We have been doing simple embroidery this week, for the fun of it. Yesterday Jacob and Ethan made beanbags, about the size of their hand. On the front is a picture that they embroidered, of their own design. The backs are a different, color coordinated piece of fabric. The one pictured above is Jacob’s creation.
Today, Ethan completed a pillow, with a castle on it. I took a picture of it along side the pillow that Grace made yesterday. She embroidered a flower on hers, the pink center is barely visible in the photo. Grace and Jacob still each have a work-in-progress that they will finish tomorrow. Ethan has been voted “least likely to need me to get a knot out”. . . . .what a nice boy.
I made another pan of that awesome apple crisp. I took a picture of it today as I was pulling it from the oven, it was bubbling and so delicious looking. In each of my pregnancies, I have always had single month in which I would gain a shocking amount of weight. This just might be that month for me. LOL
We all worked on a 300 piece puzzle this week. I enjoyed leaving it out on the table for the family to work on as we got in the mood. Rich, Grace, and I finished it tonight with a din of conversation going on around us.
Today I went outside with my bowl of apple crisp, and tried to find a quiet spot. Caleb joined me. I was feeling stressed out at the time, but it ended up being a nice *all too brief* peaceful interlude for me, with his little hand on my knee.
After a while, we were surprised to see David coming out of the woods with his toy gun. And bare feet. Now that’s a boy for ya. . . . .just coming back from a hunting trip.
He dared to take aim at me!
And then he joined us on the hammock, too. It was nice to have him on one side and Caleb on the other. We had conversations but I can’t remember what we talked about now. Maybe I wasn’t listening too good. That happens sometimes when you’re a mama. I do know that I was trying to keep bees away from my apple crisp. (and silently wondering why I can’t have any peace today?) “It just figures I would be attacked by bees when all I wanted to do was enjoy my apple crisp outside in the beautiful fall sunshine”. . . .I ended up quickly gulping down the last bites and flinging my bowl away from us. Caleb must have thought I did it accidently because he quickly and helpfully said, “I go get it for you.” I laughed and told him to just relax and never mind the bowl.
Me and Davy-do:
Later on in the day, I had a surprise. Rich had long stem roses delivered to the house.
I think they are lovely, but sure wish they weren’t sent to me because of the argument we got into last night!
All is well now. And not necessarily because of the flowers, although they did help.
Today I took all the children to get their teeth cleaned at the dentist. I wasn’t going to tell the ladies there that I was pregnant. One of them especially has always been very curious about whether we would ever have another and I just wasn’t in the mood for comments. I guess I am officially “showing” because they noticed my round tummy and asked me if I was expecting. It ended up being nice, though. They were happy for us, and didn’t seem surprised at all.
I actually enjoy taking the kids to the dentist. It cracks me up to spy on Caleb getting his teeth cleaned. I’m even laughing now, when I remember him watching and listening carefully to the lady’s instructions with his mouth already hanging open and ready to be checked. Jacob went and spied too, and came back to tell me that the dentist was saying to Caleb, “Open your teeth! Open your teeth!” LOL LOL
I am plum tuckered out so I’m going to bed to read a book. Rich is downstairs running on his treadmill. Davy-do doesn’t have school until Tuesday and I’m happy about that. Maybe my brain can rest a little bit in the next few days. I’ve been stressing out a bit this week. . . .it’s nice to go to bed tonight and not have to worry about trying to find his sneakers in the morning, for instance– (those things are ALWAYS missing, no matter how hard I try!)
I started out this day wondering how I would get through it and it’s nice to be here at the end of it and know that once again God pulled us through. It’s been a nice day. I still wanna vacation though.
And that’s all I have to say. 
Love, ~Shanda~
Good to be Home 
G’night, dear friend ~
What a great job they did on the pillows & bean bag! I laughed at your comment about not needing to get knots out for Ethan:) Your apple crisp looks delicious! I see it’s not in Fiesta ware:) What beautiful flowers! Enjoy reading your book! I know I have had a few days like that this week to that I didn’t know how I was going to get through the day. I’m glad I wasn’t alone. Have a wonderful evening!
Shanda I love the little glimpes you give us into your world. The children’s needlework is priceless! You make such a wonderful mom and I’m so glad you are having another wee one.
What a nice post. I love picture of your son comning out of the woods with a gun and barefooted. (LOL) And the needlework is really nice!Your updates, stories and pictures always paint such a nice painting of LOVE, HOME & HEARTH for us all to enjoy. It really encourages me- especially with all I’ve been through in the last year…….it’s all worth fighting for….worth holding out for. š
Hugs to you! š
I love the embroidery, that’s so neat…very cute. That apple crisp looks awesome, looks just like mine when I make it š It’s the best recipe, isn’t it?? Those roses are lovely, even given the circumstances. It’s nice to get the little things like that, though…very sweet. I hope you have a lovely evening. Love you!
I’ve been exhausted all day too, and a bit short-tempered with the children. Ugh! I’m ready for this week to be over. The kids did such a good job on their embroidery. And kudos to their momma for even making the boys use needle and thread.
I love your stories, your honesty, and your photos.
