UGH!!!!!!!!!

I'm not done with the girls room! I am almost done but I am on break because it was really making mom MAD to go in there and get it done. What really bugs me is its all over the floor! I mean how hard is it to walk 2 steps and put it in the toy box? I don't even expect stuff to be sorted like I did when my oldest were little. Anyways they are so sad right now because I just bagged up their room. I must say they are at least remorsefull. When Justin and Jason were younger I told them to clean their room..MIND you it was A LOT cleaner than how the girls keep it. And I said just put it all in the toy box you dont have to seperate. Well they wouldn't do it and were whining and throwing a fit. So I said OK fine if I go in there I am going to throw away everything on the floor. They both said YEAH and started helping me throw it all in the bag. I said FINE ok we will throw it away..I dont know why throwing it away was easier than putting in the toy box. So we bagged it up and took it to the trash all the while they were laughing and happy singing about throwing away their stuff. I had to drive to the trash place..( we lived in Okinawa and we didnt pay for garbage collection..we just took it to base) And they even helped UNLOAD the bagged up toys from the car and sang and danced and we got into the car and I drove away..as I got drove away I think thats when it hit them that MOM was totally serious and they both started BAWLING! But I tell you I never had to tell them twice to clean their room after that EVER. And those two are pretty clean.

I think we did those girls a disservice. I never totally got rid of their stuff. I guess because it just breaks my heart to do it! I hate being the mean one! I remember my mom taking something away from me and never letting me have it back. She still has it but for years it bugged me because I really liked it! I think that taught me for the most part to keep clean. Well at least to clean it when told! Well back then anyways. I think I do pretty well..I think the fact that mess drives me crazy..and thankgoodness Jim is soooo stinking picky that it helps me when I start to get lazy!

Just dont come visit when Jim is gone! Ok we arent that bad but we do tend to relax a bit on the cleaning!

Wow I exercised today and its like I cant stop!

Is it because I exercised today? I pushed that cart at the commisary, and I just spent 30 minutes chasing joseph down the street and retreiving him! I think I am going to sleep good tonight! I sure hope this isnt going to happen every time I exericse I am going to be wiped out!

Shopping Insanity!

Only kidding DAWN! I went grocery shopping today! I got to pretend I was a mommy to 2 LITTLE girls! Well NEW little girls. So funny because as I was pulling out snacks for these girls I said to Sonia, that "Your mom is soo good to pack you snacks" And Sonya says, "Yep she is" and this woman in the aisle started to chuckle and look at me..and I say to her.."I'm not her mother"..and she goes OH! She was thinking I was filling this girl full of propaganda! But you know what that isnt a bad idea! LOL well for mine at least!
I am in here right now telling my kids.."aren't I such a good momma for getting you corn dogs to eat"! And Joshua is saying Yep..you are!

I must tell you that the funniest part of my shopping trip was how we almost killed Sonya's stuffed animal. Every aisle I went on she dropped that lepoard or what ever it was..cheetah? Lion? and we would have to stop traffic to retreive it! Sending out the rescue squad. But I tell you..I could so take some diaper bag pointers from Dawn. I mean she has everything in that bag. I didnt peak too much but I bet ya she even has tylenol in there and all those cute baby wash bottles. I was so waiting to find the itemized packing list!

Ok That was totally for DAWN to read! :)

I had fun! And I told my kids all about it and they want to know why I am not fun with them and I said..cause I'm your mother thats why!

Now I have to go clean my room ahem and the girls room. So I might be out of commission for a while.

YEAH! I went!

BOY do I feel good! LOL No one crashed that I know of?? I couldn't see them( Remember NO contacts) And so I don't know if they had horrified looks on their faces!

When I got home Jim was up and was scared to death! He didnt know where I went and the cars were there and there was NO coffee made. LOL too funny!

Anyways! I am going to the commissary today and cleaning my room! I know I know I keep saying that but really this time I am! I even dreamt about it last night so see its gonna happen.

Well I better get I have a lot to do today!

Its NOT super early but

I'm awake! I have my shoes on and I am kind of dressed. Ok I look horrible and I dont care I am heading out the door. I have no make up on, no contacts in..I just hope I can see to get back and I am glad most people have today off because they would totally crash trying to figure out if I am human or an alien. SCARY is NOT the Word!

Ok Here I go..I dont even know how far it is..but I am going to go walking and I sure hope my super Awesome friend is up because I am going to call her and wake her up.

I know she was up really late!

Oops woke up her hubby! YIKES!

What a great day!

Well my day went really well! The kids were SUPER today! At 1pm I met with a friend and we had MOMMY TIME away from kids! We went to look again at the clearance racks. I actually found 2 skirts for the girls each! SO rare to find anything decent! I put them on layaway and will probably pull them off on the 15th. Maybe sooner! Now I need to find them shirts to coordinate!

