just for fun!!!!

Posted on February 21, 2008 by Shanda

(this is to make you laugh)

I just called the doctor and found out that my kids have a very rare case of something called “Electric Ear”. It started this morning after breakfast, David got it first. The Doctor said, although it is rare, it should go away on it’s own. If it’s not gone by tomorrow I have to go to Target and get some special cream to put in it. Its called “Electric Cream, for the illness no one wants to hear about”. It’s put out by, can you believe it, GE!

Thankfully it is not painful. As you can see by the pictures, the kids are in happy spirits this morning (although Jacob complained of the heat). It was scary for me, though, I was not ready for the . . . “shock”. . .

I’m glad I called the doctor and found out what it was. I was so afraid that they would start glowing in other parts of the body. Like the nose for instance.

Please pray for me today. I’m still shaking. I hope they clear up soon, I really wanted to go someplace. I just can’t take them out in public like this.

Thanks for understanding. I hope that in sharing this, I might find at least one other family that has gone through it. I could really use some encouragement. I feel like a terrible mother.

I thought Grace said it well,

“It’s embarrassing.”

boys and birds

Posted on February 20, 2008 by Shanda

What wonderful comments you all added to my post from this morning, thank you SO much!

Today was a better day, the best day I’ve had in a while, as a matter of fact. I slowed myself down and made an effort not to be rushing from one thing to the next. We had a very nice day of school. I have some older school books that I have picked up from library book sales and we used one today to read lines from a play. It was about Robin Hood and Little John. The kids loved it. Guess who seemed to be the most natural actor? ETHAN. I sat with Grace and re-explained her math skills, using beans to show her exactly what she is doing when she multiplies and divides. After lunch (we had spaghetti w/sauce and David threw his *third bowl of it*around! Jacob vacuumed it up and it went up the vacuum just fine LOL). . anyway, after lunch we all bundled up and went outside. It was much colder today than it was yesterday but it did us good to get out in the fresh air. Grace, David, and Caleb jumped on the trampoline. Jacob and Ethan ~~walked~~ ran the dog, played near the stream and gathered some chunks of ice.

When we came in, Caleb watched a Thomas video and fell right asleep on the floor.

The kids finished up their school work and then they went upstairs to read/play quietly so that I could have my hour and a half of rest time.

After they all got up, they watched a video and I went for a little walk. I was gone for about 20-25 minutes, within hearing distance of the house. I found a bright yellow feather and put that in my pocket. I went to the bird forest but didn’t see any birds so I came out of the woods to the stream and then noticed a whole flock of cedar waxwings and one robin up in a tree, in the bright sun. I had so much fun sneaking as close as I could and I took a lot of pictures.

I hope you all enjoy the pictures and thanks again for being so kind to me here on xanga. Have a great evening!

A happier day

my handsome son Ethan

best friends, standing together in the middle of the rushing stream

Crazy Ethan, balancing on a rock, pulling out some ice
in the middle of frigid icy water.

The prize! Ice!

Caleb got good and tired
after all that fresh air
and fell asleep while watching
a thomas video.

The Cedar Waxwing Photos

they were busy eating these berries

There are three in this next picture, can you see the one in the background?

Do you
see the one and only robin on the far right side of this next photo?

“Oh Master, let me walk with Thee
in lowly paths of service free;
Tell me Thy secret;
Help me to bear
the strain of toil,
The fret of care.”

~”Oh Master Let me Walk with Thee”, W. Gladden
~a hymn the kids and I have been working on all week long.

a small peek into my busy life. . . . .

Posted on February 20, 2008 by Shanda

Rich had to work late last night.
So at about 4:30 I cleaned up my kitchen,
while the kids watched a video about Japan,
and Caleb, my shadow, was perched on the counter next to the sink (where I was standing).
I decided to take them to McDonald’s for dinner.
There is one not too far away that has one of those indoor play-scapes.
So we went, it’s been a long time since we’ve gone to a play-scape,
And Jacob was thrilled that he could still play (12 yrs old is the limit).
He and Ethan, of course, turned it into a game of “spy”.
Caleb managed just fine, despite his big sister’s over-the-top “help”.
David, of course, made new friends left and right.
One little boy was missing a hand.
And I thanked God, that my kids all had their hands.
The little boy was great, no one noticed his disability.
When he left, my kids leaned into me and said,
“That was such a nice boy!”
They didn’t say one word about his hand.
Children can be so beautiful. . . . .

