The children and I had a nice time at home this morning, watching a Winnie the Pooh Christmas movie and making apple pomanders.

Pomanders have been made and enjoyed for a very long time and most of you have probably made them before, (lucky you), but this was a first for us.

We learned today that pomanders “are a ball of sweet-smelling fruit and spices, originally worn around the neck to protect people from disease and bad smells.” (quoted from the craft book I used, Crafting Fun)

People now traditionally make them at this time of year as a holiday decoration or as gifts to give to friends for Christmas.  You can use oranges or apples, not radishes, potatoes, bananas, or onions (Grace’s fun but rejected ideas).  

We wrapped ribbon around the apples (you are supposed to use masking tape but we didn’t have any) and then gently pushed whole cloves into the apple.  The juice drips out so we dabbed it off now and then with paper towel.  After I was done with mine, I continued to follow the directions in the book, and removed my ribbon (masking tape would be better so you can keep your ribbon clean) so I could shake my apple in a mixture of cinnamon and ginger.  Then I put the ribbon back around it, attached another ribbon and hung it on the kitchen curtain rod by the table.

We made three and the project is now a happy memory of our day, as I remember making them with the children.  It was a crafting experience for our senses; the fun sound of the clove popping into the apple, the feel of the cool apple skin and the little hard cloves, the beauty of browns and reds and greens, and most of all the yummy smells of spice and sweetness as we worked with our hands, sitting side by side by side.

We are getting our Christmas tree this weekend and the children are eagerly awaiting the day.  In the meantime, I thought it would be festive & fun to have them help me decorate the front porch for the first time ever, with pretty lights.  I had to run errands anyway so the eight of us got ready and went out this morning.  We had plans to get lights and a lighted deer figure for the front of the house.

However, as we browsed excitedly around the Christmas aisle in the store, the children spotted something even better than a deer.

Honestly, is this a great find or what?

I have had a thing for pigs for years now, I think they are cute.  I could not believe there was a PIG lawn ornament (of all things) on sale, for Christmas.  He’s perfect for me and I’ll smile whenever I see it.  We strung lights on the front porch and in a few in the bushes in front, and carefully placed Mr. Pig in a noticeable spot.  He’s standing guard and helping us celebrate this most wonderful time of year.

I think Pilgrim’s Progress must be one of Rich’s favorite books because I just counted and this is about the fourth time he’s read it to the children.

I love this picture because it was unplanned and I had to talk myself into taking it.  At the time, I was sitting by the fireplace at the end of the day, sleepy.  Baby Sarah was sitting on the floor in front of me and I was propping her up with my legs.  

I was half listening to the story but then my eyes woke up and I saw….my family all in front of me.

Davy in his footie pajamas that he’s wanted and wanted and I recently bought for him, at Target.  He sat on the couch for a while, then sat on the floor.  He had a little trouble paying attention this night but a change of scenery sometimes helps.

Precious Ethan busily crocheting his blanket.

Jacob looking bored, but I’m sure he was *simply absorbed* in the reading. 

Grace where she loves to be, snuggling up to her adored Papa; Caleb was snuggling on the other side and he was sound asleep and snoring by the end of the chapter.

Rich still in his clothes from work, tired, but beginning to relax at home, with his black shoes kicked off his aching feet (finally).

Little squirming Seth, I offered to put him to bed but Rich wanted him with us.  Seth would have preferred going to bed, he objects to being held for so long but he knows he can’t get away from Papa unless Papa says so.  Every once in a while he would protest and whimper and look at me like, “Save me mama!”….he had given up and resorted to quietly playing with his toes during the moment I snapped the picture.

I realized to myself that a beautiful picture was in front of me….what I was seeing should be recorded for our family album, but I had no intentions to disturb the reading with my photography antics and kept telling myself, “NO, don’t get up, don’t get up.” 

Then I sighed, put Sarah on her tummy, walked softly to the kitchen, grabbed the camera, took the picture and now at this moment I’m looking and smiling and grateful.

