Thursday, December 23, 2010

Merry Christmas!!!

I just wanted to wish everyone in the blogosphere "Merry CHRISTmas!"

I am so blessed. I pray you feel blessed this Christmas also!

Julie

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Wall Praise done and a Haircut!

Yeah! My wall praise is up and I love it. It was a little tricky because I wanted it kind of random and I didn't want to totally work around the furniture in case I move it, but you kind of have to. Anyways, here it is (in reverse order).








Yesterday Gideon had a dentist appointment and we decided to have Leah and Logan stay home with the other kids. Really just Anna and Madeline because I took Asher with me. We let Leah stay home occasionally with the kids these days, but usually not for longer than an hour or so. Usually it is just to run to our local grocery store. So this time was a little different because I was going ALL THE way to Urbana. Gee's appointment was at 4:00 and we did not get home until 6:30. The poor guy had to end up having a root canal. He tooth they were going to fill was totally destroyed inside. They kind of wanted to pull it, but that would affect the tooth coming in next so they did the root canal. Gideon was incredibly brave. Like superboy brave. Our dentist was so impressed. He was laying in that chair for 45 minutes with multiple shots and drilling. The only time he cried was when she was initially drilling (with no Novacane) and he felt it. Even then it was just tears streaming down his face. It really just broke my heart. When all was said and done, he got a spinny toothbrush, a Lightening McQueen car, antibiotics and tons of praise from everyone. Poor guy, today he is very swollen.
Ok, so back to Leah and Logan. I had to run to Walmart to get his script which is why I was so late getting home. The kids were starving (we told them no eating while I was gone), but they did so great. They were all snuggled up on the couch having a Toy Story marathon. I was just sweet that they were all doing something together and having such a nice time. Of course once we got home, Asher and Gideon joined them.




Asher got his first hair cut Saturday. It was a big delimma for me. In some ways I like his crazy hair. I like for it to have some length. I have no desire for Asher to have a major afro, but I have way more options for styles if I let it grow a bit. To be honest I have little to no knowledge on styling African American hair. I just don't to buzz it all the time because I don't want to take the time to work with it a bit.
Anyways, here is the after shot of the back.


The front.


Before shot.


Before shote. This was probably the most problematic area for me. You can't totally tell in the picture, but the hair around his ears was really long. It reminded me of Krusty the Clown.


I like the cut and he looks super cute. I miss the length, but I like how much more even it looks. It has just grown in so very wonky.

Julie

Monday, December 20, 2010

Mom, somebody colored on the living room wall....

So Gideon just said this to me. Yes, my heart sunk a bit and I honestly thought "I thought Madeline was done coloring on the wall." I went to see the damage and to my relief Gideon was talking about the wall art I am working on. I started it last night after the kids were in bed. How he can mistake that beautiful script as coloring, I'm not sure.

My walls in the living room just seem very bare. Especially above our couch. So I was looking online and found this great site:

www.wallpraise.com

They have a huge selection and excellent customer service. I actually started to hang my wall praise last week and messed up a whole section of it. I was in tears and I called as soon as the place opened up (after I was done being in tears). I talked to the owner and she was super sweet. She re-shipped the section I needed and didn't charge me a penny. I will send a picture of it as soon as I get it all up. I am also working with Leah on a wall hanging for our dining room. I am equally, if not more excited about this one. I adore the idea, I just hope my turns out as nice as the one I am patterning it after.

I have no clue why I decide in the weeks before Christmas to start of projects? Maybe it is so everything looks nice for Christmas? It isn't like anyone comes over here though and the kids don't care. Oh well, I try and take any motivation I can get and run with it.

Julie

Thursday, December 16, 2010

A rave for my two big kids!!

A little back story......

Last year Madeline and Anna got these beautiful ballerina dolls for Christmas. They were made by Corolle and pretty pricey for their size. But, I knew the girls would love them since they are really in to all things dancing/pretty. They did love them and in January when we went to Florida the ballerina dolls went also. Well, only one doll came home, Anna's. Madeline was pretty bummed. We rent a big house with Ryan's family while we are there and it gets well scoured before we leave, but things were crazy with Leah and I being gone half the week in Ethiopia. Anyways, Maddie carried on about it for a little bit, but after a few weeks she didn't say much about it. Well, we are going back to Florida this January. We told the little kids about a month ago. Madeline almost immediately asked if we were going back to the same house. I told her "yes" and she replied "good, I can finally get my doll." I told her it probably wouldn't still be there, but she seems convinced it will be and has commented a couple more time about getting her doll when we go to Florida.

So last night I was checking out some of my "deals" websites and I found a really good deal on the exact doll Madeline left in Florida. 30% off and free shipping. I mentioned something to Ryan about it and he didn't say much. We have already spent our limit on the kids for Christmas, so the doll was just going to not happen. However, Leah and Logan were in the room and knew about the "doll situation" and they decided to buy the doll for Madeline out of their own money. They are going to run into our rental before she goes in and set the doll on the couch with her arm up and waving. You know, like she has been just sitting and waiting for Madeline to come back. How sweet is that? I love those two!

Oh and another little funny..... The kids just adore Ryan. I know most kids love their daddies and our kids are no exception, but they just want to spend every second with him. The weekends (especially long weekends) spoil the kids and on Mondays they always ask if daddy is home. They are very bummed he is not. So I have told them (and Ryan reinforces it) that daddy works so that we can have a warm house and good food to eat (among other things). So yesterday Logan asked me if Ryan was going to be home on time and I told him I wasn't sure. Gideon spoke up and said "yes, because daddy has to wurk because we need a wurm house and good food." And then this morning Anna said pretty matter of factly to Gideon "daddy is at work!" To which Gideon replied "I guess I am Asher's daddy now then." It was so funny and out of the blue....

