Thursday, December 31, 2009

So Sorry

that's it's been a long time since I posted. I have a bunch of pics to post, but have not felt like doing much of anything these past few days. Maybe tomorrow...

Thursday, December 17, 2009

July 13

is my official due date. I am ten weeks along. I had my first doctor's visit today, and I was able to see the baby and hear the heartbeat. To me, that's when the pregnancy becomes real. I love hearing the heartbeat! The baby is measuring right on time and looks fine, according to the doctor.

After I got done at the doctor, Paul and I took his brothers Christmas shopping, an annual event for us. All 4 of us enjoy it. We take our time and have a nice dinner with the boys. They love finding just the right gift for each of the kids.

As a result, I am beat tonight. I came home, expecting to find all the cookies I made yesterday for the swap and I didn't. I found less than half of them. ARGHHHH I know what my kids did. They thought that if they just took one or two, no one would notice. But multiply that by 7 (yes, Paul is included), and guess what. I NOTICED! The girls are in the kitchen right now trying to remedy the situation. We'll see how it goes. I'm really not concerned. If we don't have enough cookies, we just won't participate. I am too tired and worn out to bake cookies now.

Tomorrow night is Ellie's night which means gingerbread (graham cracker) houses which is always fun. We're making progress on the laundry, I think. I'll be glad when I'm back to feeling myself and can take charge of this house again!

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Tuesday

I had a very full day today! It started off with storytime at the library with Sam and Ben. They really enjoy this time and I enjoy watching them. Of course, the stories and puppets were all about Christmas today which made even more fun. At one point, she gave each of the ten children jingle bells to shake while singing- Ben absolutely loved that.

After storytime, I was invited to have lunch at my sister in law Sherry's house. She had made us such a delicious, nice lunch. It was very Christmasy and very relaxing at her house. I enjoyed it very much.

Then tonight, Paul and I had our nights. We've had to combine nights because we're running out of time this year, but it worked out just fine. I took the family to see A Christmas Carol at the movies in 3-D. It was quite a movie! The animation was just incredible. It may have been a little too much for Sam, however. After the movie, Paul took us out to Mexican, one of our favorites. It was delicious and Paul sprang for white cheese and dessert, a real treat. This is the one time a year we all go to the movies and out for dinner.

Tomorrow, the girls and I will begin baking cookies for our cookie swap on Friday, then we have Christmas at Paul's parents on Saturday and then Sunday, we leave! I hope we can get it all done- the laundry, I mean!!

Monday, December 14, 2009

Random Thoughts

  • I've been very sick from morning sickness.
  • Why do they call it morning sickness if it lasts all day long?
  • The weather here has been crazy. Cold, then warm, then muggy then rainy/foggy.
  • We leave in one week. I'm not ready.
  • I swear our laundry is multiplying over night.
  • We met in our new space yesterday at church. It looked so nice and was very comfortable.
  • But, it was weird. It will take some time to "feel" like church.
  • We haven't taken our Christmas picture yet. This may be the first time in years that we don't take one. It's either been rainy, or I've been sick.
  • I go to the doctor for the first time on Thursday. I'm not looking forward to it. This is a new doctor since the doc that delivered Ben and Sam is not delivering babies anymore.
  • Benjamin has undecorated a big spot on the front of the Christmas Tree. Our tree looks like it has a bald spot.
  • Our kids are hoping and praying for snow in Kansas. They've already had some, so it is a possibility.
  • We're going (well, they're going) snow tubing, so they will see snow. I would like to see it falling myself. It's so pretty.
  • Goodnight.
  • (I think I'm caught up on everything! 5 posts today!)

Miss Leontine

We first met Miss Leontine 9 1/2 years ago when we moved to Georgia. She made dinner for us our first or second night here and was thrilled to do so. She was a "southern lady" through and through. It didn't take long for us to realize how much Miss Leontine loved the Church of the Wildwood. When we arrived, she was the clerk and proudly typed up the bulletin each week. She loved our family and was very kind to us. God must have given Miss Leontine an extra measure of grace and compassion. She took care of her husband during a long illness, and a few weeks after his death, her invalid brother moved into her house and she took care of him until his death in 2005. She never complained, but always seemed grateful for the privilege of taking care of him.

Miss Leontine loved Women of Faith and came with us a few times. I remember her sitting in her wheelchair, wearing her sweatshirt with the hood because it was so cold in the Arena. On one of these trips, she mentioned to me that she would like to buy me lunch. I automatically told her that she didn't need to do that. Well, some time later she told me that I had hurt her feelings by not letting her buy me lunch. Ouch. I apologized over and over and determined that the next time someone wanted to do something nice for me, I would let them.

She was so excited for Samuel to arrive, partly because his middle name, Isaac, was the same as her brothers. I remember her holding him on the night of his dedication and just beaming. I believe that was about the only time she held him because not long after, she entered the hospital for what would become a lengthy, complicated stay that would result in the loss of the use of her kidneys. We thought we were losing her then, but God pulled her through and her children moved her near Atlanta to be closer to them.

Paul and I visited with her anytime we were near Atlanta. Oh, she loved those visits! She would proudly introduce us to her friends and show us around. The last time we saw her was in May and she was so tickled that we stayed for lunch. It was a small thing, really, but it meant the world to her.

Paul got the call late last week that Leontine had fallen. Because of all her body has been through, she was not bouncing back after the surgery, and the next day, she had died.

They buried her today. Paul had the privilege of doing the graveside service and he was so honored. It was a rainy, foggy, dreary day here- a day fitting for a funeral I thought many times. Fitting for a funeral on our side, but I'm sure on Leontine's side, it was anything but dreary! I'm sure the sun was shining bright on heaven's shore as she reunited with her beloved husband, and brothers and her many friends who have gone on before. But I'm positive that those reunions, as special as they were, were nothing in comparison as she finally got to put her arms around the Father and dance with the Son and hear Him say, "Well done, thy good and faithful servant."

Goodbye for now.

Our Annual Christmas Open House












And a good time was had by all.

The Christmas Tree

We weren't sure what to do about a Christmas tree this year. We got rid of our old tree after last Christmas- it was 16 years old and was worn out. So, that left us with no tree this year. The only artificial trees we could find in the store that we liked were way too expensive. We debated getting a real one, but by the time you buy the tree and the stand, it's alot of money also. So Paul looked around online for used artificial trees and found a winner! It's a seven and a half pre lit tree and is huge and beautiful! And, the best part is that he only paid $50 for it! It should last us a good long time. Ben was enthralled with the tree and the lights.
We let him put up a few ornaments and then he went to bed so we could finish.
But not before Dad dressed him up as a Christmas tree complete with lights and ornaments.

He quite enjoyed it.
Almost done! I usually "tweak" the tree after the kids are done putting on the ornaments, balancing them out and adding ribbons and bows. Not this year. I was feeling sick so my mini-me- Ellie- did my job and did it quite well! It was so funny watching her do exactly what I do exactly in the way I do it!
The finished tree.

Sam and his vivid imagination

He found this ice cream bucket with a broken handle and used it as a helmet and the handle as a walkie talkie/microphone.
He used the tops of the stools as guns.

And pretended he was in a helicopter, fighting.

He makes us laugh with his imagination. He can play with anything and pretend it is whatever he thinks it to be. So cute!