Anyways after spending all day out, I came home to only go back again! Jim said he NEEDED Dr. Pepper. And Now I am heading out YET again to go pick up Justin. We had church tonight...OOPS! We didnt make it!

Oh and JIM made dinner! It was mostly left overs from Nachos, but he made rice so we had taco rice! YUM! Well I better go run get Justin. I am going to bed early tonight, I am thinking I might get up early and try and walk tomorrow!

Ok gotta get!

Its almost 8am!

And so far no one is hurt, fighting or in trouble! Can this trend last much longer? We will have to see if it does WHEN the kids wake up! Ok I am in that kind of mood! BEWARE MY FRIENDS!

Insane Park Day!

I got there late..can we say too many errands! It wouldnt have been so bad but I had to get gas! And the man at the pump..I thought he was leaving so I got behind him..HE WASN'T so it was a test of my patience! Remember I discovered a few weeks ago I don't have any!

Anyways, we get done and head to the park. It was a bit chilly today! I felt fine but the wind picked up and it was over cast! It looks like its going to rain but hasn't..(yet). Anyways Just as we were getting ready to leave, Jacob comes to me and says "Mom I broke my tooth" And boy did he. He got a front tooth! ( permenant *sigh*) Anyways, I rush him to our favorite Dentist and he looks and says well..I could fill it but its so close to the nerve and being the way its broken, he said right now it would be best to wait till he is older..( and not playing on Jungle Gyms) before we "fix" it because he has to drill into the tooth to get the filing to stay and the more you do that the worse the hole will be. So we are waiting. Poor Jacob!
Jim came and picked up the kids while I was at the dentist and then I finished my errands ( Which took me um 3 hours)

I had to buy Joshua some pants..he says sweat pants are pajamas and all his jeans mysteriously get holes and he had nothing to wear today to the park! And I found this really SUPER deal on baby bedding. The crib at the church doesnt have sheets or anything and I had been planning on giving them mine cause we don't use a crib. Well this set was NORMALLY $75.00. Its the boyd's bears woodland something or another. Anyways I got the whole set for $9.50. I thought it was such a good deal and I bought Joshua and Jared pants some I was able to get for 3.50 each! SUPER deal!

Well I better get! I have to pick up Justin in a bit and I think the rest of tonight should be relaxing with no stress ;) Ok I will try anyways!

Out of the mouth of Jared!

I am in there defrosting cheesecake. ( Yes were having cheesecake for breakfast) And I go see Mom is so smart! And Jared says " Wow I never noticed that!" Guess who didn't get cheesecake! (JUST KIDDING! he got some)

Wonderful Wedenesday!

Well the kids and I are heading to the park to play. Jim is home..well on his way home so not sure if he wants to join me! ( He just took Justin to work) We ALL got up late. I guess we are staying up too late at night but hey..Jim's home and its a party! :)

I bought stuff to make lemon bars last night , mostly because I have some dishes to return and I was told never to return a dish empty...well I dont always go by that rule but I try! So Lemon bars it will be today when I get home. I intended to make them last night but um, well, stammer stammer I dont even have a good reason. I DID dream about them last night. I dreamt I was making them..and realized I didnt buy any butter! So see there is my excuse right there. I do have a tub of I can't believe its not butter..( Jim likes it) but I dont know how it will bake up. Anyone know?

Well I better get I am STILL in my nightgown! And I have messy hair! I wonder where the girls get it! But I learned this cool way to tie up your hair when you need to and don't have a hair thing. ( I have been known to use a piece of plastic bag in desperation) But I watched this lady in the parking lot at the commissary She pulled her hair back and took part of her hair and wound it around her hair. I looked really good and had I not seen her do it I would never have thought it was hair holding her hair up. She must do it a lot cause when I tried. (YES say it I"M a copy cat) IT doest work quite the way hers did. Also your last wind around your hair shouldnt be too tight or you wont be able to stuff the end of your hair in.

Well I thought it was cool. And it works in an emergency windy hair thing gone day.

I think I'm in trouble

Today I was complaining to the girls to get their "messy pig sty" cleaned and to clean off their dresser and someone who will remain UN NAMED (JIM) says to me.."what about your dresser?" (oops) I of course pretended NOT to hear him but YES, MY ROOM IS STILL A MESS. HOW convicting! I did go upstairs to clean it today, but as I set foot in my room I heard this weird noise. As I got closer to my bed trying to find it, I was pretty sure it was coming from under neath the blankets. So I lifted the blanket..and the next thing I know I woke up about 20 minutes later! I dont know what it is but I am not going up there again! The scary thing is..after I got out of that room..Jim thought he heard a noise too and he is still up there! I wanted to clean my room, but until we find out what that noise is I'm staying out of there!

New Years weekend! What do you do?

