Headin' Home

Well, we are heading home for Thanksgiving. Yes, I have packed my stretchy pants. As always, we are leaving later than planned. John got off work at 7 and I had an appt for the car at 8. I wanted him to take the car so I could finish up at home... and because I knew what would happen.... and it did. I came home and found a suitcase on the sidewalk, the back of the truck wide open and my little man sleeping on the couch. Not saying I blame him, he's been up all night.... but I forsee a struggle getting him into the car. I also have 2 girls who are awake and know (at least one of them does) that its time to go to nana's. Trouble is brewin' - pray for me. =)

Roller Coaster Continues

Has anyone noticed the up and down, good and bad nature of these last posts? It seems like I've been on a roller coaster ride for the last 4 days. Oh well, I'm going to try to push through this rough patch with prayer and patience (received only from prayer) until we can get everyone straightened out.

We went to church on Sunday and Jules feel asleep on they way home, but didn't stay asleep. It kind-of screwed up our nap pattern. No one wanted to go down, but by 2:30 trouble was brewing (Jules ended up with another scratch on her face) and I just stuck both girls in bed. They slept for almost 3 hours!

They were much better after that and we ended up having a really great evening. Nat passed out her sunglasses to Jules and I and all three of us were "rockstars." We danced to Christmas songs for our audience (daddy). Next, we were on a "mission to save moose." This ended up being a "hide from daddy, try to sneak up on him, get caught because we were so clumsy and loud" game. He scared us instead. Finally, we hid from daddy under the covers of our bed and had him come find us. He jumped on us all, growling. He scared me, but apparently Nat saw him coming but gave no warning to her fellow tent-mates! The whole family spent the next half-hour under the sheet. The two girls squirmed around trying to jockey for a position closer to daddy. Jules just rolled over him like a little steam roller and then would scream at the top of her lungs about 2 inches from his face. She also enjoyed putting her feet in his face. We just laughed and laughed and laughed.

(The pics - Jules likes dad to wrap her up like a burrito. Dad makes a play-dough nose and teases the girls with it)

Clash of the Titans

That's literally and figuratively. This weekend was FULL of ups and downs. Here are the 'downs.'

I guess it started on Friday after Julsie woke up from her nap. At some point that evening I heard a loud scream and Jules came running. She had a big red mark across her cheek and one on her neck. Nat admitted to having scratched Jules on the cheek (still a scab today) because Jules "woke up Cinderella." I thanked Nat for being honest, explained why what she had done was wrong and told her she'd get a time out. During this discussion, she yelled at me! So, she upped her punishment to a T.O. and a spank. Who does she think she is?

Saturday was an interesting day too. Nat had a great time at the party and Jules and I got some errands done. You'd think it was shaping up to be a great day! Think again.

I know I had to discipline her again that afternoon, but that evening was stinky for other reasons. I missed it, but John said Nat and Jazzy collided and Nat went flying into a dining room chair - head first. (Just what that girl needs, another head injury.) Daddy was with her in seconds and I followed leisurely, not knowing what had happened. When I picked her up, there was already a big purple mark on her forehead and I literally watched it swell right before my eyes.

She was totally against us taking this picture and against us even mentioning it to pop-pop and gma and gpa O when we talked to them on the phone. We iced the poor thing with frozen broccoli and were just grateful that it hadn't split open. Poor little stinker. I felt so terrible for her.

As daddy and I attended to her, she said, "too bad we have to have a baby dog." Even tonight, when I put her to bed she said, "can you pray we take Jazzy back." Instead I prayed that Jazzy would become more gentle and better and more careful. You should have seen Nat's face when I finished. That totally wasn't what she'd wanted. I explained why I prayed the way I did, but she wasn't convinced and said, "yeah, but why can't we just take her back."

Oh NO! She's got my temper and x's ability to hold a grudge!

Life of the Party? or Party Pooper?

After the apprehension of the night before, I decided NOT to just drop Nat off at the door, but went inside. I knew the mom "gets" Nat and would be okay with that.