You know, these moments won’t last forever.  We need to seize them, while we can.  This one’s in my heart and in my photo album.

Another one is right behind me…a stinky Seth in my chair hugging my back and chattering.  Must go change a diaper now and I won’t be tempted to take any pictures this time.    However, I do love making my baby clean…maybe I’ll give him a nice bubble bath.

(((hugs)))

Today:

We would have been on time to Sunday School if I hadn’t taken these pictures.  (oops)

Sarah wore a beautiful Christmas dress sent to me from my dear friend Bridgette.

Jacob joined the orchestra at church for the first time; he plays the violin.  He said he was so nervous he was shaking and it was crazy.

I was paged two times to go to the nursery to console dear baby.  She’s darling cute even when she’s all upset.

We ate fast food on the way home.

Rich and I went out this afternoon to get some groceries and he carefully picked out new coloring books for Davy, Caleb, and Sethie.

He also picked out food for a party; hot chocolate and chocolate covered donuts.

We played PIT with the older children and it was so much fun.

I lit a green pine candle, it has three wicks and smells wonderful, like Christmas.

Grace practiced the piano; she has a recital on Saturday.

I’m thinking of my friend Lea Ann, it’s her birthday today.

We don’t have our tree yet, do you?

Today:

I woke up to my husband’s voice, telling me I am beautiful.

Jacob and Ethan had Christmas program practice at church.  They are both reading such beautiful God-honoring words, standing alone with their voices reading slow and clear.

The two of them were also able to go to the church teen group activity; whirlyball (I have no idea what that is).

We sponsored a child from Compassion.  A little girl from India who has six brothers and sisters.

Our hearts grew when we did it.

Rich and I took a nap with baby Sarah.

David and Caleb just came inside with red noses from shutting in the chickens for the night.  David had his hands full of eggs.

There are two tall loaves of homemade bread cooling by the stove.

Sarah is in her swing and won’t lay back in it, she wants to sit up and move.  Seth won’t leave her alone but David is the one making her laugh right now.

Rich is picking up the boys from church and bringing pizza home for dinner.

I must go break up a fight; three boys all want my salad spinner.  (there’s a Christmas gift idea for you)

Happy Weekend!

God has blessed me with seven children, five of which are busy, active boys. 

I get tired at times, grumpy, mad, impatient. 

The past few days have been like that for me.  The children and I had lots and lots of good moments, but I found my fuse shorter than usual.

I told my husband last night with tears running down my cheeks that I didn’t feel good enough to be a mother.  (He encouraged me that I was good enough, and doing great.)

Yes, by God’s grace and through His leading I somehow get through the days, I do get through them.  And then, at nighttime when the house is finally finally quiet, my aching head hits the pillow and I sleep such a wonderful sleep.  Sometimes.  I am still nursing a little girl baby, too, after all.  

For the past few days David and Caleb have been vanishing for long periods of time, outdoors.  When I asked what they were doing I learned that they had a Clubhouse in the chicken coop.  I thought that was precious, I wondered what they were working on and talking about, out there for so long.  I’ve been busy and didn’t go look.  I was so busy that I had Ethan go spy, but when he came back to report I was too busy to listen very well.

You see, Seth has been giving me a run for my money.  If I leave him alone he gets into mischief right away.  In fact, the reason I’m sitting and typing now, is only because Rich is home from work and putting him to bed.

He does stuff like this, all day long:

Anyway.  This morning I went downtown to get some candles for our advent devotional we are reading through.  When I came home, I bundled up my busy boy Seth and we walked outside to find some pretty pine needles to arrange around the candles. We walked together to the chicken coop and when I opened the door, not expecting anything at all, I found it, I found The Clubhouse.

I haven’t had the mental resources to write lately, I needed some fresh inspiration…..and, as it often happens, I found it in my children.  Happily, I ran to get my camera.

