Fascinating numbers:

My nieces make hats. They are beautiful. Check out: http://4sisters4freedom.com/ to see them. They asked me to measure my kids’ heads to know sizes to make for the hats. They are:

Liberty 20"

Eden 20.25"

Sterling 20.75"

Ruby 18.75"

Charlotte 17”

Yep, Sterling has a big head. Apparently he gets it from me:

Blaine 22.5”

Adrienne 22.75”

Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown.

Our tree, cut in the back pasture, decorated very carefully with only the lightest unbreakable ornaments, and much-loved by children who do not remember what a real Christmas tree is supposed to look like.

Well, that was just cool.

Sterling loved his work boots. All summer, he’d put on his work boots, his “work” jeans (jeans with holes in the knees, to match the holes in his Daddy’s jeans that were well-earned crawling in the crawlspace) and he’d head out to help his Daddy. Blaine had much to do, mostly in the crawlspace, involving re-plumbing water and sewer lines and running new gas lines as well. This house was a wreck. But Sterling had a great time helping his Daddy.

A couple months ago, Sterling’s work boots had to go. They were a size 7, killing his feet, but it was still a very sad day for Sterling. I looked for a new pair, but couldn’t justify spending the money on a new pair. Still, I kept looking for some at all the consignment stores. My mom was looking for some too.

Yesterday I took the kids shopping for gifts for each other. We had just walked out of a $1 store, the three older kids were already in the van, Ruby was throwing a fit it typical Ruby fashion, and a car pulled up next to mine. The woman got out, commented on Ruby’s coughing and I said it was all fake in the name of getting her own way. There was no way this lady saw my other kids except for Ruby and Charlie. So when she asked if I had a boy, I said yes, wondering if she knew us from somewhere.

Nope. She popped open her trunk, pulled out a pair of work boots identical to Sterling’s old ones, only in a size 9 and asked if he would like them. She said she’d bought them at a consignment store, feeling led to buy them with no one to give them to – just that God would show her. It was incredible. Sterling put them on immediately, wore them all afternoon, then gave them to me to wrap for him for Christmas. Right then, it was pretty incredible. God cares for even the little, frivolous things like giving Sterling the desires of his heart – new work boots. That’s awesome.

What does that mean?

Apparently Brady has me trained. She barks at her water bowl, I rinse and fill it. Really now.

Eden heard the “making a list/checking it twice” line and asked what it meant. The idea of Santa is a fairly foreign concept to her, and after explaining it, she asked, “If it really was true, if there really was a list, would I be on the naughty list?” Oh, honey. We all would.

I was informed by my dear three year old son that “There was a stop sign back there, Mom!” I replied, “I know honey. I stopped. Quickly.” The look of confusion on his face told me to wait for the rollback next time or he’s ratting me out.

Eden got carsick on the way home the other day. She was supposed to clean out the van, but didn’t do so great of a job. Neither did the cat she then locked (accidentally, I assume) in the van. That was one terrified half-wild cat that spent the night in the van. She left gifts. Really, if she was going to jump in there and leave her mark, couldn’t she have at least done a better job with the vomit?

An Amish woman in the grocery store asked if my children are all mine. I told her they were, and she asked how close in age they are and commented on my hands being full. Nothing new – except for the Amish woman part. It’s given me pause to think - I just haven’t reached any conclusions yet. When a person that is part of a church that teaches that children are a blessing and encourages all you can have asks a question like that, what does that mean?

Adrienne’s* helpful hints #153

Taking a pair of tights – women’s or girls’ (Liberty’s worked. Thanks, L.) – and cutting a two inch wide strip from around the top of the leg (so that it’s still an unbroken circle) and then hot-gluing a 1” or so length of ribbon around it in one spot, overlapping the ribbon and gluing with a spot of glue on the inside only makes a great headband. An alligator bow/flower clip can then be slid under the ribbon on the outside. Voila! One of those “interchangeable” headbands at the cost of one pair of old, worn-out tights. If you can stop at just one color. Next up are my black ones. I have never heard of a better use for the awful things.

 

Clean is preferable. Of course.