NORMALLY we go to bed early! Jim isnt much of a New Year partier person. We don't drink so we don't get into that party atmosphere. BUT we do have a daughter who was born 2 minutes after midnight on New Years day! She was the first baby born in 1996. According to the military she was quite possibly the first baby born that year because she was born in Okinawa Japan.

We have always thought it would be fun to stay up late with her and have her "party" at midnight! So this year we are going to. She doesnt have a ton of friends that live here this year. (such is the military life sometimes) But were going to have fun! MONDAY she gets a shopping trip with MOM down in Palm springs and we are going to lunch at the cheesecake factory!
Its for her HONEST ! LOL

And I thought I would get something done today! HA HA

Well I haven't gotten much done! I had coffee, phone calls and a friend stop over! Then we went to the base theater to watch Chicken Little! I actually enjoyed watching it..considering its an "alien" movie. Our theater is only 1.00 per person. And for the 2:00 movie, they only charge for the kids not the adults so all 10 of us got in there for $5.00. You can't beat that!

Now were going to watch another rental and then play multiplayer computer games! Its been a fun day with just the kids.

Joseph missed the whole movie! He nursed to sleep and I held him the whole time. I tell you I just LOVE that little boy! He is a cuddle baby! Even holding him watching a movie is such a joy!

Well gotta get! Have a great day!

DRY SKIN!

Oh this year my skin is so dry! I have a cracked patch on my left ankle. I was using this Mary Kay emolliant on it but I misplaced my tube! Lotions seem to burn but this other stuff doesn't burn (I call it pink crisco) and seems to soften my skin. If I use it daily I notice a BIG difference! Just dont misplace it! I know its in my room somewhere! (YES I NEED TO CLEAN MY ROOM)
Some years I dont seem to get too dry but this year it seems like there is JUST no moisture! I know were in a desert, but I dont think I have felt like parchment the whole 5 years we've been here! I feel like someone could dip me in lotion 24 hours a day and it not be enough. And to make things even more complicated, my face is OILY but I have dry patches on my cheeks. Go figure?

My friend Carolyn just bought some shea butter from Kindhearted women I am waiting to see how that works for her before spending money on yet another thing that wont work! So waiting on the edge of my seat for her results!

I have a lot to do tomorrow. ( Like clean my room) Jim is home for the next two days but I have promised myself that tomorrow I am going to go through stuff. First stop will be the girls room. I cant even walk in there right now. I should take pictures and publish for all to see. I am going to go through their clothes..they seem to have plenty to line their floor with. I think they have some things that are too small. I really need to get them some nicer dresses for church and Jessica..that little girl keeps growing. I bought her these jumpers last year ( february) and I bought them LONG and they are already too short! I also need to buy them new tights. I dont know how they go through them so fast! I found a lot on ebay that isnt too bad that I am watching and hoping to win.

My next stop is to go through my linen closet. I dont know now it happened but I have um..over 50 pillow cases. How in the world I ended up with so many is beyond me! I know we dont have that many pillows!

The other thing I am going to do is BOX up all Joshua and Jareds shorts! I should go through those too because when I was going through their dresser it was as if they had 50 pairs! They dont seem to have enough pants but they have PLENTY of shorts.

And then, I already mentioned my bedroom. My dresser is like the catch all for everything. I dont know why! So I have a LOT of work to do plus I am going to bag up some of my clothes. I have stuff I dont wear or dont like or dont fit me right. I'm really short so somethings fit me but the arms are too long.

Anyways, its LATE like shamefully late so I should get to bed. I came down here to grab my contact case out of my purse so I could take out my contacts and instead I got sidetracked on the computer!

I hope you all have a Great day! I might be sleeping in! HA

Cookie Monster

Joseph fell asleep with a cookie the other day amongst the coats and blankets.

2 Corinthians 6:11-18

O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged. Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels. Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

What are you singning?

I LOVE to sing! I sing songs just about all day..but when its peaceful and I am relaxing I tend to sing the old beloved hymns! This is what I am singing tonight!

When I See the Blood by John Foote

Christ our Redeemer died on the cross,

Died for the sinner, paid all his due.

Sprinkle your soul with the blood of the Lamb

And I Will pass, will pass over you.

Chorus
When I see the blood,

When I see the blood,

When I see the blood,

I will pass, I will pass over you.

Chiefest of sinners, Jesus will save;

All He has promised, so He will do;

Wash in the fountain opened for sin,

And I Will pass, will pass over you.

Judgment is coming, all will be there.

Each on receiving, justly his due

Hide in the saving, sin cleansing blood,

And I Will pass, will pass over you.

O great compassion! O boundless love!

O loving kindness, faithful and true!

Find peace and shelter under the blood,

And I will pass, will pass over you.

We didn't go!

