Massage...

We had quite a busy day!  Emma and I did a 3 mile bike ride (I pulled Noah in the trailer) this morning.  Then, I took Emma, Caleb, and their cousin Ethan to the park to play.  After "quiet rest" time this afternoon, the kids went swimming.  It was a full-of-activity day.  So, this evening, Noah was playing with two of his cars and decided to run them up and down my back.  He thought this was hilarious, but I thought to myself, "Hey, that doesn't feel half bad!"  So, Caleb went and got some cars too and the two of them had a grand time driving them all over my back.  So hey, it wasn't exactly a spa day or anything, but those monster trucks certainly weren't too bad.  =)  And people wonder if I am sad that we're having another boy!  Are you kidding?  I might need some more of these massages...they're the only ones I get!

Interesting Article

I think everyone has probably felt the increase in the cost of groceries and gas lately.  This was an interesting article on msn about a woman who fed her family of four on almost $100 for the week.  It is always a juggle, trying to balance out the cost of food, the nutritional value of what you buy, and the time it takes to prepare things.  I have found that I can save myself money, and then I usually have to make up for it in time.  But, fortunately, that is a trade off that we can and many times have to make.  Christine was so kind as to share some of her organic produce with me, which I immediately put to work on some yummy veggie kabobs.  This week I have also made whole-wheat banana carrot bread, bran muffins (with flax, crushed pineapple, and carrot), homemade granola, and hopefully some whole wheat bread.  Of course, I was so tired and overwhelmed by all my dishes that I did actually lay down on my daughter's bedroom floor this morning for 10 minutes.  But that's a whole different story.

Anyway, I have also found that I save my money by supplementing my regular grocery items (from Trader Joe's) with items from 99 cents only, Big Lots, or Target.  One week I actually got my grocery bill down to $115 (for five of us, and one is preggo, mind you!!), but I did fill in with some items from the other stores.  Often times, 99 cents only or Big Lots will have organic or all natural products.  Anyway, I am posting a link to this interesting article...but I thought all of us bloggers could share our own money saving, healthy eating tips.  So, how are you coping with the rising cost of groceries, and how do you save money?? 

P.S.  If you want any of the the aforementioned recipes, just let me know.

P.S.S. In the midst of typing this post, I can't find the article on msn that I was reading, so I can't post a link to it.  But, we could probably come up with better ideas anyway. =)

To the Crazy Pregnant Lady Running on the Bike Path in Pantyhose...

Oh wait, that was me.  Let me back track, and explain, and then I will get on to the star of my story.  So, about a month ago, we got up from watching a movie to put the kids to bed, and I couldn't walk or bear any weight on my left leg.  They ended up doing an ultrasound on my leg and found that I have a blood clot.  This is not DVT (or, a blood clot in a deep vein, which would probably mean hospitalization).  Luckily, it is a more superficial vein, so I just have to be careful not to stand too long, sit too long, and I have to wear compression pantyhose.  But, given the alternatives, I think I got it pretty good.

Anyway, so Emma has been practicing riding her bike without training wheels in our backyard.  There's not much room, so she rides one way, then has to stop, turn her bike around, and ride the other way.  She has been counting down the days until Daddy got off work so that we could do a real ride on the bike bath.  So, not knowing how it would go, Daddy and Emma went ahead, and Caleb was on his bike with his training wheels (he has been working on it too!), and I was with him pushing Noah in the jogger.  Well, Emma just took off.  She did a little over 2 miles, with Daddy RUNNING as fast as he could to keep up.  Caleb is already pretty fast, so I ran with him for, let's say 1/4 mile or so, before I had to stop and ask him to slow down.  I know that walking is really good for my leg, but with the running, I could feel all the pressure in my vein and I thought maybe slowing down would be a good idea.

Ben and I decided that we are going to have to invest or borrow a bike trailer because we are really past the point of trying to keep up with children on bikes!!

But the point is, Emma did her first bike path ride without training wheels.  And I know it is cliche and people tell you this all the time, but man...it sure is going way too fast.  

Fun in a Box...

Okay, now this box of fun did not contain a thing one or a thing two (Dr. Seuss, people!)...and it did cost a bit of money, but has already paid for itself in smiles, laughter, and all around fun.

We had this spot of gravel in the back yard, which I didn't like because 1) gravel ended up all over the concrete, and 2) it was wasted space in our yard.  So, we got one of those 12 ft. round pools and it covers the area perfectly.  Not only is the gravel contained, but the space is no longer wasted.  Now that's cool.

Been Busy...