It’s just about 10:00 and I still have two or three more coats of paint to put on two windoows and a door frame. . . I’m taking a break because I was getting a very bad thumb cramp. The kids did such a great job on the embroidery! The roses are beautiful! I hope you get some good rest and have a great Friday! Love, Elisha
what great embroidery! i love that they are doing that. I am making the crisp tomorrow…i was going to make it last night, but I was out of sugar.
Your honesty is such a blessing to me…thank you! Sleep well my friend!
Rest well.
Those pillows are AWESOME. Tell your kids that their creativity is great!!! I’m so proud of them. It makes me want to sit down and embroider something…hmmm…look at you guys, inspiring me! Don’t you know I’m about to have a baby, and I don’t need any more projects??? š I’m making an apple pie tomorrow (we’re having company, and I want the house to smell like autumn and sweetness). Plus, dessert is always good. š I’m planning to take Sam to the dentist sometime…I’m wondering if he’ll cooperate…tips?
hmmmmmmm apples, I have a small box and now I know what to do with them!!
Thanks for your honesty! I love reading about your days so randomly. That was great and here is to a brand new day tomorrow full of life and a lot to be thankful for!!
Very nice pillows, talented hands made them! (Sat and listened to your music again…..)
Oh my goodness, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE those pillows and beanbags! The castle one really tugged at my heart; probably because of “a man and his castle”… or maybe because my humble little worn out granny house is really a castle because Christ allows us to live here rather than somewhere “fancy”. and He is my King. Your kids are so great! And I had an idea for the usually hard to find sneakers. Do you have or can you put a coat rack, hall tree, or peg board by the door that your little guy comes in through? Hang the shoes there! Maybe that would work. I showed my hubby your picture of the apple crisp; he loves apple crisp, apple pie, apple cake… So he said maybe we should make his cinnamon rolls with the frosting drizzled over them and send you a picture of them. And I said, “she’d probably gain weight just looking at the picture!” since you said this might be your month to do the shocking weight gain. I gain a chunk just eating one roll. And, of course, I don’t only eat one! Boy, it’s rough to love food! Well, it’s bedtime. I pray you have a decent night of rest. I’ve had difficulty in that area, and that’s when I do my best conversing with the Lord. love, Gail
Such beauty in the everydayness of your family life. Your blog is so sweet, and honest. Thanks for the craft idea, it’s adorable.
You’re beautiful!
So grateful you had the grace of God to help you through your day. Loved the pillows. I hope today will be a bit of less stress for you.
How neat that your kids got to practice embroidery and create designs of their very own! I always enjoy hearing of the activities you do with your children. The puzzle is great, too. I enjoy puzzles, and I think they are such a relaxing thing to do as a family and generate conversation around.The combination of yellow, coral, and red roses is beautiful! Ah, Shanda, I think T and I had a few arguments during my pregnancy that were (my) hormone-induced! And I think Terry learned that “the pregnant lady always wins the argument!” LOLRich is so sweet to send you flowers! I love it!!! And I’m glad he’s back from his trip. I hope you all can have a great weekend together as a family, and be rested up to enjoy it.
“In each of my pregnancies, I have always had single month in which I would gain a shocking amount of weight.”In each of *my* pregnancies I craved apples! Apple anything. And, tomatoes. Must be something good in both of them! No matter why you received them, the flowers are quite beautiful! AND, for the record, Thursday’s homeschool and my time all day with my children didn’t go so well for me, either. I ended up going to our bed to read around 8:45, just to escape!
Fun to see the images after hearing you talk about them! They are doing a great job!
That was so risky for them to ask, you still look petite to me! I love your banner, perfect for this season!
So glad I am not the only one that sometimes “checks” out when the kids are talking..Coco talks NON STOP and I often realize I am responding without listening, LOL!
Loved the pillows and that they did them! I bought apples yesterday for baking and now I am really glad I did. That will be this weekend though. Loved the hammock and the tender conversations. Even the easily forgotten ones leave a memory and an impression that does not fade. I loved the roses and that you have the kind of kind husband to do that. I loved the barefoot hunter boy who can snuggle with his momma. I love that you can get some rest. Don’t forget honey, that your little hormones are doing dances in there with a little boy on the way. Don’t be surprised at feelings of unusual size flirting with you. It is okay. Have a great weekend darling lady. Love, M in SC
I want a vacation, too…I feel cheated out of the one that Rog and I had planned in August. We haven’t even been out on a date night since I was in the hospital! We were just talking about it last night…my in-laws are taking the girls camping tonight and bringing them back in the morning…but I have to WORK! So Rog gets the house to himself all evening – what a quiet night – I’m jealous! Oh, well you are right, God does give us the grace to keep on keeping on.
Love you!
I am sorry you’ve been stressed out lately. Praying you get some time to refresh and destress.
I can’t wait until the kids are old enough to leave a puzzle out like that. I miss doing them. Of course, we haven’t been in houses big enough to just close a door…this place might be it.
blessings to you!
Hmmm can’t read that entry you recommended, it’s under friends’ lock. š¦
and once again, great pictures.
The entry you recommended by SpazzysMommy or something like that. It showed on my front page that you recommended it.
Great post, Shan. I’m loving your beautiful pictures- as always! You are such a good mama, an inspiration to me. Love you!