Anyway, they ate their fries and chicken.
David was too busy to fill himself up so when we got home,
out came the crackers.
They all complained when I stopped their movie at 8pm.
But, I had to, I was TIRED, and ready for bed myself!
Unfortunately,
the last thing they all heard before sleep,
was me yelling.
8:30 came and I was till trying to get them to settle down.
Caleb kept getting out of his crib,
and Jacob and E decided this would be the night they taught the dog to sleep with them.
It ended in a disaster–he peed on Ethan’s guitar case–
I was so mad, I yelled the whole time that I was scrub-scrub-scrubbing.
Caleb actually popped the side of his crib off,
and I got mad and yelled as I struggled to fix it.
(we’ll be putting him in a bed, soon)
I even yelled at David, who was just looking at me from under his covers. Like this
I said, “ARE YOU TELLING CALEB TO GET OUT OF BED??”
(He shook his head no)
“TURN AROUND AND FACE THE WALL!!”
“GO TO SLEEP!!!!!!!”
“I HATE THAT DOG! HE HAS TO GO!!!”

Those were (some of) the words my poor children had to hear right before sleep last night.

Of course once things settled down, I felt sad, and spent some time writing in my journal
and letting the Lord fix my bad attitude.

Then I got in bed and read a book and fell asleep early. I do have my limitations!

Today is a new day!

Caleb, still my shadow, is standing next to me as I type,
with his head in my lap,
and a choo-choo in his hand.
When I stop to think about what to write, I rub his back,
or stroke his soft cheek,
or touch his hair (which has a crusty spot from him dumping chocolate milk on his head yesterday).

Last night I had had ENOUGH.
Today I will try to pace myself better and by God’s grace, keep my cool.

My heart belongs to my family and my children, I love them so.

These are photos that I took of David and Caleb yesterday morning, after my battery had charged.

I didn’t even write about cleaning up a big bowl of dumped cat food (twice) and not finding the dust pan.
(NO ONE knows where it went). . . .
Or the entire Nestle chocolate milk mix that was dumped upside down on the table.
Or bursting into tears when I was trying to read to the kids and Jacob complained, “I already read this”
Or when the dog knocked me over backwards out in the woods when I called him out of a shot.
Or discovering the driveway was scattered with those. . .packing peanuts. . . .
etc, etc,

Yesterday I got totally irritated over the little problems of motherhood.

Today I hope to be more positive!

I wonder. . . .

Posted on February 19, 2008 by Shanda

I was out the door this morning at 7:15. The sun was just starting to shine on the face of my house, through the windows, and it called to me. I asked Jacob to watch Caleb in the house and I meandered down to the woods. As I walked, out of the corner of my eye, I saw something sprinkle gently down from the trees and fall to the ground.

What was it? I made my way around muddy puddles and slick leaves, keeping my eyes to the ground.

I found feathers! Small downy feathers, perfectly dry. I looked up up into the trees and saw nothing. There was no sign of tragedy. So, what was it? Why did feathers fall down from the tree-tops on this chilly but sunny February day in New England?

Maybe one of my bird-loving friends will have a suggestion.

My camera battery died before I could get the golden morning pictures I was looking for. But I was still glad that I went to the woods when I did. The feathers felt so warm in my hand, and I felt like I had a treasure in my pocket when I came home to show the children. I have something new to add to my nature journal.

I saw feathers fall like snow this morning. I love that. God gives us wonder in such interesting ways.

weekend details

Posted on February 18, 2008 by Shanda

Good morning! Breakfast is over and the three older kids are in the basement. They made an office down there. They take down chocolate milk and pretend it’s coffee and I’m not sure what they are actually doing but I do know that they are listening to a Focus on the Family Radio Theatre cd.

I wanted to share a few photos from my weekend. Rich came home on Friday with roses for me and Grace, which was a great start, I thought. There was one for me and one for her of the darkest red. Very dazzling.

On Saturday, we went to the library. The kids checked out about 30 books, LOL, and I found 3 that I thought looked good. I already finished one of them and the link will be attached to this blog entry.

(I just had to get up to help David and Jacob was up getting another drink of milk so I asked them what they are doing downstairs. “Oh, we’re riding bikes. . . but, right now we’re trying to catch a mouse.” (said very casually) “Is there really a mouse down there?” I asked. “Yes! We all saw it!”) OH GREAT.

UPDATED February 3, 2013 (They just told me that they caught five on this day. There was a blind one. They found one in a shoe, & one in a Cheerio box. They said that the dog ran after them, stomped on them and ate them. David played hide and seek with the blind one, but it got away.)