I haven't had time to post!  It's crazy, I know, but it seems like time just flies by sometimes.  The only reason I am blogging now is because it's 12:30am and I can't sleep.  So real quick, here's some pictures of some really fun things we've been doing recently:

Beach Day with Cousins:

Surfer Girl:

We had a cowboy dinner at our church...and leave it to my kids to bring the guns.  But, we all had a really great time:

Caleb, asleep while eating dinner:

The Three Big Kids:

The Boys:

Busy, Busy...

So, we just got back from four nights in Las Vegas, which I hope to share more about, including pictures.  We have some friends who live out there, and their little girl turned five.  It was a great time, getting to visit them, and the kids got to play.  We stayed at Excalibur, the hotel which looks like a castle.  Needless to say, the kids were enamored and they loved it.  We took them to the "Tournament of the Kings" dinner show and we ended up in the front row!!  One of the horses even kicked up some dirt into my soda.   

Anyway, I do hope to share some more about that soon...but for now, I just wanted to let everyone know that we are having a baby boy.  Emma took the news a bit rough, but she seems to have gotten over it, and we have consoled her by saying that she can be very helpful with Auntie Kelly's baby (which is a girl!)  So there you have it...more to come soon.  Oh yes, and they were VERY sure it is a boy.  He wouldn't show much of his face, but he made it very clear that he is indeed male.

Big News!!

Well, I am already pregnant, so it couldn't be that!!

One of my older brothers, Mark, came to visit this weekend from San Diego.  He brought his girlfriend, Nancy for the first time, so we were all anxious to meet her.  Then, at dinner at our house, he just springs it on me:  They're getting married!!  In August!!  

We are all so excited for them both, they are so happy, and he should have known better than to spring this big of news on me because I couldn't stop crying!!  I am just so happy for them and excited for them, and I am a big sucker for romance.  

August 8th, 2008...get it!  8-8-08!  Yeah!!

New Toy

Just to clarify, we really did need it because our computer was dying and continually giving off the "sense of impending doom."

The MacBook.  It's really fun.

A Happy Ending...and confessions from a perfectionist

Okay, so you would have to have been following this blog for at least a year to understand the following post.  So, the background is that last year, for Emma's birthday, we got a bookcase at a garage sale, and had intended to paint it (and allow her to help decorate it) as her birthday present.  Of course, with moving AGAIN, that project didn't even get started, and the bookcase has just been a thorn in Ben's desire to have his garage in order.  Well, here it is, a year later, and we have finally made some progress.  Ben must have been motivated by the desire to have the bookcase out of his garage...so he sanded it all down, and painted it pink for us.  Then, Emma and I painted on the letters for her name, and some flowers, and a palm tree.  Now, let me say that I could have done it by myself in just a few minutes.  But, it took us a good hour or so, but Emma was so thankful and so excited to actually be painting something.  And, I think the year of time that has passed since we intended to begin this was very helpful since I am sure her ability to stencil has come a long way in a year.  It was hard.  Really hard.  I had a damp paper towel, following closely because I couldn't just let there be any really noticeable mistakes on a bookcase!  But all in all, it was fun, and we hope to enjoy future projects soon.  We may not even be finished decorating the bookcase, but after that hour, it was enough for one night.  Here are some pics of the project now, which will hopefully be in Emma's room tomorrow.

Emma's Birthday

So, we didn't do a big birthday party for Emma's birthday...we didn't do anything really "big" as many would call "big." But I made her a birthday skirt and a special birthday cake...and at the end of the day, she told Ben and me, "I felt loved today." Which was what we had both been praying for anyway. When Ben asked her what made her feel so loved..."All the presents!!" Her big present from mom and dad: a hula hoop. Or as Caleb calls it, "A hulee hoop."

I did make her a birthday throne, by decorating a chair with streamers and balloons. Aah...it is great to be five. Here is her skirt and her cake. She got to pick the fabric for her skirt, which is a print with ballerina outfits and shoes on it.

Caleb's Haircut

It was time for Caleb to get a haircut. It's very manly. Just like Daddy's.

Out of the Habit...

Once it has been a while without blogging, it's easy to get out of the habit. It seems like there's been so much going on, I just haven't had the time to blog.

We went on a quick trip to visit the mountains last week, and to check on the little cabin we own up there. We hadn't seen the house since Noah was born (18 mos.) so we weren't sure what to expect. Anyway, our renters are doing such a good job taking care of the place, they had even done the tree trimming!

Our realtor let us stay in a cabin she has up there, which was wonderful, and they even had us over for dinner. We got to see some good friends, and catch up a little. We even got to visit the camp where Ben used to work.

This is the kids, looking at the ducks at Lake Arrowhead.