Kids were a little disappointed but we ran out of time to get ready and Joseph was still sleeping and were were still eating lunch that Jason fixed us! He is such a good cook! He is our breakfast maker which is good cause I do not care for making breakfast!
It is playing again on Monday so we will try again then.

I'm not drinking coffee (either that or a nap) and I keep visiting Jim in the garage, he's cleaning it up and organizing it. Its a lot easier since I got rid of all those boxes of baby clothes. *SIGH*

And its now past 6pm and so we missed the zorro movie also..guess we just didnt feel like movies today. Oh well. It was a NICE slow day for us!

I probably should get off here and fold some laundry and make jim his nightly snack HA!

WOW what a NICE beautiful day today is!

It 70 degrees out! Its so nice! I have my windows open! Jim is out puttering in the garage. The kids well most of them are playing computer/nintendo games. Yep a typical Saturday! I'm going to finish up Jojo's other pair of longies today. I started them last week..(sunday night) and by Monday morning had the body and one leg almost finished but then I decided I needed to take a break. So they have sat all week begging me to finish them but I refused! Ok I might have been busy .

At 2pm today, Chicken Little is going to play on base so we are thinking about taking the kids to go see that. Jim, also said something about Zorro tonight but not sure if I want to watch that with out a skip button if you know what I mean.

I hope your having a stress free Saturday!

I got to tell you what else I did!!

ON my trip out I this morning, I decided I would spur of the moment stop and visit some friends. I havent seen them in a LONG while and although I have talked to her on the phone a LONG time ago, I lost her # for a few months and when I did call I never got my call returned. I thought oh boy maybe I upset her in some way? Well I have had no way to reach her so today I went and drove down like 10 streets in that area trying to find her house..(I've only been there once or twice and it was dark)

I prayed and asked God to help me find their house and make streets look familiar and I couldnt believe it..I found her house! So I got out and rang the door bell. I felt so bad for DROPPING in on her but I was just so happy to see her and she was with me. YEAH now I have her # again and we are going to have them over in January.

If you get a chance pray for them James and Mary Dean.

Coffee Creamer

Today I had to run into Yucca Valley to the bank so what a perfect opportunity to run to a "real" store and pick up some of those holiday creamers they come out with. Well I run to the first one and all they have is eggnog. Ok I'll get that. Then I decide to head to another store and they have gingerbread. What I really wanted to get is that peppermint mocha creamer but everywhere is sold out..so that must be the one to get. EVERY one had eggnog by the way..and I tell you..I was NOT impressed with either the eggnog or the gingerbread. *Sigh* and I probably won't head to the store again and I know our commissary wont get it..well they might..in MARCH. If they have those in powder I sure would love it if someone had pity on me and mailed me some! LOL (peppermint mocha and pumpkin ) That wasnt too obvious of a hint was it?

I've had a BREAKTHROUGH!

you know when people move, for some reason..(and mind you I am NOT complaining) they give us their coffee filters. Ok there was a time when we would run out. I know that just seems so odd now. And so impossible but there is NO fear of running out now! We have too many. I think we have almost 1500 coffee filters in that cabinet! So I was going to post..what should I do with all these filters? But today after reading Holly's blog I found a super great use!

SNOWFLAKES!

Here is the link to snowflakes! If you scroll to the bottom or middle (I cant remember go look) you will see links for 6 and 12 sided coffee filter snow flakes! So guess what we will be doing this weekend! Snowflake making!

I had horrible dreams last night!

First I dreamt that I ruined my blog and couldnt get my graphics back..weird cause its not even hard but in my dream it was! Then I dreamt I was in a movie but it wasnt a movie it was real life and the mob was after my friend so I was posing as her. Like I said totally weird dream. I dreamt there was the mob's money hid in her house and they were trying to sell the house but get it inspected so it would be found. Ok maybe I have houses on the brain?? The only thing we watched recently was the OLD version of the count of monte Cristo and it was so funny because in every room they filmed there was a HORRIBLE echo I couldnt understand a word! Where is captioning when you need it?

Ok I am done pulling out my hair!

Thank you for letting me have my tempertantrum! I found out from the library that they have an online tutor. So tonight we set it up so some ahem..bratty kids..(just kidding) could get some help from someone other than me. www.librarylink.info/29palms is the page that has the link to it. They also tutor in other subjects. If anything to have someone else explain it is nice.

I am PULLING my hair out!

Ok not literally but we are still homeschooling today. Its almost 4pm and I want to flip out! i am trying to get these kids ahead so we can take some time off when Jim takes some leave next week and boy it is like pulling teeth today to get a few unnamed children to finish their work.
We have church tonight so its already a busy day for us and because I sit here at the table with them it makes it hard to get things done. I just have a lot of things I need to do ( like clean my room!) And clean the bathrooms! UGH.