Or, like mine, purchased with great intentions, yet never, ever worn.

See?

Charlie loves hers.

I think.

It’s not scary. I promise.

 

*This helpful hint originated from an acquaintance. I’m simply not this creative on my own.

Christmas, homemade.

My sewing machine and I have been hard at work making Christmas dresses (less the green and red, since I do not plan on putting in so many hours sewing for something that can be worn just at Christmas!) for the girls. Sterling wondered what he was getting, so I made him a shirt to “match”. Yes, they know what they are getting. There are not nearly enough midnight hours to sew after bedtime.

Upon finishing, I’ve decided more boys would be a good thing, since that shirt took a fraction of the time and work as those dresses! Without further ado, ruffled dresses, a button-down shirt, and no close-up shot so that they can look nearly perfect – from afar. 

 

Ha! Those doors look mostly clean and you can’t even see the cobwebs from that shot! Perfect.

It’s a good thing you’re cute, Dog.

Brady seems to have caught the flu from the kids. At least that’s what I’m assuming that’s what she was telling me with her little surprises all over the house this morning. Note to self: kennel Brady tonight.

All great literature… leads to great quotes.

“Eden, I needed that spoon to get MY yogurt!”

“Sorry Lib.”

“Just wash it.”

Eden washes the table.

“Not the table Eden! The spoon!”

Eden wipes the spoon with the dishrag.

“Eden! Wash the spoon in the sink, not with that rag! You’re just like Amelia Bedelia.”

I love it.

Hmm… poor, poor boy.

"Did you go potty?"

"No, I couldn't."

“Why not?”

“Because I tried to open the toilet, but the lid was too heavy.”

We’ve been dealing with vomit – or did deal with it, since it seems to have passed. Sterling, though, must be experiencing loss of strength. Or something like that.

Adrienne’s helpful hints #256

Spreading a thin layer of honey in a strip along the front edge of your cabinets allows you to fill the cabinet to the line and those pesky items that protest the overfill will stick into the honey and stay put when you open the cupboard! Problem solved! Be aware that doing this on lower shelves that children can reach may end up with sugared up children and licked-clean honey strip.

After spending an hour cleaning the tub that I scrubbed less than a week ago, I’ve come to one conclusion: the maize color that was so popular in the 70’s? It was for a reason. Instead of Rust-B-Gone, it was “Rust? Where?” I mean, really, if you can’t see it, who cares? I find myself hoping black tubs come into style. I can scrub soap scum off without a problem, but the iron in our water? It’s another issue. An orange issue. One that Comet, Lime Away, and Tilex come together, fight hard, and lose miserably. Elbow grease, ha.

 

Blaine tells me you can’t see into the house during the day. My hero, he checked for me. So what was that Dodge doing???

Ruby wins.

Ruby likes to procrastinate at bedtime. She’ll go potty, get her diaper on, and then decide she needs to go again. And again. As many times as she can convince you. Diaper off. Diaper on. Off. On. Tired of this scheme, the new rule: go before the diaper goes on. Go to bed. Stay there! So when Ru came out announcing she needed to go night before last, I sent her back to bed. Ten minutes later, she pranced into the kitchen and announced, “I pooped.” Last night when she came back out to potty, guess what? I let her go. Score: Ruby 1, Momma 0.

I sneezed 4 times this morning and was informed by my son that it was funny because I had "three snore sneezes and only one 'Bless you!'". Funniness.

I was nursing Charlie this morning without covering myself, sitting at the computer in front of the window. A Dodge Charger drove past, stopped in front of our house, then drove off. Our house is on a hill off the road a bit, but now the question is- why did he/she stop??? And am I disillusioned in thinking people can't see in? Oh boy.

If you cover your face, no one can see you, right? Sterling thinks so.

Charlie weighed a whopping 12 lbs 2.25 oz yesterday and was 22.25 inches long. She's riding the 85% line on all and gained almost 3 pounds in 5 weeks. All I can say is I'm glad it was her and not me! Atleast if I've been unknowingly exposing myself to the passers-by all this time, someone can benefit. I mean, other than... oh nevermind. Covering up now!