Back to the weekend. Where was I? Oh yes, the library. I didn’t take any pictures of the library stop because there are already pictures here somewhere of the library. Our next stop was Panera. Rich’s idea. It was fun except don’t order their peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for your 2 year old. We got that for Caleb and it oozed everywhere. Rich looked so handsome and I thought it was so funny to see our little messy Caleb sitting there next to his dapper Dad. Rich would flinch every time Caleb was about to touch him. And Panera also has those yogurts that you simply suck out of a tube. . . yeah, not so good for a toddler. But, he loved it. David sat next to me and wasn’t as messy. Jacob, Ethan, and Grace sat at their own table and guess what they did while they ate? Read books! I’m so proud of them, they are just like me when it comes to reading.

After lunch we went to the mall. I won’t get into too much description, I’ll just say that it was packed with people but we found some awesome sale prices on the Land’s End clothes for the kids at Sears. I’m so thankful, we bought 3 beautiful, well-made winter coats for E, J, and C for next winter. I bought Grace 3 prs. of pants, a jean skirt, and 3 dresses. I bought Caleb 3 shirts and J and E both got a new shirt. I bought G a pretty pink fleece blanket for her bed, perfect for a small girl to curl up under with a good book. All these things were on clearance, plus another 50 percent off!! After Sears we left the mall, we just didn’t have the desire to walk around with the kids, too hard to keep track of them all and push the stroller. LOL

As soon as we got home, I went for a walk. David was already outside. I guess we were both thinking the same thing, ENOUGH of crowds and shopping, let’s get outside! Everything was still covered in snow and it was icy snow, so hard that I had to be extra careful not to fall down. I could actually walk on top of it! Our house sits on the top of a hill and look what David was doing when I came out to join him. He could go fast!

We made our way down past the ponds, looked at our flooded and rushing stream for a while, and then went into the woods. It was cold outside, but the dappled sunlight gave us moments of warmth. David found a fallen down tree and asked me to take a picture of him:

Just after taking his picture, I turned and saw some birds tucked away in the evergreens, I just love coming upon life in the woods. These birds, I believe, were cedar waxwings. There were about four of them together and they were eating berries. My picture isn’t very good, but you get the idea. I couldn’t get very close to them. It’s one thing to see a wild bird at a feeder, but quite another to see them in the woods, in their own “neighborhood”. This is quite close to the same part of the woods where I saw all that Robin activity a few weeks ago. I think I will call it the bird forest. Not very imaginative, but I’m not Anne of Green Gables. LOL

Okay, this next part is hard to explain. Near our house is what we call “the dam”, and it is a watershed area. These pictures will give you an idea what I mean. Here is David, walking up the big hill. (there is no water, just the stream, which goes through a tunnel under the hill). The dam was built just in case there is a major flood.

It’s probably about a 45 degree angle! This side gets more sun, there was no snow.

I must insert this picture of the dog, who enjoyed nibbling on some grass. It shows how BLUE the sky was.

When I got to the top of the hill, this is what David was doing, sliding fast down the hill! (the cold side was still covered with snow)

Before I knew it, I plopped down and tried it, too!
Like I said, the snow was hard as ice and we were able to “sled” right down the hill on our back-ends. LOL It was so very steep, quite exciting for me, I screamed and squealed all the way down. DAVID WAS VERY IMPRESSED. The only way back up was to dig our toes into the hill. Here I am, about to go back up! I went down a total of 3 times.

David went down and tried out another hill. I could not believe he was going down head first! Oh my!

After our sliding around, we walked over toward the woods again and we found some extremely slick ice. I love finding spots like this, I imagine that there are wood-fairies who enjoy ice skating in the moonlight on their very own lakes of ice. (I do have some “Anne” in me, as geidlbots pointed out, ) It was so so slippery, David fell down about 3 times. I thought we would get the chance to go back with skates, but we didn’t.

We came out of the woods and stood on the road to look at the stream. It was busy and noisy, glittery. ALIVE!

I read somewhere that if you don’t like New England weather, just wait 10 minutes. Isn’t that funny?

Today, outside my windows, I see this:

Bye-bye snow! I’m trying to convince myself that spring is here. Wishful thinking. (read quote about New England weather again.)

Yesterday morning I didn’t make it to church because our power went out. Once it came back on, there was only time for Rich to get his shower and get dressed. He went with Grace and Ethan. While they were gone I MADE HOMEMADE SOUP, SOUP, not SOAP, SOUP. LOL LOL. It was a Taste of Home 1st place recipe. It was a chicken soup with squash, carrots, onion, and kale in it. It made a HUGE pot and I’ll be eating it all week for lunch. We all went to church last night but I didn’t get to visit with any of my friends, except Tammy, because I was working in the toddler room (with Tammy).

I feel great today. I feel happy and content and ready to tackle the day. David doesn’t have speech because it’s a holiday and Rich is coming home in time to take Jacob and Ethan to their music lessons, so I don’t have to go anywhere. (I love not having to go anywhere, LOL)

SORRY THIS IS SO LONG!!!!

