“Hello, I’m Robert Redgate bringing you this o’clock addition of Bubblewitness news. All the news that’s fit to speak, all the news that’s fit to hear, all the news to bring you cheer right here in Bubbleland. Today as usual we have some good news and some very good news. But first, the good news:

There’s never never never never never any trouble
here in Bubbleland.
Bubbleland. Bubbleland
There’s never never never never anything
but joy right here in Bubbleland.
Bubbleland. Bubbleland
Our bubbles make us happy
They are with us night and day
We know they are so important,
they must never blow away…

Of course, they never would.”    From Mr. Roger’s Bubbleland Opera, 1968

“Here are some practicalities that help me:  1. My crockpot is my servant. 2.  Playdough is a great thing even though messy.  3.  Washing plastic dishes in sudsy water is a great thing even though messy.  ; )  4.  If one of the children are ill or someone is crying over a lesson, close the books.  5.  Retreat, and pray. : )”  ~From a comment that “thats italian” left me in a homeschooling post.

Well, I’ve done the whole, “let’s let the kids play in the sink thing” many a times so when I read thats italian’s comment about a month ago, I thought, “not a chance am I going to do that anytime soon”!  However, how could I say no to a 2 year old who had the determination yesterday to drag a chair all the way from the computer to the kitchen sink?  And how could I say no to his brother, who wanted to be in on the action? 

It’s another fun time that starts out beautiful. . . .but ends up with me running for a towel and dry clothes.  And the camera! 

Caleb always involves his trains.

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This picture was also taken yesterday.  I put the kids to bed to rest and read and Caleb came downstairs shortly after I had finally gotten on the couch to rest myself.  I wondered why he had such a short nap and soon came to the realization that I don’t think he ever slept up there!  Apparently he was playing instead of napping.  I enjoyed holding him, although he has grown about 10 inches and gained about 15 pounds since the last time he slept with me during naptime!  As my fifth child, he had the privilege of napping on mama when he was a little baby.  Now he’s a BIG BOY.  (you can just barely see part of his train in this picture, too, he always has one–he LOVES Thomas, he screams with delight when it comes on, quite startling.)  Jacob took this picture of our cozy moment:

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So, this week is a little tough because Rich is attending a conference and doesn’t get home until after the kids go to bed.  He and I are both working overtime!  I’m not exactly complaining, I know that there are many women who have it much worse. I need my husband, he’s my rock, and I’m so thankful for him.  He got home last night at 9pm and I felt so guilty because as soon as he sat on the bed to talk to me (I was watching TV in our room) I started falling right to sleep!  I told him I was sorry, but I guess having him home made me very relaxed.  He went to the livingroom and stayed up until midnight, working–it’s so maddening to me that he has this conference and then comes home to catch up on the work he’s missing at the office while he’s at this special leadership conference and dinners almost every night!!!!!  I asked him this morning to please try to take a couple days off next week—I NEED him
to help me with Thanksgiving preparations; cleaning and getting ready for company.  My poor husband.  He needed me to pick up dry cleaning for him yesterday “after 5” and I COMPLETELY FORGOT.  I didn’t think about it at all until he got home and was hanging his coat up.  I’m feeling sad now and guilty!  I’m sorry, dear!  He does so much to make me happy and provide for us.

I had a rough weekend (had a meltdown at church, even!  How embarrassing.) and a bad Monday—that NYC trip completely drained me.  Remember the packing peanut post?  Those pictures were from Friday, the day after my trip.  I was sick with exhaustion (and a bad backache) but am finally feeling better!

I am SO thankful that the Lord has given me my strength and my sense of humor back again.  I kind of doubted that it would happen, LOL.

And, by the way, THANK YOU to all who left sweet comments for E yesterday, he read them all this morning, first thing.

The days are long but the years are short. 

“Hey!  You got any birdseed, lady?”

I was in my room today with the kids, watching them play a game on the computer.  Outside, on the porch, a blue jay landed on one of my wooden planters.  I took the picture from inside my room, over the heads of my children, through the glass window, and between the porch railings!  Not bad!

Who did this????

“Was it you, Grace?”

“No, I didn’t do it!”

Who did it, then?

Ah ha!  Now I see!  These two again!

“It’s kind of like snow, Mom!”

It always starts out so innocently. . . . . . .

At least these packing peanuts really melt just like snow.  Call in the troops!  Time for science class!

(Kathy was the official map reader of the day)

Give me a field and a forest anyday; a country road and the sounds of nature are for me!

However, I do think it’s good for me to get out of my comfort zone and do different things.  On Thursday, my friend Kathy and I went to NYC for the day.  We drove to New Haven, CT and got on the train from there, arriving at Grand Central Station about 11:30.