The metal garbage can holds the chicken feed.  The boys put a bunk bed ladder on top and that’s how they get up to the loft.  Seems kind of dangerous to me.

“the only pepel hoo are alowed is David Austin Caled Leio and Keney”

“No girs olowed”

I stood up on the garbage can and still couldn’t see what was up there so I lifted the camera up and shot a couple of blind pictures.

Their clubhouse is sparsely decorated, with a resting spot (David’s name for it) with a sleeping bag and pillow.  A shelf that has a hammer and a knife (the one he made himself when he was blacksmithing, David explained), a glass that holds nails, guns on the wall, and a table in the middle of the floor.

When I asked what they did up there all the time I learned that they basically just sat around and made further plans/hopes/wishes/dreams for the clubhouse.

As we were leaving the coop/clubhouse I found a couple of things that have been missing.  I get frustrated when the children don’t know where their coats are when I send them outside or we have to go someplace.  There are so many of us that I simply cannot keep track of everyone’s stuff.  I can’t.  I have learned that sooner or later things will turn up.  I found the boy’s coats today, in obvious plain sight.

Caleb’s coat:

David’s coat:

Now, if we can just find Sethie’s new coat I’ll really be over the moon with joy!

I’ve often thought that if I were a child growing up in this place, I would go hide out in the chicken coop and make myself a special spot in a quiet nook.  It makes me happy to see that the children have decided to do just that.

Did you have a fort, clubhouse, or treehouse when you were growing up?

We are having a most relaxing long weekend and I thought I would take a little while to sit and work on a blog entry.  I’m cozy and content in my pj’s at 6pm, the children are eating popcorn and watching an old Disney movie (Parent Trap).  Little Seth is feeling under the weather and is right by my side here on the couch, snoring.  Sarah is down at the other end, sleeping, too.  Husband is puttering around in the kitchen finding something to munch on.

Thanksgiving day was a delight, full of busy preparations that began the night before.  We welcomed my dear parents, my sister and her family, my brother Isaac, and some special guests; our Pastor and his family.  It was an honor to have a houseful of people we love for the wonderful holiday meal.

I made; orange jello salad, seafood pasta salad, homemade rolls, sweet potato casserole, squash, wheat pilaf, roast turkey with homemade stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn casserole, and cranberry sauce (from the can, is what we like).  I had lots of help from MOM (made the gravy and stuffing), Mary (helped peel potatoes and did lots of other helpful things, too), Grace and Abbie (made the corn dish), and Jacob mashed the potatoes.  I didn’t do any cleaning up afterwards, Amanda, Jason, and Rich did it all.

We took a 5 minute break to take the picture on the porch before the sun went down.  We only took one shot and then the children stampeded back indoors.

Grace, and Rich;

Grace, Abbie, Mom (holding Sarah), making the corn casserole;

Jacob, Mom, and Ethan;

Mom enjoying the baby;

Dear Dad, and Sarah Joy;

My mom brought Sarah her very first box of baby snack food.  They are called “rice rusks” and they are a solid, crispy but light, rice cracker.  They melt in baby’s mouth so they are safe for her to eat early on.  Sarah just loved it (she broke it right in half and had a piece in each hand) and we very much enjoyed watching her eat it.

My beautiful sister, Amanda, and Sarah;

My Mom and Dad spent the night here and on Friday morning, mom spent some time reading to the little ones,

And Dad played Nerf War with the boys;

My parents left on Friday because my Dad had to get back home for the weekend, he is preaching in their church on Sunday.

Rich and I waved goodbye to them and then had the quietest day here at home that we’ve had in a long time.  The only negative part of the day was that Grace had a little bit of stomach upset.  (Nervous that it will spread to the rest of the family?  Me too.)  Other than that, we had such a restful family time, didn’t go anywhere the whole day long.

We read books, watched a little TV, and of course I had fun playing with my baby.

It was getting chilly in the house so I found a sweater that my friend Amanda had crocheted for Seth, and put it on her.  It fit perfect and looked so warm and old-fashioned.