Have a wonderful day!

Galatians 5:14-26

Posted on February 17, 2008 by Shanda

“For all the law is fulfilled in one word,
even in this;
Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not
consumed one of another.

This I say then,
Walk in the Spirit,
and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit,
and the Spirit against the flesh:
and these are contrary the one to the other;
so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

But if ye be led of the Spirit,
ye are not under the law.

Now the works of the flesh are manifest,
which are these,
adultery,
fornication,
uncleanness,
lasciviousness,
idolatry,
witchcraft,
hatred,
strife,
seditions,
heresies,
envyings,
murders,
drunkeness,
revelings,
and such like:
of which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past,
that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is
love,
joy,
peace,
long-suffering,
gentleness,
goodness,
faith,
meekness,
temperance:
against such there is no law.

And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh
with the affections and lusts.

If we live in the Spirit,
let us also walk in the Spirit.

Let us not be desirous of vain-glory,
provoking one another, envying one another.

Galatians 4:14-26

Hope you all are having a restful and blessed Sunday!

Posted on February 15, 2008 by Shanda

Why you shouldn’t play in a box

of packing peanuts on a dry day:

Yeah, he had a dirty face. . .from eating lots of frozen blueberries. . .one of my little ones’ favorite treats.

((mine))

Posted on February 15, 2008 by Shanda

“God doesn’t do things willy-nilly. Everything
has a purpose and meaning. When God engaged to create
man and woman and to ordain the union of marriage,
He didn’t roll dice or draw straws or flip a coin.
He patterned marriage purposefully after the relationship
between His Son and the church, which He planned
from eternity. And therefore marriage is a mystery;
it contains and conceals a meaning far greater
than what we see on the outside. What God has joined
together in marriage is to be a reflection of the union between
the Son of God and His bride the church.

Those of us who are married need to ponder again and again
how mysterious and wonderful it is that we are granted
by God the privilege to image forth stupendous
divine realities infinitely bigger and greater than ourselves.”

John Piper

Last night Rich came home with a dozen roses and a cheesecake. We had a nice family dinner (Caleb swiped a whole tomato off the counter and ate it like an apple) and after the kids went to bed we stayed up watching TV for a while.

He left for work about an hour ago, with promises that after last night’s cheesecake (at least we shared it with the children), we would be eating healthy this weekend~we are both happy that it is FRIDAY.

Happy weekend to you all!

coffee in the mornings

Posted on February 14, 2008 by Shanda

“I like the color red. . . .but, not in this shape.” ~ Jacob, age 11

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Most mornings, I get right up and make coffee. I take Rich’s cup into our bedroom for him, for him to drink as he’s getting ready for work. He always says a sincere “Thank you” and maybe gives me a kiss. This is just one of the many many little, ordinary things that I love about married life.

What simple, ordinary things do you love about marriage?

or friendship?

or being a parent?

We aren’t guaranteed a tomorrow,

so tell the special people in your life

how much you care.

Better yet, DO something to SHOW them how much you care!

Posted on February 13, 2008 by Shanda

Thanks so very much for all the birthday wishes. I felt so loved!

This is a picture of the shirt I got for myself yesterday at anthropologie, it was on clearance.

Rich and I got to go out alone for the first time in months. My friend Karen watched the kids for us. We went shopping and out to lunch at Panera. It was nice, really nice. I did not take one single picture. I bought the shirt and also some new books, make up, chocolates, bath oil, and candles.

For dinner, we all went out to eat at the Olive Garden. David was so funny, we were getting ready to go and he came down to show me what he looked like. When I told him we were going to the “Olive Garden” he said, “MOM! No, we aren’t going to the Olive GARDEN, we’re going to a restaurant!”

The kids behaved so nicely, I actually had a relaxing dinner. Caleb ate like a little piggy and Jacob ate so much that he felt sick. (he learned a lesson, in other words, on gluttony! LOL). David got his chocolate ice cream all over himself and Rich made me laugh when he said, “Come here, David, let’s put your coat on so no one sees your napkin.” (referring to the dirty shirt)

When we came home, it was in the midst of a heavy snowfall. It snowed in the night and now it’s rainy/sleeting ~ something like that. Homeschool is delayed an hour (or more) because of the weather, LOL.

Okay. I was tagged to give 4 random facts about my self.

1. I love to read. The first books I read on my own were the Little House on the Prairie books.

2. I prefer cats over dogs ANYDAY.

3. I’ve never broken a bone, but I’ve gotten stitches twice.

4. I want to try to make homemade soap someday.

I tag my sister, my sister-in-law, my aunt, my cousin, my other cousin, and my other cousin. You know who you are. LOL