We shopped at the American Girl Place and I know some of you were wondering what I bought but I can’t tell you that because Grace reads my blog!  Everyone will just have to wait until Christmas. 

We walked and walked and walked and walked.  It was cold!  Brrrrr, one of my souvenirs was a new pair of mittens and a scarf–I bought a dark blue set and Kathy bought a brown set.  They were a little pricey and we both said that next time, we will knit our own.  (we’ll see about that!!)

(I’m the official secretary of all the trips. . . . .)

We ended up going to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the first time I had been there.  I really enjoyed it and could imagine spending a day there by myself, taking my time and studying.  Kathy and I found the paintings (the museum is huge) and my favorites were by Rembrandt, who used such wonderful, warm color.  I was appalled when my phone rang (a no-no)–and the ring that tells me my husband is calling is a Big Fan Fare.  I sort of threw the phone around, trying to turn it off–I was so flustered I could not remember how, so Kathy did it.  I am sure I was beet red.  We also looked at the “Gates of Splendor” exhibit, it was so awesome.  “See what people can do in a world with no blackberries, computers, phones, and televisions??”  Every work of art was done with such attention to detail to the very best of the artist’s ability.

Kathy read me this quote,

“Rembrandt is so deeply mysterious

that he says things for which

there are no words in any language.”

 ~Vincent Van Gogh

and I told her that I could say the same about her (she can be very confusing at times and she knows it)–and we both laughed hysterically.

I also enjoyed the stained glass windows and the old dishes and pottery.  Kathy and I both agreed that our boys would love the medieval exhibit. 

Of all the places we could have had lunch, we ended up eating at the CAFETERIA at the museum.  So funny.  I ate baked chicken w/roasted squash and potatoes.  Kathy had a hamburger and fries.  We enjoyed sitting, eating, and resting our weary feet.  After enjoying our lunch and all the art, we went to the gift shop and I bought 2 boxes of notecards–of course–I love having a nice variety of stationary and notecards to use when I write to my pen-pals.

By the time we headed back toward the train station, it was getting dark.  We walked with mobs of people. . .we both noticed and remarked on all the talking. . .so many voices talking all at the same time, what NOICE, and wondered what God thought of it all. . most of it was nonsense talk, including the two of us, I’m afraid!  We were rather silly all day and laughed a lot.

The best spur of the moment thing we did was ducking into Garret, a popcorn place, and buying bags of popcorn.  It was so fun walking the rest of the way and munching on popcorn. . .I had a little bag of buttery cheese and a little bag of macadamia nut/caramel.  Kathy got caramel.  It was so delicious!

We got on the train at Grand Central Station during peak time, it was 6:04, and we sat with a nice lady who talked with us about the museum and gave us some suggestions about what to do if we ever take the kids with us (which I cannot imagine doing any time soon!)

It was a great day, I got home at 10-ish because we also stopped at a Starbucks on the way back.  I got into bed so exhausted and spend the day yesterday being short with the kids.    

Guess where I was yesterday???

My friend Kathy and I have wanted to go on an adventure to NYC for a while but didn’t know until Wednesday that it would work out. . .sort of spur of the moment but great fun for us homeschooling “in great need of a break” Mommies!  I got home last night exhausted but happy.

More pictures and details tomorrow!

Grace is getting a cold and wanted to go outside so I cautioned her that she better put warm clothes on so she doesn’t get pneumonia.

She just came downstairs with tights, socks, long underwear, pants, a dress, a shirt, a long flannel nightgown, and a coat on.  In that order!

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EDIT:

My dear, loving, loyal. fun, happy, SPOILED, xanga readers:

After receiving an email from my brother, and reading and laughing over all of your comments asking “where is the picture”, I paid Grace a dollar and she put everything back on (except the shoes, but you get the idea) so I could take a couple photos of her anti-pneumonia outfit.  I am afraid, however, that what you were imagining was much funnier that the real deal—you be the judge—

Colleen was afraid that Grace simply exchanged the danger of coming down with pneumonia for the danger of over-heating.  Well, she did end up taking off the coat and the nightgown. . . . .  when I told her to put her coat back on for the pictures she said, “Oh, I left that outside.  It’s hanging in a pine tree.” (insert her giggles here).

Thanks for having fun and laughing along w/me today. . .

Hugs–

Grace is getting a cold and wanted to go outside so I cautioned her that she better put warm clothes on so she doesn’t get pneumonia.

She just came downstairs with tights, socks, long underwear, pants, a dress, a shirt, a long flannel nightgown, and a coat on.  In that order!