My kids are interesting!

They are making eggs on our FABULOUS Grill and I am listening to them as I was updating my blog and they are pretending that the top layer of the egg is sheilds and that they are blowing up the space ship! Interesting kids! They crack me up! Sometimes it would be fun to just think like a kid again!

Thursday Morning!

Yesterday the kids all went to the dentist! It didnt take long to get done..we were home with in 2 hours of going! Joseph had a great time! He loved running around and showing off! Most of you dont know this but he was named after our dentist! Well not exactly but thats what Jim says. Our dentist is named Joseph Herzog and he has been so good to our family! Anyways, Jim has wanted a Joseph since I was pregnant with Jared. The deal was if Jared was a girl he would name the baby and if boy I would..so that is why we have JARED.

Then when I was pregnant with Joshua, it was Jim's turn ahem..and so he had planned Joseph all along but I would make horrible fun. I would say that Joseph Abraham sounds like a horribly decrepit old man that was walking down the street and some mean teens came and took his cane away beat him up and knocked him down. Then I would sing that Father Abraham son with Joseph's name.

Then 2 weeks before I was to give birth we had friends move here from Okinawa and they asked what we are going to name this baby and I said Joseph and Jim said Joshua. I looked at him and I was sooo upset. You can name that baby something I dont like but dont go changing the baby's name on me just when I had gotten used to it. I cried! LOL Did I mention I was 9 months pregnant? LOL When I delivered him Jim told the doctor right away that his name was Joshua Livingston. I wish he would have put the "e" on his middle name. It kind of drives me crazy but I dont write it out very often LOL.

So when we had Joseph it was MY turn to name the baby. And me having pity on Jim called him from the hospital..( I was an hour away) and told him that since it meant MORE to him than it did me he could name this baby Joseph Abraham. Of course any other husband would have said..no honey its your turn and I know you want a Jeremiah James..but NOOOOOO my hubby goes ok. The first thing out of his mouth when he came later to see us was Hi Joseph. I said thats rubbing it in! HE was sooo stinking happy! It took me a LONG while to like his name. I mostly call him Jojo with no e's . But the way Jim tells it he named him after our dentist! LOL Too funny.

Today we were supposed to be going to a park with some other homeschooling moms but *I* am sick. So we wont be able to go this time. I feel bad but there is nothing I can do about it.

So I will be home cleaning and taking care of kids the rest of the day.

Secret Sins

You know raising my children is trying sometimes. I have certian children who seem to be a handful at times. (I see you nodding your head) I am finding though, that although they tend to be very outward in their disobedience and sometimes I want to pull out my ever graying hair, I think they honestly are easier to deal with. DID I LOSE YOU?

With 8 children they are all different. All individuals with their own likes dislikes and SIN. I am finding that my more seemingly compliant children are the biggest struggle of all. At least with those busy outward sins you see the root is silliness and just plain wanting attention. But the secret heart sins have a root of rebellion to them. Its easy to outwardly obey but inwardly seeth in anger. I guess I have a good idea of that because I remember how I was as a kid. Not that I was very compliant! I do know all about the inward heart sins though. I see that so much in some of my children. Its hard to find the root to a serious heart sin when your not sure what the cause is. Sometimes its been festering for years , unbeknownst to you because those sins are hard to spot.

Just like the friend that can look at you and KNOW your not alright even though you try your best to fool everyone. The one person you never fool is God
Psalm 90: 8-9
Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.
For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.

That is what I try to get through to my children. God sees your sins, he knows your heart. THERE is nothing you can hide from him. I tell my children you maybe able to hide it from your parents and your friends but those sayings in the Bible are true... like in Numbers 32:23 we are promised that our sin will find us out.

We are also promised that we will reap what we sow. That is very humbling to me! I better sow the good things! What a struggle that is! I know in my own life I struggle to do right and keep my heart sins in check. And when I dont, they find their way to the surface. Sometimes its hard to know just what to do to bring repentance in my childrens life. Sometimes I just think what in the world! I imagine God thinks the same of me sometimes! I cant think of a whitty close or a perfect ending so I guess I will just say if you think of it PRAY for me in the raising of my children.

I just did the UNTHINKABLE!

I just went through and culled my maternity clothes. I mean really really cleaned them out..like I now have maybe 2 outfits if I ever get pregnant! And much worse, I just got rid of all my baby clothes! GASP what am I doing? I do this every time! I get rid of everything cause I dont have room to store it and a few months later I find out I'm pregnant! I guess we will find out in a few months! :)

Lanolizing Wool

There are several methods so I will just tell you the way I do it. I wash mine with a wool wash bar that contains about 20% ( maybe more I can't remember) of lanolin. I get mine from www.sudzndudz.com Then I have this balm in a jar you can see it in the other posts that I rub on my hands and pat it on the wool. It takes a few applications to get it really lanolized but it works well before then too.
After they are washed I just reapply lanolin balm to my dry longies/covers and keep applying ever so often till they need to be washed again. I air dry them after use.
You can also use a liquid spray..I have a friend that uses that and loves it. And you can also buy a type that you emulsify in warm/hot water and let your wool soak it up. You have to be careful when washing your wool or it will felt up(shrink and make felt like material).