We got inside and all the little girls were in their bathing suits. The mom and dad were dressed in life-guard apparel with visors and goggles and the "life-guard" symbol pasted across their shirts. Before I even get my shoes off, Nat says, "mom, mom, you should see my friend's bathing suit!" Before I get Julsie's coat off, "mom, mom, you should see what's IN here!"

What was "in here" was a big (water-less) blow-up pool, beach balls, water noodles and all kinds of beach paraphernalia along with tons of little girls hopping in and out of the pool with new flip-flops and ribbons and kids getting nails painted. It was wonderful. I stayed for a while to see how Nat would do, but she barely even paid any attention to me! I did help paint some nails (not Nat's), but left soon after everyone was polished. Poor Julsie bawled to leave. She too was getting in on the fun!

When I returned to pick Nat up 1.5 hours later, she didn't even notice me when I came in (and if she did, didn't acknowledge me). I finally had to get her attention. "Mom, look at my ball! look at my bag!" "Those are so nice! You made out like a bandit! So, how'd it go? What did you do?" "We danced! We played, we played Freeze dance, we ate cupcakes and pizza!" "Pizza? and what kind of cupcakes?" "Pink! Pink sunglasses" "Pink cupcakes, of course! Oh my goodness, you love pizza and pink. Was it the best party ever?" "Yes, it was the best party."

So, she had a great time and survived her first "drop-off" party. What a big milestone =)

PS Special thanks to the party mom and dad. It was so special for the kids - a real hit

Priceless Party Prelude

Nat was invited to attend a "Beach Party Birthday Bash" on Saturday. She had been extremely excited to go ever since the birthday girl and sisters brought the super-cute invitation to our house two weeks ago. The night before was slightly different:

As I was leaving the bedroom after tucking the girls into bed, I get the usual (or so I think) stalling technique, "mom, I have to tell you something."
"Ye-es," I said, thinking, "here we go again."
"Mom, ... mom... could you call my friends at the "snow summer beach party" and... tell them, ...tell them I'll be a little ascared?"
"Are you going to be a little shy? There's nothing to be afraid of honey, but I can call them. "
"and mom,.... can you call my friends and tell them "tell Natty, "to not be ascared?" okay?"
"Yes honey, I can surely do that for you."

First Snow!

We got our first snow of the year! Nat was sooo excited. I couldn't even get her into the car that morning to go to preschool. She wanted so desperately to play in that white-stuff she's been waiting for. And she HAS been waiting for it. She watches for snow during 'the weather.' She'll say, "it's going to snow! Are we going to nana's?" We saw snow at nana's over Halloween so I guess she has now associated the two (which actually isn't too off-the-mark.)

These pics were taken after school and after her nap. I promised her that if she took her nap she could play in the snow. Julsie was still in bed so it was just the two of us. We had a lot of fun building a snow castle. It may have looked like a big pile, but let me tell you, every flake was strategically placed. Of course, she denied having cold fingers or a wet bum... until we were finished for the day.

I'm sort-of disappointed in my pics. It was so much brighter out that day and she was just so much more beautiful in real life - the pink coat and hat, the rosy cheeks.

In these last ones, she's smirking because I asked her to hold still to let me take a picture. She got that wry smile on her face and said, "I can't mom, I busy building. I have to keep working." "Well then," I said, "I had better get on the ball and get back to work!"

Now, even days later, everytime we come into the house, I look to see "where is Nat?" and there she is, stomping in the snow castle.

Post 100!

Its Official:

100 POSTS!

My last post was number 100 for this blog! Stay tuned for the next 100

and thanks for reading!

Random Ramblings

1. My name is Heather ..... and I'm addicted to cinnamon and sugar. I'm addicted to anything that tastes or merely smells like the stuff. My college roommates can attest to me eating an entire can of Pillsbury cinnamon rolls by myself ... for dinner (usually when I'd had a bad day, etc.) You know, the oooey gooey ones you bake yourself. (I love those exploding cardboard tubes too, by the way. The sound of that opening was like the sound of a popping champagne cork or fireworks or starting pistol... saying, lets get this party started!)


