night and revealed the results this morning.  IT WORKED after just one wrap.  Unfortunately I will not be purchasing more as they are expensive but I just had to see for myself if I could actually see a difference.

Sorry CallaMae

for not posting a new picture on the blog header.  I have spent time trying to figure it out but get sick of it after about 10 minutes of trying.  I will figure it out eventually!

Kid Speak

So our Eliza is 3 today.  I can't begin to explain the joy she brings to this family.  What an amazing gift she is!  I'll write more about our girl later.  For right now I wanted to put into print some of the cute things she says.  I find the 2/3 year old speech processing so fascinating.  You can actually see their little brains at work.  Here are a few cute things she has said lately.  So wish I could remember them all.

Today her Dad took her to get doughnuts at Yoders.  She kept calling them peanuts.  "Dad and I are going to get peanuts!"

The other day she asked me if she could "whisper the floor."...she meant swiffer.

She got out our bucket of beads and asked if she could dump out the "seeds."

And she loves to help me clean and "spray."  When she's done with each job, she always says, "Now we what to do Mom?"

Love her!!!  Wish I had a super memory because knowing I won't remember so much of the adorable things the kids do and say really upsets me.  I can't even remember from one day to the next sometimes.

Today

Very few groceries in the house meant french toast for dinner.  Darrin got an omelet.

Suitcases packed for camping.

Playtime at the park for Milo's birthday.  Thankful for really wonderful friends (both for me and my kids!)

My 8 (closing in on 9) month old CallaMae who ate an entire ice cream cone completely by herself.  The ice cream was flat to the cone but nonetheless, there was nothing left of that cone but the stain on her shirt. 

A boy who sometimes seems so much older than 7.

Freckles on noses admired.  

Cuddling with the girls while watching Good Luck Charlie.  Love Teddy's new haircut.  Wondering how the cut would look on me.  I'm not a teen so not sure it would look remotely close.  

Sad sisters who had to go to bed before Brother and Dad got home from football camp.  A detour to the hospital due to a player breaking his arm before the season even starts.  

Peeking at all my sleeping children.  Amazing.

Reminiscing on the good times with our van as tomorrow we pass it along to someone else and get a new (used) one of our own.

Being thankful for Darrin.  I love the way he genuinely cares for others.  

Being mad at myself for never remembering my camera these days.  

Looking back...

I was looking through some photos tonight and came across a few that Jenny took this past spring of our preschool bunch.  Oh my goodness what a crew!!  I love these kiddos!  We were blowing bubbles with homemade solution and the cut off end of a water bottle.  CallaMae wasn't in the mood for pictures that day.

Summer Memories

Oh my goodness, we've done so many neat things this summer but I've been terrible about taking my camera along.  So for the sake of preserving the memories, I'm going to list some of the things we've been up to.

A mobile lemonade stand decorated for the 4th of July.  The kids pulled the wagon with a 5 gallon cooler in it around the neighborhood and made out pretty well.

A visit to the Nottawa Stone School (an old fashioned school house).

The Critchlow Alligator Sanctuary at the library.  The kids held all sorts of cool critters and CallaMae sat on a tortoise.

Seeing a litter of border collie mix puppies.

Horse Camp with Isabel for my big kids.

Two vacation bible schools.

Taking rides around the farm on the cart pulled my the miniature horse.

A trip to Nottawa ice cream store.

A program put on by the Kalamazoo Nature Center.  It was very interesting.  The speaker was a huge wealth of knowledge.  We learned about soil, critters that live underground, fossils, etc.

A birthday party for Taylie.

A day trip to Hidden Ridge Campground to visit Jason, Jenny, and the girls and then to visit Aunt Wendi, Zoe, and Ty.

Lots of swimming and tubing.

Catching fireflies.

Catfishing until super late.

I will update the list as I think of more things.

And of course things like the 4th of July Celebrations, and other things that I did in fact remember to bring a camera to.  I will get caught up eventually.

Take me out to the ballgame.

There is no game I'd rather watch than a game my child is playing in.  What fun we had this ball season.  Bennett was in coach pitch and quickly got out of his uniform before I was able to snap a picture.  Stinker! He was number 5.  He was on Smolarz Dentistry's team and his coach was Matt Cossairt.  Annabelle was in t-ball and was on a team with Macey and Kelsey.  Her team was sponsored by Crop Production Services of Mendon and was coached by BJ Mallen.  

The kids first wedding.

Darrin's cousin Kelly got married at the end of June.  It was the kids first wedding and they had a blast.  They got the party started and were the first ones out on the dance floor.  We're grateful to Kelly and Ernie for inviting families.  It was a neat experience for them!

 This girl cooperated so well!  She ate dinner when we ate then slept the rest of the time in her car seat.  

 Annabelle caught the bouquet.

Fashion is Her Kryptonite...

Annabelle had her dance recital the second Saturday of June.  She was in hip-hop this year and danced to the song Fashion is My Kryptonite.  It's such a joy to watch her dance because you can see on her face how much she loves it.  Here's our girl the day of her reciatal.  She loved her costume this year.  It suits her well :)!

Yogi Bear 2013

A ton of pictures because we had a ton of fun!