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EDIT:

My dear, loving, loyal. fun, happy, SPOILED, xanga readers:

After receiving an email from my brother, and reading and laughing over all of your comments asking “where is the picture”, I paid Grace a dollar and she put everything back on (except the shoes, but you get the idea) so I could take a couple photos of her anti-pneumonia outfit.  I am afraid, however, that what you were imagining was much funnier that the real deal—you be the judge—

Colleen was afraid that Grace simply exchanged the danger of coming down with pneumonia for the danger of over-heating.  Well, she did end up taking off the coat and the nightgown. . . . .  when I told her to put her coat back on for the pictures she said, “Oh, I left that outside.  It’s hanging in a pine tree.” (insert her giggles here).

Thanks for having fun and laughing along w/me today. . .

Hugs–

It seems like my Monday routine is always catching up from the weekend.  So, in the midst of the hustle and bustle of a cleaning frenzy I thought I would sit down and write.

Did you all have a nice weekend?  I did end up going to the mall on Saturday afternoon with my friend Kathy.  We had so much fun–I got a head start on some Christmas gifts for the kids and some clothes for Jacob and Ethan (they needed pants).  I think the best part of the afternoon was sitting together and munching on hot buttery pretzels, sipping ice-cold Pepsi and talking non-stop.  I came back home so refreshed.

Sunday was a blessing because it was Grace’s birthday and we also got to go to church.  Rich preached Sunday night because our Pastor and his family are on vacation.  He preached about the account of Joseph and his brothers–but wrapped up the message by putting emphasis on JUDAH instead of Joseph.  Did you ever stop to think that we spend a lot of time thinking about Joseph, and yet it was Judah who was in Christ’s family line?   Why is that?  Did you know that Judah is not even the firstborn son of Jacob?  The whole study is almost endless–the heart attitudes of Joseph and his brothers change throughout the story and can really touch the soul.  Go ahead and read it . . .you might see the story in a different light.  It was neat.

Like I said, I am spending the morning cleaning.  I always know when I need a break when I start to get completely stressed out.  Then I sit, drink some water and relax for a few minutes.  I’ve got a good start on the laundry, the kitchen, and my bedroom.  I still want to vacuum.  We will do school at some point, too.

Ethan got a cute Thanksgiving craft book out of the library on Friday and so he was working on that.

Jacob made army men out of screws.  Yep, that’s right, screws.  It was a big production–all his own idea.  First, you find a box of screws (thanks to his Dad!) and hammer the pointed end until it is blunt so no one gets hurt.  Then, you stand the screw up on it’s head and paint the whole thing (J and E have a set of blue and a set of red).  Then you dip the head in another color of paint.  Let dry.  Now you have a set of army guys!  Then, paint a couple soda cans black and now you have “oil towers”.  Do you understand now, how Caleb got into paint the other day? 

Jacob was also practicing his violin, which reminded me that I wanted to show you pictures of my DAD and JACOB playing together last Sunday.  They played “Ashokan Farewell” quite nicely.  I added the song on my site again, so you can hear it (the “professional” version, that is!  LOL–)  I love the song, it’s so beautiful.  Mom and I kept saying, “Again!” as soon as they stopped.  I can not get over the fact that my Dad and Jacob can play music together now.  How did that happen?  Time flies. . . . .

Can anyone read Ethan’s mind?  Lest you feel too sorry for him, I will tell you that I spoke to someone about beginning guitar lessons for him in January.  He is ready, and thrilled to get started on his music studies.

Please let me know how you all are doing!  Hugs to you—-Shanda

 Happy Birthday, Grace

 As most of you know by now, Rich and I had two boys (14 months apart) before we had Grace.  She was born in the early hours of the morning,  and in my arms was placed a new little wonder–the wonder of a daughter.  I was so thankful and excited to have her.  What fun it was to have pink things, girly things!

Eight years have gone by and our family now has a total of 4 boys. . . and Grace. . .our “one and only” girl, is sandwiched in the middle of them. 

Grace made a special request this year for an “American Girl” Horse.  She is so interested in horses lately.  We loved watching her open her gift this morning (it was a big box, so exciting!) and it is obvious that now she has a new friend.  Penny the horse is not an “it”, She is a She. . .and to Grace, she is as real as can be.

In so many ways she has added joy to my life.

  Oh, I am so thankful for her.

Hush-a-bye, don’t you cry,
Go to sleepy little baby.
When you wake, you shall have,
All the pretty little horses.

Black and bay, dapple and grey,
Coach and six little horses,
Hush-a-bye, don’t you cry,
Go to sleepy little baby.
Hush-a-bye, don’t you cry,
Go to sleepy little baby,
When you wake, you shall have,
All the pretty little horses.

Happy Birthday, Sweetie.

We love you.