2. Nat has been a whiny cat lately, and she's started to back-talk. I think she thinks that she is being funny, but we're really not amused. So, John and I decided that the hammer is comin' down. I realize that it is 90% my fault and I need to fix it. We've already discussed it with her and told her things are going to be different. For starters (in addition to disciplining) from now on, Nat will have to nap every day while Jules does - not for a long time, but she has to rest. Next, no more late nights. To date, her bed time has always been a case of "give them an inch..." NO MORE! End of Story. (someone email me next week and see how we're doing, - if we still are a family of four, or if one of us has jumped ship or gone to the looney bin ... Hey, and no placing bets on who that will be, either.)


3. Jaz has a skin problem. She gets red patches on her stomach, scaly dandruff, and puss filled bumps. Sometimes she is even a little stinky. After some trials and tribulations (2 rounds of antibiotics from the vet, various skin washing routines with medicated shampoo, adding fish oils to her diet and making all of her meals out of people food (like burger and rice)) we think she has a food allergy. After changing to homemade food and adding oils, it seemed to get a lot better. This week, we went back to Iams and just kept the added oils to see if it was the food or if she just needed the oils .... and its coming back. Now I'm researching food allergens and natural dog foods. Ugh. But other than the flaky, rashy, pussy, sometimes stinky skin, she really is a very nice and very smart dog. I am really starting to like her.

For Love

John's latest cockamamie scheme... oh, sorry, I mean, idea....(besides traveling to mid-Ohio on the first day of buck by himself and sleeping in his truck while there until he bags the "big one.") ....
Now wait, I don't want this to sound like I am an unsupportive, wife who is trying to undermine and emasculate her husband... nothing could be further from the truth... 'Go lift those weights, eat that tuna, get that dangerous job, move us across the state, dig that pond, breed that (fill in the blank), kill that (fill in the blank)' ... I cleave, I submit, but a woman has to draw the line somewhere! I have found my line.

The other day, our conversation goes something like this:
"Remind me to tell you about Brinser's beetles."
"Ok, just tell me about the beetles now."
All excited he says, "ok!"
Apparently while at the archery shop the owner was looking at John's deer skull and mentioned that there are beetles that will clean the skull perfectly and will leave all that little detail in the nose in-tact. Then, soon after, John is talking to a co-worker, Brinser, who just happened to have recently ordered these beetles.
"He got 1000 of them for $90. You just throw the head in with them and they have it clean in 3 to 5 days. Isn't that amazing?" he says. "The best thing to do is to put them in an old freezer without a lid, you get them as larva and then they turn into beetles. You get the colony "primed" by adding some food in ahead of time, then they are ready to go. Brinser is going to keep them in a tub in his garage and keep them warm with a heat lamp for baby chicks."
And because I KNEW what was on his mind, I say, "Eeeewww. You are NOT doing that."
"WHAT?" he says, in his high-pitched 'amazed', voice. "I told everyone you'd totally say yes." "What? Yeah, eeeew. You are soo not doing that. What if they get out?"
Chuckling, he says, "I know, I told Brinser, don't fall asleep in your garage, you'll wake up without an arm."
"Sick!" I say, "and what do you do with them the other 11 months out the year."
"Oh yeah, you just raise them, they're like a full-time thing. You can even get paid to do other people's (animal) skulls!"

Yeah, despite the enticing business probabilities, I'm so not raising flesh eating beetles...... I'm still against the idea of having rabbits.

PS Just in case you don't know, I wouldn't trade him for any man in the world. =)

What Does a Stay-at-home Mom DO All Day?

While I tortured Jaz with a bath, Jules was apparently a little hungry so she helped herself to some Cheerios.... and Voila... a 9:00am vacuuming session in addition to the tub-scrub. Did I mention they were "lightly sweetened Multigrain Cheerios?" Lightly sweetened means, slightly sticky... just sticky enough to attach to ones body and clothes - to be eaten later, of course.