The kids saw egg nog in the fridge and wanted to know what it was. They poured a glass, Liberty didn't like it. Eden didn't like it. Sterling tried it and started bawling, scraping his hands on his tongue, crying that it was gross and he couldn't get the taste out of his mouth. Oh, I cried, laughing so hard. Ruby wanted to try it, said it was "blech" and went back for more - over and over again. Thinking she really did like it, and was out for the attention Sterling received. Either way, egg nog isn't a real big hit around here, I guess. Would it be mean to give Sterling a bit more to videotape his reaction? Funniest Home Videos, here we come... or a great blog post at least!

*Photos from the week after Charlie was born. I'm so fast in posting them, I know. When I get more on the flash drive, I'll post more. No rush, you know. The bandaid on Sterling is from picking a bug bite open and me trying to get him to leave it alone. He wasn't hurt, that time. If I took a photo now, there'd be a big egg on his forehead from falling off the chair into the cupboard and then falling off the couch onto the floor, both hitting the same spot. It seems to be a pattern, poor boy.

Who done it?

The toilet won't flush; Blaine's getting something to fix it, and I gathered the kids together to find out who flushed something they weren't supposed to. Ruby was quiet, I asked her what she flushed, and finally admits it, scared and whispering. "My poopy." Oh, honey.

Thank you, my Dear.

As a bridal shower gift, my now sister-in-laws bought me a set of pans. A few years ago, Blaine found a matching saucepan, larger than I had, and added that to my collection. The littlest saucepan, once well-used, had gotten too small to be useful with meal prep for my crew. Today, we hit a new high. Or low. I'm still trying to decide. Blaine presented me with yet another pan for my collection. Or pot, rather. Stock pot, to be exact. Quite useful, I'm sure, particularly in soup prep around here, but I'm still trying to absorb the thought that this is where we're at. If he brings me a canner next, he might get hit over the head with it, I think. I am not making soup in a canner. Because, well, that would be excessive.

Oh, and he also bought me a chest freezer. You know, for all those leftovers a stock pot will allow me to make. Very, very cool. (No pun intended.) I'm still waiting for the chef he must have ordered to show up.

Can't win at losing.

1 cleared garden plot
+ 1 lawn mower to mulch up the, ahem, vegetable plants pulled
= 1 shattered pane in the double-paned sliding glass door

Now that must have been one rock hard cherry tomato. Or a rock - it is Missouri soil after all.

Just to be an optimist, it was the foggy side of the door - and it's foggy no more. So just now, when I do not know what it will cost monetarily or time-wise, I'm going to enjoy being able to see out that side too. And the garden plot looks better!

Calendar confusion and scared stripes - or something like that.

Ah, the busy-ness of this house has taken over. Between that and the internet seeming to only like Blaine, I'm finally getting this updated. And just for the record, first I wrote business. Because that should be busyness. And while business works there too, I fixed it. Because, well, "business" is something I have to clean up a lot of. You know.

Ran yesterday with a friend. What was I thinking? I have visions of being skinny and cute, but after yesterday, I'm thinking this baby belly might just be all right. My thighs doth protest too much.

Charlotte is 5.5 weeks old, quite the chunk, and mostly content - although she does love to be held. Blame her for me not getting on here - it's awfully hard to type one handed. Sleep is not bad; some nights she gives me 5-6 hours straight. I'll take it.

Last week the kids and I headed north to my parents' house in South Dakota for 5 days. Yes, it was cold, but tolerable most days. Yes, there is snow there - but only a little in the ditches. Sterling had to be reminded what snow was; Ruby didn't care what it was, she just dove in, bare hands and all. Those two are about as opposite as they come.

Sterling asked me this morning if Christmas is in first grade. He was looking at the calendar but I'm still a little confused as to what he meant by it. Later, he handed me a stack of plastic nuts all stacked up on one toy screw and told me it was a Christmas tree. Someone help me here; I'm confused still. Whatever it meant, he put it on the coffee table for decoration. Who needs knick knacks?