I prefer to use my wool at night..(in lieu of pajama bottoms) and when we go out because they are so darn cute!

I know that the sudz n dudz website has more information also. :)

Pictures of Joseph

Here he is *IN* his longies. I couldnt get him to stop running so this is the best i could do.

That boy NEVER slows down!

They are a little longer than I would have liked..but perfect for wearing shoes. So I guess they are fine. They do roll up well! I will try to get better pictures another day when he isnt so busy. LOL ok maybe not!

Longies

Here are the wool pants I crocheted for Jojo this weekend. They are inside out because I am lanolizing them..and they need to dry but you can get the gist of it. Ignore long threads.

They are wool because they have natural water repelling properties. The wool I used is merino wool and is so soft! Adding Lanolin to them helps waterproof them also. I use these instead of a diaper cover. Its cold enough here that its about time I made them! It only took me 2 days! And I am sure there are plenty of mistakes but who cares they work and he is going to wear them!

There's a NEW NAME written down in GLORY!

Justin's friend Brandon is spending the night tonight and came with us to church and got SAVED! We are praising the LORD! :) Please pray for him to grow in the Lord!

What kind of toothpaste is this?

I think someone used my toothbrush..well um I KNOW SOMEONE used my toothbrush! Last night I grabbed my toothbrush out of the holder , grabbed the toothpaste and started brushing my teeth. The next thing I know my mouth was burning and smelling like ICY HOT and low and behold there lay the icy hot on the other end of the counter. Someone used my toothbrush with ICY HOT! And let me tell you it does NOT taste good with toothpaste! I was spitting and sputtering and rinsing out my mouth. I thought at least my toothbrush would be safe! HA!

If you thought I was already insane.....

You should see it when there are 4 violins are playing at once in my house! LOL Yes my hubby and my children are learning to play violin. Jim, Jason and Jessica can play "I have decided to follow Jesus" by ear. We are working on purchasing some beginner violin books but not sure what to purchase. I'm looking at Rubank Elementary books. At least to get the basics down.

Joshua even has his own violin! Its soo little and he LOVES it. Here he is playing while Jerrica and Jared act silly!


We have other instruments we are learning to play and we are desperately looking for a piano teacher for the girls although I am doing my floundering best to teach them. I play flute but my flute we have is not in good shape. Maybe we will get a new one this year. We also have a trumpet, clarinet and a trombone! Just a regular band going here!

So on any given night you might hear music..or not (depending on your point of view) coming from our home.

I'm STILL FREEZING!

I have my heater on and I am sitting here in my recliner with blanket, leg warmers, socks shoes, parka, sweatshirt. And I am just not warm. Our heater is on but I just cant get warm today. I know we would just not survive in a cold climate! I sure hope we never get orders somewhere cold. I wouldnt make it! In a few minutes I have to go pick up Justin from his work. And then we are headed over to the bank so he can cash in his money into larger bills. :) Is anyone else cold this year?

I can't believe what I just saw!

This morning someone walking their dog walked RIGHT up to my back yard..near my back porch and let their dog POO and then walk away! I am in shock! We dont have a dog and I dont want to clean up someone's dog poo! GROSS! I mean I can almost see it happening like on the edge of our yard where its NO mans land but to walk almost all the way into my yard and let their dog do that? People just have no respect. I would have ran right out there but I am still in my nightgown! I just would NEVER expect something like that. It makes me want to move out of housing even more!

ITS FRIDAY!

Yippeee! Jim is getting off early today! Taking Justin down the hill ( palm desert/springs) and he is going to buy a laptop! NOW we can play a multiplayer game with 5 computers instead of 4. Of course a couple of our computers are DINOSAURS! Last night Justin joined the world of clothes buying! He was sickened to see how expensive clothes are. He found a bunch of t-shirts on clearance and he bought a pair of jeans. Some of the name brand jeans are 40.00 a pair. They had a pair that was cut up and worn out for $50! I am sooo willing to do that for some one. I would be even cheaper! Instead of 25-30 for jean alteration I would do it for $10.oo.

Well life is calling! I guess I better get off here and get those kids learning something new!

I am the Poster Child for impatience!

I had a lot of stuff to do today..I even went with out kids but I tell you I realized to day just how stinking impatient I am. Today at the exchange, which was not only BUSY but I think all the cashiers were on slow motion today. And of course if anyone knows anything about the post office on base..ONE word..CHARLIE you know what I mean. That coupled with 2 women who asked Charlie just about every postage price for every option you can think of. Normally it wouldnt have been a big deal to me but for some reason today I am impatient and even little stuff is bugging me!

