1st Day of Christmas~Snow Day!

I plan to join Melissa and the others for the Days of Christmas link up. For the first day of Christmas, we have SNOW!

Around here, we LOVE snow days!Without exception!
The foot (give or take a few inches) we received overnight was put to good use!
Kaite loves wearing her hat! In fact, she took her nap with it on! I think maybe she was "Dreaming of a White Christmas!"
Daddy went in to work a little later than usual so that he could play with the little ones first.

They thanked him repeatedly!!!

"J.I.N.G.L.E. Bells"...Yes, we love our Christmas music too!

And our snow-covered pines (okay...blue spruce).

"Come on! We're going for a sleigh ride!" Well....actually it's a 4-wheeler, but sort of a similar idea. =)After many, many trips around the pasture...

We came in and enjoyed a warm bowl of oatmeal.Hhmm...snow and oatmeal. Two touchy subjects. Either you like them or you don't. Personally, and speaking for the family...we like!

I like my oatmeal with lots of butter, white sugar and a little cream. I like my snow with more snow!

How about you?

Blogging Blahs

Okay, it's official. I have the blogging blahs. I don't know if you noticed or not, but my last two posts, (which were two weeks apart at that) were for Tiny Talk. Since school started, I have not had the time for a lot of fun or finished objects. Well, that and I have been a bit blah. I was told that I need to blog though, so here I am making a feeble attempt.

I don't like to complain, but I have been sick with headaches and other annoying symptoms for a couple of months now. I finally decided it warrented a trip to the ER and now following up with the doctor for tons and tons of tests. That in itself is frustrating. I HATE being the center of this type (or any type) of attention. I also HATE making doctor bills. Some people assume that if you have insurance, your 'worries are free'. :) What having insurance really means, is that I have to pay whatever they don't and it seems that is always too much.

The worst part however; of all of this is that I am so happy and content being mommy to my four little pink things, making a home for my family, and loving my wonderful man and I so fear the unknown. I think it happens to all mommies from time to time, but my blahs right now stem from the fear that whatever is wrong could be serious. I'm a very organized, scheduled person. I have found that is the ONLY way for me to safely and successfully run a 'large' family and homeschool. What I am not, is patient. These two things make this time very hard for me.

That being said, I know that God is in control and he loves me even more than I love my little people. I am up for whatever he allows. A friend recently posted the song posted above for me on facebook and it has become my new favorite. It fits my life in so many ways right now, and is sung so beautifully by the Collingsworth ladies. I feel special to be one of God's flowers and I'm glad that even in the shadows, He is my Rock and my loving Heavenly King!

I'll bloom where I'm planted!

Corn & Crows

My parents gave us about 5 dozen ears of corn. Not a ton, but way more than we can eat in one setting. Sooo....we froze it. I asked Rick to stop and buy me a big stock pot on the way home. When you tell him "big" he takes you seriously! He got me a BIG (33qt) canner. I had to place it over TWO lit burners, but it worked great! Love it! I got some fake crows to decorate for fall. I have a thing for crows this year (don't ask). It's a scream to watch Kaite with them. She is scared to death of them, but can't seem to leave them alone.
Kayla took some pictures of her 'interaction' with them. I love the worried look on her face!
I had some great help with the corn. I don't really mind it at all, if I don't have to do the husking. I have a great family of 'cornhuskers'.

Kaite tried to eat some corn before it was cooked.

Kammy--so proud of the job she was doing--and I think so cute!

Oh! And there is fatty-watty 2X4 who is now stuck with corn to the kitchen floor!

Tiny Talk Tuesday

Some of you know about the extreme love that little Kaite has for Campbells chicken noodle. She will even go get her own can from the pantry and gets so excited over it! Here she is helping daddy pour the can straight into a bowl. For those of you who might worry about nutrition, I really DO make balanced meals. For some reason, she prefers the can (although she doesn't always get it) and her doctor says not to worry.She has also learned that doggie says, "Arf!" We are having a lot of fun around here with that one!

Kammy is spending a few days getting spoiled over at Grampapa's house this week. She was 'helping' them clean in their basement and said, "Sigh...you have sooo much stuff! I am going to pray to Jesus that he doesn't give you any more stuff!" No, this is not really their basement. I just grabbed this photo off the net. Their's isn't quite this bad. :)
We had a birthday in our house this past week and my two oldest compiled a list of 35 reasons why they love daddy. It's really pretty funny. You can read it here, or here.

See more adorable Tiny Talk here.

Family Fun!

We took a little time off this afternoon and took the kids to the Canyon County fair. I don't know what the fair is like where you live, but here it's very family oriented, agricultural and educational. Sort of like going to the zoo...only better! The kids got to dress up like Little House and have their picture taken. They all thought it was great fun...all but Kaite. She represents Grace in the line-up and 'Grace' was NOT impressed! Not with the dress, not with the photographer, and not with the whole idea. We say that 'Grace' was not being very graceful. I love the picture anyway.
'Grace' loved the corn dogs!
Kayla is getting so big and brave! She rode the ferris wheel all by herself!

I think Kammy's favorite part was the animals. She is a true animal lover. Very gentle and dedicated.

I took a liking to the rooster BEHIND this one, but this guy was so proud and cocky, that he kept puting his head in the way of my camera.

It was quite warm, and after a few hours of heat and animal smells, we were ready to cool off with some icecream. Kaite would make a darling poster child for Dairy Queen!

On the way home, we felt it our duty to do some 'thrifting'. Kammy found this horse and convinced daddy to buy it for her with the promise to pay him back from her piggy bank. After we got home, she brought him 27 cents. He said, "I thought you were going to give me $2." "Well...." she said, "that was all that was in Kayla's wallet."

Be sure......

......your sin will find you out!

I don't remember ever telling Kammy not to play with the precious moments--maybe when she was very small, but I doubt she remembers it. Somehow, I think she just knew that it wasn't a good idea. Otherwise, why would she have to sneak it? She is allowed to take a picture if she asks first--she didn't. I know all this only because this was what I found when I turned my camera on the other day......

Can you see her little head poking up in the mirror there?

Quite honestly, I found this very amusing. However; there is also a great lesson here I think. There are some things we know are wrong because God tells us very clearly in his word. Other things, we may begin to do or say--even think-- and then feel checked. These are wrong for us although they may not be for others. God knows our weaknesses and limits and in his wisdom guides us accordingly. He's also taking pictures all through our lives and we can be sure our sins will find us out! So the question I asked myself today, "What did God's camera record of my life today--was it a pretty picture and pleasing?" We make a big too-doo of the wrongs of children/teens but I think the truth of the matter is that we adults are often 'posing' for the camera in a much more childish, obnoxious manner.

I'm linking up with my friend Crystal at http://thepurposedrivenjourney.blogspot.com/ for 'Too True Tuesday.'

What I'm doing.

We are singing in the rain! Weather-wize we've had a rainy spring and while some wonder if summer will ever arrive in the Treasure Valley, I for one am loving the cool weather! Sometimes we experience storms of another kind. My heart is heavy and I'm praying for more than one who is in the 'eye of the storm' just now.

As you can see, I've got me a few projects in the works. If we did not have camping plans, they would be completed. My patience...(or lack thereof) will usually not allow long-term projects, so I suppose it is good for me to have to shove these in the closet for a later date.

Besides, as we have been reminded, life is uncertain at best. I want to love and hug and cherish...none of us is guaranteed another tomorrow.