7 Random Things...(for Tonya)

Okay, I was tagged (sorry, by the way, that I lag...), so I am about to share 7 random things. I hope I can come up with 7 random things about myself...
1. I am an introvert. Most people who know me would argue this point, and yet, it is completely true. I can be in a crowd of people, I can force myself to go up to a stranger and introduce myself, and I can even work really hard at making others feel comfortable in any given situation. But at the end of it all, I am completely exhausted and just want to be quiet and calm with a cup of tea, or coffee.

2. I feel at peace when everything is in its place. When it is not, I feel chaotic and yucky. Even if it is just one couch pillow that has fallen on the floor, it ruins the whole room for me. Of course, it doesn't bother me at someone else's house, just my own. And, the pillows are never always on the couch, and the floor is often covered in a trail of toys even after they have been picked up. So, maybe I should just get over this one??

3. When my husband and I went on our first, first date...(December 2006, I was barely 16) we went to this Christmas play at the church his mom attended. I wore a long skirt with Jack Purcell tennis shoes (trust me, it was "in" at the time!), and met his whole family as we scooted past them into our seats. His dad referred to me as "the girl who wears sneakers with her skirts" for quite some time.

4. I really want to get the Bare Escentuals mineral foundation, but it costs $75. I thought about maybe trying one of the new mineral foundations that you can get at drug stores, or Target. Any suggestions? I don't usually wear makeup (like, foundation), because I don't like that "stuff" feeling. But I like the ideal of minerals, I guess.

5. My favorite smell is my husband, cleanly shaven and just out of the shower. Nothing smells better. But after that, it is the smell of clean laundry. Yummy.

6. I love American Idol because I think I have some secret fantasy of becoming a big singer. Unfortunately, I have the aspiration, but not the voice. I can sing okay, definitely can hold a tune, and I can sing in church and stuff. But it's not an I-could-have-my-own-CD type of voice. Although, my husband sometimes tells me that I could be the voice of a Disney princess?

7. All of my bookmarks got erased, so for a while, it will be very hard for me to find all of your blog posts. But I still love you!

Words I won't forget

Sometimes in life, you meet someone and you know you will not ever be the same. Or at least you hope you won't. I have had the privilege of meeting many such people. This week, we had one of those people staying with us for a few short nights...and I hope that our whole family will not be the same. Pastor Paul, from our sister church in Uganda, Africa, came and stayed with us. The kids are forever endeared to him. Now, there is much to be said...about their church in Uganda, about Pastor Paul, about kids and their ability to love well beyond our own capacity...and hopefully I will have time for some of those words later. And just to be clear, this post is not meant to stir up controversy, or anything of the sort. It is merely to share some words that I had needed to hear, that I pray I will not soon forget.

In one of our conversations with Pastor Paul about families in America, we were sharing how it is often looked down upon to have more than the average two children...it is even thought of as irresponsible by many. It is a rare occasion that I don't receive some sort of comment whenever I am out with the kids (especially now that you might be able to guess that I am pregnant). Anyway, Pastor Paul said, "It is sad that where we are poor, in Uganda, we have many children (the smallest family is 5, the average is 10), and yet here, where you have the resources to provide for many children, they are not wanted."

Even now, when I typed those words, the tears come, and my heart breaks. Our house is not huge, but is more than adequate, even more than we need. Pastor Paul said that in Uganda, two families would share the area that is our dining room (and it is not a big dining room). All this is just to share that I needed to hear those words, they will not soon be forgotten, and I am so thankful for Pastor Paul. How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!

A beautiful sound...

So, I thought I was about 8 wks. along in my pregnancy, but today at my first doctor's appointment, she says that I am at least 10 wks. because we heard the heartbeat! Even with this being the fourth pregnancy, it still amazes me, the miracle that God is knitting together a precious baby inside of me...and what a beautiful sound to hear the baby's heart beating. My sweet doctor said, "See, you really are pregnant!!" It is true, somehow that sound does make it all more real. Just wait until I get to see the baby!! They want to do an ultrasound to check my dates, etc. So I just have to schedule it...yeah baby!

Unedible Dinners...

A few weeks ago, I made chicken breasts stuffed with spinach and feta, and edamame for dinner. I got one bite down, and that was it. Luckily, my mom had dropped by a bag of her homemade chocolate chip cookies, so I had two of those for dinner.