I have GASP GRAY HAIR!

I have been informed EVERY day by my children that I have GRAY hair. HOW DO THEY KNOW you ask? Well um..I pay them 25 cents every day to brush my hair! I just love how it relaxes me..of course it sometimes puts me to sleep! HA but they love to point out just how many they find! Yesterday Jessica pulled out this HUGE ONE and said and theres 4 more where that came from. I just cant believe its caught up with me!

JIM TO THE RESCUE!

Boy am I GLAD Jim is home! Today he unclogged my kitchen sink! He is sooo worth keeping! :)
Jim goes..what would you have done if I wasnt here? I am sure I could have found some one's hubby from church to come unclog it! I look at it this way..his HERO status increased! Of course NOW i have to do dishes!

SURPRISE!

I felt like I was in a horror movie last night. I was sitting at the kitchen table, then suddenly the front door opened and I see this guy in desert cammies. It took a few seconds to register..I almost said hey buddy you have the wrong house till I realized it was MY HUBBY! I almost fainted! LOL We didnt expect him till Friday! He just found out that day he was coming home and decided to surprise us! What a great surprise!

Most decidedly Joseph was the happiest. He kept running all around like he was on too much sugar. Oh wait he was..Jim had brought home twizzlers! Jojo was so happy and it was sure hard to get him to bed! We did though !

The only thing I am sad about is that although the house was pretty clean, it wasn't Welcome Home Jim perfect but thats what you get when you suprise me on my day off! So my vacation is OVER officially! HOOORAY!

I'm FREEZING!

I know it says its 67 or so degrees outside but I am cold cold cold! And TIRED! I should be scurrying around the house cleaning but I just cant seem to motivate myself. With Jim coming home on Friday I should be busier..at least getting my room clean. Well , lest you think my house is an utter pig sty..ITS not! I have been doing stuff slowly (talking out of the ordinary stuff) but the main things I have gotten done. I have had 4 cups of coffee today because I am TIRED. Of course I can't keep warm so I keep warming my coffee in the microwave like a psycho path ...zap...drink..zap..drink..zap zap zap drink...zap. Serious problems here!

I am so looking forward to Jim coming home ON FRIDAY!! He called me last night and I said I really missed him a lot to which he replied well how are you going to make it while I'm in Iraq. I wanted to say, um honey that was for your benefit so you felt missed HA! I mean I miss him but I've survived some how too. See if we tell him he is missed again! Just kidding!

You know what I am excited about? PAY DAY on Thursday! I tell you lately it just can't come fast enough! Of course we all know who is getting most of it..bills. YUCK. Well I guess I should get and warm up my coffee.

I had a ROUGH night with JOJO

Joseph is teething! And Last night he was so fussy. All night long, of course at first I didnt know what was wrong ( hey it was the middle of the night) But once I realized why he was crying I went down stairs and pulled out the ambesol and he was fine! He went right to sleep and I slept and then OVER slept! BUT hey, I'm rested now! I reminded myself to keep that stuff near by for tonight! Poor baby!

Does anyone know how long

Carrots will last in the fridge?

BUBBLE BOY

Its Bubble boy! Ok maybe the rainbow colors werent in the tub but hey it sure makes for a cute picture! Joseph loves taking a bath! As you can see by his smiling face! :)

Snowman Pancakes

Jessica has done it again. This morning she made breakfast and her creation?? Snow man pancakes. And there you see a family of Snowmen. Even baby snowmen. Hey at least she made breakfast!

My Nose is Clean

I am washing diapers and every time I do I smell them between cycles to see if they smell right. Well because I am absent minded..I forgot I just threw in the soap but I picked up this diaper insert and sniffed away..and got a NOSE FULL OF SOAP!

Laundry should have warnings LOL

Jessica is funny!

Jessica has her own comic! Its called Tommy and Trouble. She drew this today and I thought it was funny! I realize it's a little hard to see so I will walk you through it. In the first box you see Tommy whistling as he is walking in the hallway. He then peeks into the library and says "the coast is clear"

Next we see all the kids in the library leaving. His sister who sees him asks him "Are you ok brother?" and he replies "no" She thinks ha ha and he is thinking (get ready to scream!).
Next we see him running around the library destroying everything and the teacher is saying "STOP!" And Tommy is yelling " Weeeeeeeeeeee this is FUN!"
In the last scene we see the Principle saying " Your father is on his way!"
And he is saying "I didn't do it!"
hmm... I wonder what Jessica is trying to tell me.
Will Tommy survive his Father's punishment? will he ever be allowed back into the library? We will have to wait and see what Tommy and Trouble get into next!