Julie

Monday, December 13, 2010

Yeah! Some Pictures!

I found my camera battery charger and now I can upload some recent pics.......

Ryan does some accounting work for a local guy and this is one of the stamps he uses. Apparently Madeline thought Asher needed "signed." I can't believe he even let her do it. Please ignore the drunk look on Asher's face (we try to keep the kids to one beer a day...).


Making Christmas cookies. Yummy and messy. Every kids dream.



Anna, Gee and Madeline with their Aunt Sandy blankies. They LOVE them.


How cute is this picture? Anna and Gideon checking out their presents.



The kids posing (and eating candy canes) after decorating the tree.



My big and little babies....... *SIGH*


This was out looking for our Christmas tree. This picture is more about though, my husband's intentness on feeding our kids french fries. Almost every time they are in his car and mommy isn't, it involves french fries. Actually, it isn't a big deal because it happens maybe once a week and it is usually because Ryan is being helpful and taking all the kids somewhere. Now the kids are starting to wonder though why mommy doesn't buy them french fries like daddy does.



Looking for our tree. I think next year we will start a new tradition of buying a tree with a root ball that we can actually plant. Those tend to be on the smaller side though and I like "going big." I think I may just need to get over that.



This we so funny to me for some reason. This is over at Aunt Sue and Uncle's house on Thanksgiving. The kids were having "tub races." They were bouncning the tubs to one side of the garage and back. It was weird and funny all at once. In the picture (from left to right) are AJ, Leah, Bryce, Olivia and Jackson in the back.



A few weekends back Ryan and I got a night away from all the kids (thank you Aunt Chrissy and Eva). We went to Columbus with Jami, Jason, Adam and Emily and had a great time. I have really been blessed with brother and sister in laws that I really enjoy spending time with. We did a bunch of things and one of them was going to this cute little park. It was a good photo op.
Jason and Jami


Ryan and I


Adam and Emily


We have a snow day today and the kids are hoping to go outside and play in a little bit. I kind of dread getting them all bundled up for what I am sure will become "too cold" in about 10 minutes. But hey, that's what kids do right? Maybe they will surprise me. I am going to get moving on my Christmas baking and I have some painting to finish in our dining room. Tonight we are all heading in to town (in all the snow) to do a Christmas performance for Grandma Dobbins. I am looking forward to that. I know Grandma will love it!!
Julie











Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Life is just moving right along...

I haven't posted a lot about anything specific because life is just chugging right along pretty normally(is that a word). This is a good thing. We are continuing to get ready for Christmas which is always fun! The kids, really all 6 of them, are pretty excited. I keep trying to get them re-focused on the real meaning of Christmas. I am usually successful.

Most of my presents for Christmas are bought! Yeah! I finished cutting out all of Asher's quilt squares and I will probably start working on that in the next day or so. It will be a little time consuming, but since it is one of the few things I am making this year, I should have the time.

Speaking of quilts.....I have got to rave about my Aunt Sandy. My Aunt Sandy is a quilter, she knows her stuff. She is married to my dad's brother (who is pretty cool also) and they live in Michigan. My Aunt Pat and Uncle Greg live in Michigan also (my dad's sister and her husband) and they are super people too. Anyways, Aunt Sandy has made all 6 of my kids quilts. Really, really cool quilts!!! Not only has she made all of my kids quilts, but she has made quilts for my siblings kids also. We got 4 quilts in the mail last week (plus a 5th one for my niece Gracie) and they are beautiful and just so fun. The great thing is that the kids LOVE them. They have been sleeping with them every night. I feel so blessed that a relative that we don't see near enough cares enough about my kids to spend hours on quilts for them. It makes me feel special, I know it makes them feel special, it is such a good thing!!! I have cute pics of the kids and their quilts, but my camera battery is dead with no charger to be found. Soon though.

Next Monday evening we are doing a little Christmas program for Grandma at her nursing home. Almost all of her great grandkids will be participating. I think Grandma feels really special when we all take the time to pull something together like this for her. I want her to feel special. It should be a pretty cute little ditty. It is at 7:00 if anyone wants to come....... There will be cookies.......

An little Asher update:

He is doing great. It seems like he battles every little cold that comes around, but it doesn't typically make him act bad. He is talking a lot. You can't understand 90% of what he says, but he is SOOOO jibber-jabbery. He will carry on about everything. He does say "good" if you ask him how he is doing. He says "thank you" when you give him something. He of course says "dada, dad (emphasizing the d's), mama, mom, Leah, etc." It is just fun to see him put things together. Like taking the baby bottle and running to the fridge to put it on the shelf where his bottles are. Or like running to the door to leave when I get the car keys off the rack. Even watching him pout in front of his siblings just to get sympathy can be funny. Really, Asher is just fun right now and we are all enjoying his antics.

Until later,

Julie

Friday, December 3, 2010

I have officially lost control.

They win.

My house is total choas right now. Madeline and Anna are dragging Gideon around the house by his arms and Gideon is cackling like it is the funniest thing ever. Asher is screaming (at the top of his lungs of course) at everything (and nothing). Leah and Logan are playing a video game in the living room, yelling at the other four houligans to "get out!" This has been going on for a good 30 minutes now. What am I doing?? Well, giving up, for now. I have yelled about 214 times today to stop running in the house, to stop screaming and to settle down. Oh and where is their father in times like these? Out hunting. I guess if he can retreat to the woods, I can retreat to my bedroom.

Julie

Psalms 10:14, 17-18

"You are the helper of the fatherless.  LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear, To do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, That the man of the earth may oppress no more."