This past week, I spent about 45 minutes make a new lasagna recipe with asparagus, mushrooms, and sundried tomatoes. Couldn't even get one bite down!! Ben asked what sounded good to me, to which I responded (almost in tears), "A chili-cheese dog!!" Luckily, you can't get that in Ojai, so I had chocolate milk for dinner. But, needless to say...(and those of you who know me, know that this is not normal for me) we decided that we would do our grocery shopping this week at VONS instead of Trader Joe's so that we could have a variety of ingredients on hand in case I wasn't feeling well. There are hot dogs in my refrigerator, and a can of chili in my pantry. It is oh, so sad. But, I am feeling so much better having some things around that will satisfy my ever-changing appetite. I can't eat much at one time, so that's good. But I can eat frequently!! Helpful things:
Naked juice drinks and smoothies
Cuties seedless tangerines
Gum

Last night, we had soup in bread bowls. I wish I could take credit, but I got the bread bowls at the store, and the soup was in a pre-made tub (broccoli and cheddar). I don't really want to know what was in it...it was yummy, and I enjoyed it. Also, I know I could have made a broccoli and cheddar soup, but evidently, if I had cooked it myself, I probably wouldn't have been able to eat it. So, it worked out better this way! =)

THE Conversation

I know, there comes a time in every family's experience when they first have THE conversation. It occured tonight for us, around our dinner table. How we made it this long, I am not quite sure...but it went something like this:
(I made a tri-tip roast with potatoes and carrots)
Emma: Yummy! Mommy, can I have some roast chicken?
Me: No...(laughing)
Emma: Why not mommy?
Daddy: Because, we're not having chicken, we're having meat. It's moo.
(Now I am laughing hysterically, I know what's coming)
Caleb: Moo!! That's not a cow!!
Daddy: Yes, yes it is.
Caleb: Well, is it dead? Did you and mommy kill it?
Daddy: The cow is dead, yes. Someone else killed it and cut it up and then they wrap it up and sell it at the store where we buy it.
Both: Oh.
So, I cut up some meat for each of them. Noah eats nothing but meat and begs for more.
Emma: Yum...tastes like roasted chicken!!! I love meat!! (She is usually my vegetarian)
Caleb: Mommy, I don't want to eat my meat because I don't like dead cow.

Wow, things are a little crazy tonight.

More in Court Info...

This is totally unrelated to the homeschooling battles, however, it is an interesting court case that I thought might be of interest to others.

This is the first court case in which a ruling was handed down in favor of a family against a pharmaceutical company in regards to vaccinations and autism. There is a lot of information here, but it is worth the read:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kirby/government-concedes-vacci_b_88323.html



This article provides much more medical information and terminology, but I thought it was very informative. The young girl's father was trained as a neurologist, and the mother was a nurse.



And, here is a link to some pretty scary, yet readable and concise information regarding vaccines. Please do not read it if you think that it will just drive you crazy or something! I just wanted to offer some info., in case it was desired.

http://vaccineinfo.net/immunization/vaccine_facts.shtml

Please Pray, and Sign the Petition

This past week in California, a court ruling was handed down that means that if this ruling is not overturned, it will be illegal to homeschool in California. I am including a link to a petition to "depublish" the findings of this current ruling, meaning that the ruling will apply to the family involved in the case, but not to the rest of California. The Home School Legal Defense Association is at work along with Focus on the Family and many other organizations trying to appeal this ruling with the Supreme Court of California. Even if you are not a homeschooling family, I am sure you can see how this decision strikes at the heart of our rights as parents to make decisions regarding our children. Please pray that God will do a mighty work in overturning this ruling, and that our rights as parents to choose what is best for our children will be protected.

Here is the link for the petition:

http://www.hslda.org/



Also, here is a link to Dr. Dobson's radio broadcast including information regarding the court case:

http://listen.family.org/daily/A000000997.cfm

Two More Poems

A Mother's Prayer by Mary A. Loberg

Help me dear Lord, as a mother, I pray
And bless these hands folded in prayer today;
May they be ever strong as they guide, as they teach,
Being never too far for a child to reach.
May they never, with selfishness, try to dissuade,
Nor too quickly punish, nor too slowly aid.
May they point out the pleasures in laughter and song,
And may they show, wisely, the right from the wrong,
So that one day I'll know that I've helped all I can
To make her a woman, to make him a man.

Her Little Shadows by Barbara Burrow

I saw a young mother
With eyes full of laughter
And two little shadows
Came following after.
Wherever she moved,
They were always right there
Holding onto her skirts,
Hanging onto her chair,
Before her, behind her-
An adhesive pair.

"Don't you ever get weary
As, day after day,
Your two little tagalongs
Get in your way?"

She smiled as she shook
Her pretty young head,
And I'll always remember
The words that she said:
"It's good to have shadows
That run when you run,
That laugh when you're happy
And hum when you hum-
For you only have shadows
When your life's filled with sun!"