Good Manners

"Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame." 1st Corinthians 15:33-34

What a convicting verse! I would say this verse not only deals with gossip but also the effects of it. What a hard verse to swallow! I say hard because I have to admit my own sin. I struggle with this. I go in spurts of doing right. There are times I have victory (it seems)over this but then I will open my mouth. How easy it is to have our hearts turned against someone through this wicked practice. Years ago I struggled so much with this sin I had put a Bible verse on my phone. It was a good reminder to me that my speech ought always to be right and seasoned with grace. I know reading this verse I keep pondering good manners. I know in my heart this is true. I think of many friendships that have gone the road of gossip..what started out as a pure and beautiful friendship became something repulsive. I am ashamed of myself and my behaviour. If I do what the Bible says:

Collossians 4:6 "Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Then I ought never to be in that situation right? Sadly that isnt the case.

I really like the part of this verse..AWAKE unto righteousness. Have you ever been in a rut. Where it seems every day you are going through the motions and your on autopilot so you dont always notice that your rut is getting deeper. I think that is what happens to me. I get caught up in my flesh and self and end up digging that rut deeper and deeper.

Then God gets ahold of you and wakes you up! Sometimes he even gives you coffee. I had to add that there! Anyways, I dont know about you but the sky looks bluer and my day is brighter. I am so thankful that God does not give up on me!

~24 Season 4~

December 6th Season 4 for the TV series 24 came out. After hearing many friends go on and on about it, I broke down and rented disk one of season 1. And I have been hooked ever since! Poor Jim, with him gone he is missing it all. Maybe I should have waited for him? I dont think I could have..and we can always rerent them. Jim really isnt too interested in tv anyways so maybe he wont care?

Blessings in Disguise!

You know sometimes things happen and they truely are a blessing in disguise.

Recently I was removed from a message board that I have been a member of for a couple of years. Its my own fault, I had posted something that was controversial and the owner of the board took it as a personal attack on her. Although I will not back down on my beliefs, I admit after I reread my post , I was like yeah..It does sound quite harsh. I admit I could done it so much differently, but well its to late now. Whats done is done and there is nothing I can do about it now.
When she first removed me, honestly I was shocked. It felt like there was a death in the family. I pretty much cried all day. I love this board and all the ladies on it. Especially the owner. She has been a friend for years and someone I have looked up to. I do realize I could have done it so differently and so could she. Its happened and I have to move on..

I will be honest, not everyone was sad! My kids were happy! They all said YEAH moms kicked off the board now we can spend more time with her! How sad is that!

The next morning when I woke up I had such PEACE about the whole thing. God showed me that day that I had spent way too much time on my computer! NOW I just have so much time. My house is clean..my kids are happier, Its just amazing! I sit and just thank God for this. I have perfect peace! Amazing! I wouldnt be honest if I said I dont miss it. I do. BUT I see this is best. And I am happy.

I have a dear friend who wants this to all be blown over and for me to be restored. I doubt that will ever happen. I am not sure if the rift between us can ever be forgiven or restored. Even if it is and I am allowed to rejoin this board, I dont think I will. I know I have trouble being on the computer in moderation. I think that this is a good opportunity to really spend time looking to the ways of my household.

I am sure that I will lose friends through this. When ever something like this happens, people tend to take sides. some will feel they have to choose one or the other. I would never expect that choice and I hope that it doesnt happen. In reality it does happen. My true friends, the ones who can say to me wow Jamie you messed up. The ones who love me inspite of my mistakes or my opinions or whatever. I say to you. I love you and I am so very thankful to have friends like you! I hope I can always be a friend to you to in the same way you have been to me. We may not always agree but I am thankful that we can speak honestly to one another and still love each other.

So in closing this chapter in my life all I can say is thank you Lord. For bringing good out of bad, for showing me areas I need to work on and for still being there when I mess up.

So that said, have a blessed day in the LORD.

At the Zoo!

We love the Sandeigo zoo! I found out they have 4 live webcams. Live Zoo Cams

We went a few years ago during founders day. We need to do it again! We never even got all the way through the zoo! Its HUGE! The kids sure enjoy it.

Anyway, hope you enjoy. My favorite is the panda cam. :)

Forced to Jump

Jojo fell asleep in his Jumparoo! Poor guy! This was last week and I was working with Jared and Jerrica with their reading and had put Joseph in his Jumparoo, JUST to have a break from him getting into everything! I dont know how long he had been sleeping! I felt so bad !

Here are MOST of my children

We were being silly the other day. Justin was working so he wasnt in this picture. And yes Joseph does get dressed..but we had just eaten and taken off his outfit and were going to go give him a bath when I got the wild picture hair! For some reason they were being silly with the rocks!

Spider Picture!

Here is the spider!  Need we say more?