John was in bed for the entire ordeal and as Jules tracked her O covered body through the house, leaving a Gretel-esque trail behind her , she stopped in front of his bed, peered at her feet, sat down and picked out a sticky O from between her toes .... Pleasantly surprised to find out what the offending object was, she quickly ate it. =)

That was about 3 days AFTER the following: "Mom!!!! Julsie pooped in the tub!" There they were... all three of them - Nat looking worried, Julsie looking sheepish, holding her bottom, and the unwelcomed tub-mate looking.... buoyant. I ran to get a plastic bag (an improvement from my reaction to Jaz pooping on my mom's carpet).

Anyway, I scooped out all three. I sent one to it's watery grave and hauled the others to my shower. J, N and I all took a disinfecting "shub" (shower with the drain plugged and spray pointed to the wall.) .... don't worry, afterwards I drained their tub and re-filled it with highly concentrated bleach water.

All in a day's work.

Nat and the Ant

"Mom! there's an ant on the floor!"

I run over to her, thinking she's upset

Searching the floor, I say "Where?"

In her funny little voice, "I cut its head off with the end of my stroller."

"I'm going to do another ant"

Seeing her still rolling her stroller across the carpet, daddy says, "How many times are you going to kill that?"

"Oh, so many times. .... I'm going to kill it until it doesn't stand up."

New Page Element!

As some of you may have noticed, my blog has been under construction. No, I was not in post-election hiding. (I'm actually fine.) I started making a couple changes at M&D's, then got all behind with my work at home, slept in a couple days and wooosh.... backed up on the blog.

Anyway, one thing that is different is a new section on the side-bar called "Pathway Through Proverbs." You see, the pastor at my old church in Pgh, Mark Montgomery, sends out daily mini-devotionals, along with a passage of scripture, via email. This year, he has been focusing on one verse from Proverbs every day. Proverbs, by definition, are brief statements expressing some truth or fundamental principle.

With permission, I am posting (what is pretty much) his proverb of the day along with his commentary on it. Who can't use a brief little reminder of a fundamental truth to get you off to the right start?

My goal is to post the new proverb EACH day. If you like it, want more, miss a day or would like to show it to someone else, I have placed a link on the site for past "pathways" so that while they aren't on the blog anymore, you can always still find them.

Hope these are beneficial!

Guess Who Else Felt Blessed on Halloween?

As I said, John spent the weekend in Allegheny Co. (Pittsburgh). Before we left, John said, "Oh no, which one of us is going to take the camera?" To me, it was a no-brainer. My kids at Halloween trump his POTENTIAL hunting score.... so I said, "You can have it, Nat was a duck last year. We'll take that picture and add the pic of Nat as a lady bug 2 years ago and just photo-shop Julsie's head over Nat's face." I got the camera =)

So, on Friday morning, John's historically most successful hunting day of the year, he managed to kill his 3rd largest buck ever! Unfortunately, he did not have the camera to properly document it as I was busy taking blurry pics of the kids. He did get some shots of it on his cell phone, but we may never learn how to get them off of it. We did take some pics of it once he got it home. (PS That is a piece of wood in between the antlers to keep the spread from decreasing before he got it to the archery shop for measurement.)

He also got a doe on Friday evening. Although I know he felt blessed to get a deer, I felt equally as blessed to have the meat. And although I'm a bargain shopper, I probably felt more blessed that he paid to get it cut and wrapped! I still have bad memories of the hours and hours and hours we spent last year in the freezing cold cutting up those two. (I don't even know if I'm much of a help cutting. I get so obsessive compulsive over every last piece it takes me forever!)

He did this mount himself on Saturday. It's called a European mount and involves skinning the head, boiling it and picking it clean until all the "meat" is gone. Then you stick it in a plastic bag with professional hair bleach stuff to get the bones nice and white. This is about the 4th or 5th mount he's done this way (including his elk) so he's become more proficient. We boiled it on the side-burner of the grill at mom's. We had to buy a new propane tank, but we have a nice little set-up there now .... and besides, that thing never would have set foot in the house! Oh, and Nat is not at all phased. She watched him skin the head and said, ...... "I like his eye balls."