Just the sort of thing I like.

Sweater:  Handmade by Amanda

Dress:  Hand-me-down from Grace

Pants:  Baby GAP clearance

Booties:  Handmade by Mama

This morning, Saturday morning, the sun came out bright and beautiful.  I sat on the couch with two soft babies in my lap~

(I held the camera up over my head to take this one)~

I spent an incredibly lazy morning, holding Sarah and reading my big book. 

Later on, Rich went running on the treadmill while I took my shower.  Then we went for a walk together with Seth.  It. was. freezing. cold.  But I was happy to get some exercise.  When we got back, I held Seth and he fell asleep in my arms.  Rich and I wanted to get out of the house for a couple of hours so we left Jacob to babysit.

We finally found a high chair.  Ours was old and broken and yucky and I’ve been searching for a new one.  We went to Babies R Us and I didn’t like ANY of them.  Then we went to a local furniture store, and found a wooden one.  After seven babies, I have my opinions about high chairs.  LOL 

Seth slept the entire time we were gone and when he woke up he had a fever.  He’s been sleeping on the couch and Sarah was the first one who got to try out the new chair.

She eats rice cereal every evening now with some fruit.  It has taken weeks of patient attempts for her to get to the point where she is actually getting a good amount swallowed, and down. 

The children are now looking forward to Christmas.  Ethan hung a Christmas wreath on the door and Grace put a Nativity window-cling scene on the window.  She put the wise men way far away and said that every day, she will move them closer to baby Jesus.

I already have the majority of my shopping done and I am looking forward to spending quiet (maybe not actually QUIET, in this house) times with the children, making things and baking.  I want to make Sarah another pair of booties, and make a few corn bags, to give as gifts.  I finally found some economical whole cloves (at Costco) to make those oranges with cloves stuck in them.  They will smell so good.  We will soon make our paper chain and gingerbread houses.

I’ve had to save this post a couple of times so I could do other things in the meantime.  Rich is studying for his Sunday School lesson, Seth is still sleeping on the couch, the children are upstairs playing, and Sarah is so distracting, laughing to herself in her swing, that I really must be going now, so I can scoop her up and snuggle.

Thankful so many things, and for you~

Shanda

A mild November morning, a treat, the outdoors called and we answered.  I popped my head into Grace’s room and said, “Do you want to come outside, with Sarah and me?”  We three went together into the sweet air of the new day.  

It was approximately 7:30 a.m.

Sarah’s pink sweater was crocheted for her big sister, Grace, 11 years ago, by her Great Great Grandma.  These sweaters (she made two others, one for Jacob and one for Ethan) have been a constant delight to put on my babies.  They zip right up the back, have an adorable pointed hood to keep the little ears warm, and were made with loving hands.

After letting out the chickens, we went over to the play set and I put Sarah in the swing.

These next pictures were taken one after the other…watch her little hand….

It was a happy time playing outside with our baby.  She is a wonderful heavy armful of pure joy. 

Yes, she is our pretty doll, and we all adore her.

Back inside, Sarah played on the floor, on a blanket I crocheted a few years ago.

She insisted on playing with toys that matched her little nightgown!  

These pictures recorded about an hour of our morning.  Since then, we have been busy getting things done for Thanksgiving day.  Ethan and I went (with Sarah) to Costco to get the turkey.  We had to park way far away from Costco but we didn’t mind because the weather was so nice.  We pawed through all the fresh Butterball turkeys so we could buy The Biggest One.  It was 22 pounds.  After getting a few more random items, we left that crazy place and came back home to schoolwork, reading, and naps.

I took a nap with Sarah and if she hadn’t woke me up I would be sleeping still.  Really!

((loves)) Shanda

PS.  I am thankful for YOU.  Blogging has become such a bright spot in my life because of the friends I have met here.  Thank you for your gracious friendship and loving notes day after day.