Last night I cooked 6 pounds of sweet potatoes, 2 pounds of ground beef, and 1 pound of green beans to feed these troops. There were enough sweet potatoes left for another meal, but the sheer numbers were staggering to me. We are going to need a really, really big garden in the coming years if we're not going to be eaten out of house and home. And really, these are mostly girls! That's looking to be a good thing when I start considering the grocery budget.

A work release crew just walked past, picking up trash. The kids were entirely curious about everything, from what the men had done (No idea. I've heard it's unwise to ask.) and if they had to ride in the trailer (Pretty sure the van was for the inmates, the trailer for the trash.) and why the men wore black and white stripes. (That was the only question I was entirely certain I had the right answer to. Although I didn't know stripes were still "in". All the old movies show stripes; the new movies show orange. Way to be retro, MO.) Brady, by the way, thought she was tougher than all the inmates walking past. Little dog, I hate to break it to you, but your 4 pound frame is looking a little scrappy... although I'm sure the term "Yorkie-Poo" would scare the stripes right off of them.

Charlotte was nursing the other day and pulled off for a minute. Sterling walked in just then and matter of factly informed me I'd forgotten to put my boob away. Thanks, little man. I appreciate the heads up.

The three youngest are down for naps, and since the only other stories I can think of are ones that I certainly wouldn't publish and incriminate myself (more), that's all I've got. Time to clean while I can.

Charlotte's chunking up! She's 9 lbs 15 oz at three weeks old. She's gained two pounds since birth. Such a sign of success in the breast feeding department. :) The turtleneck I attempted to put on her this morning was tighter than any turtleneck ought to be though - so much for that shirt. It was looking more like a noose than a shirt. Those neck rolls just want to get in the way!

The kids saw the dentist yesterday. The dentist - a good friend from church - made them each latex-glove balloons. While we waited to Blaine to be finished with his appointment, Sterling drove his truck over a "balloon" and popped it. I said, "That's sad.". He replied, "No it's not. It's not mine. It's Ruby's!" Ah, yes, such empathy. It was a little bit sad for him when I informed it was now his, because he would be trading with Ruby. Then he realized he could use the glove as a glove once more, and he became a dentist for Eden. Such a fun life we have.

Photos!

Charlotte had a little photo session today (and a few last week!) and I picked a few to post. She's two and a half weeks old, her three week appointment is next week, not this week - something that would have been nice to have remembered before I got all the kids dressed and in the car by 9:45am. But at least I didn't show up at the doctor's office and make a fool out of myself too. And that form that needed to go in that envelope that I mailed today? Yeah, it's on my front seat. Seriously, dear Brain, please come back. At least visit once in a while, please.

How's a poke in the eye, dear girl? He loves you, really he does. Such sweet dreams!

We're all alive and well. Having a hard time finding time enough to do all that my day requires, but that's not exactly a new thing. I spent about five hours today working on getting new stickers for another year on the license plates. Went to the old inspection place, found out they don't do them anymore, went to a muffler and brakes place, and guess what they flagged? Ah yes, my muffler and my brakes. Notice something fishy there? Me too. I decided it was worth the $12 risk - and Blaine agreed - to get it inspected again, elsewhere. And, yes, you know it, it passed with no flags. Really now.

So it's inspected, personal property taxes amazingly waived for the moment - until next month; I don't know why. But I'll take it. Off to the license office, no hitches there. But this process was NOT five-kid friendly. Courthouse steps are mean, for starters. Sterling and Ruby have not mastered the two-feet step up the stairs. You try walking up and down 75 steps with the same foot always leading. Their right legs ought to have some impressive muscles!

Something to consider: I have 100 fingernails/toenails - plus my own - to clip each week. I hear "Your hands are full!" at least four times each time I go anywhere. At least. All the seats in my minivan are full. And last Sunday, when I was setting out church clothes for everyone, I forgot Charlotte's. But, as Sterling informs me, Charlotte can wear pj's to church. Whew. And I just realized it's Friday - and that Liberty didn't get her spelling test done yesterday. Can we just pretend it's Thursday for another day? Maybe I can catch up that way.