Anyway, YAY! .......... We have meat. This sounds crazy, (not MAY sound crazy... does sound crazy) but I'm truly grateful to God for this food and that I have a man who can provide for us no matter what.

Oh, two more doe tags in PA to go and a potential rifle-season trip to Ohio for a giant (hopefully) white-tail. Can anyone say "Buck Fever?"

The 60 Mile Trick-or-Treat Saga

We went back to Western PA for Halloween weekend. John headed down to Allegheny County to hunt the big bucks. The girls and I went to my parents' home to visit and go trick-or-treating. It was like a winter wonderland at mom and dad's (M&D's). Here are the girls the morning after we got there. John thought mom was "exaggerating" when she said 4 inches, so I took pics to prove it.

So, Nat decided to be a duck (again) and Jules was a lady bug. Both girls were really good about dressing up. We left the house around 6:00. First, we went to my hairdresser's (near M&D's). Then, we drove around the countryside to houses of friends. No one was home! So, we headed to downtown Cochranton and went to some of our friends' there. Here is Nana, our dear friend Pat, and the girls. Pat is one of their favorite people. Mine too. We try to go to breakfast with Pat nearly every morning we're at M&D's.

We hit 2 more stops in town and headed to Aunt Nance's. As she filled Nat's bag with tons of candy, Old Maid cards, crayons, color books, I thought "oh, that's okay, she's putting items for both girls in the one bag.... man, that's a lot of stuff." But oh, I was wrong. She headed back to the table and grabbed just as much loot for Jules and filled her bag too! She spoils them! Then, she had her sister-in-law and niece all lined up next door to give the girls candy too! As we left her house I said to Nat, "Aunt Nance loves you girls soooo much." Nat replies, "She loves us so much I ... I don't even know WHAT to say." I ended up not getting any good pics there. They were all blurry but this one ... (don't ask John what he thinks about my photog. skills)

For our final stop, we headed down to Sheakleyville to "Aunt Ronda" and Patrick's. She has been my mom's friend since first grade and we spent a lot of time with her and her two girls as I was growing up. We were going to have a "party!" and did we ever.... just for my two girls! She must have spent hours working on getting ready. She was decked out in kid-friendly Halloween garb, had decorated clear plastic glasses with Halloween stickers, made about a million orange-frosted, specially embellished cupcakes presented in glass and on a 3-tier tray, candy galore, beautiful Halloween gift bags with special candy for each girl. She had the festive plates and napkins. She even had the ceramic ghosts her mother had made. (I immediately remembered them from being at "Nana Hudson's" house as a child.) We ate cupcakes and milk and donuts and coffee and talked with them until 10:30!!!! We were pooped, but who cares when you're on a sugar-high?

As we were leaving, I was thinking about Aunt Ronda's first grandchild (on the way.) What wonderful memories and special moments she will create for her grandbabies, huh?

Anyway, on Halloween I felt so blessed to have such wonderful friends and family.

Preschool Halloween!

Here are pics from our Preschool Party! The twins were a bride and a witch. I found that so funny. Miss K was Dorothy, Miss C was a lion, Nat was a duck.... Yes, just like last year. And we had a special guest, Miss Ky, join us for the party!

We decorated cupcakes, made decorations, played "pin the nose on the pumpkin," did a relay race to fill buckets with candy corn and read stories. I think we all had a pretty good time.

The night before, I had to "punt" on the craft for class. I wanted to make these decorations from Martha Stewart (right). I pre-folded all the pieces of paper for each girl, but when it took me an hour to make the sample, I knew we needed something different! HAHA. We made these instead:

I cut out all the pieces, they just had to count the pieces (3 triangles for jack-o-lanterns, 8 spider legs) and glue them on. The one on the left is Natty's work. The one on the right was the example. We hung these up on our doors for decoration.