ALPHABET CHALLANGE D

1. Decorating :)  The kids just finished decorating Christmas cookies. It was Owen's first time and he thought it was awesome! He mostly just ate the frosting and sprinkles and with mommy's help managed to get some on the cookies. The kids really enjoy getting to decorate their own plate of cookies that are only theirs. I started doing this because I'm a little picky when it comes to decorating cookies that others might eat, I mean who wants to eat cookies that have had the knife licked off each time it was dipped in the frosting? Not Me!! So they each get one of each shape to have for themselves. I try to get them to agree to only eat one a day but that never works- they've already eaten 2 each!

More on decorating..... Ben has been decorating MY kitchen! Grrrrr! This really irrates me! It started this past summer when I found a cute little scale at a garage sale for a $1. I thought it would be cute above my cabinets. As most people know, Ben is a crazy collector.( He has collected so many thing starting with rocks and pens when he was little all the way to coins and guns as an adult!) Well, he has always wanted me to collect something! He even gave me one of those little souviner spoons once from a truck stop in Michigan hoping I would collect those- sorry NO WAY!!!  So when he saw the scale he must have thought " finally something I can get Joy to collect". He started bidding on some on ebay and has gotten me 2 more since then. Now he's been decorating the tops of my cabinets with scales and kerosine lanterns (his new collecting object!!). I would hav been fine with that but then he went further and started pulling weird, ugly things out of my pantry( that I should have tossed a long time ago) and started putting them up. I should have know Ben was a little weird when he told me he made a lap quilt for the fair and won a ribbon for it!  Don't worry, he's not ashamed about that piece of knowledge- he is very proud of it. but what can ya do- I love that guy even when he's stepping in my territory! Wow I went a little deep their for the letter D! Guess there will only be 1 subject for todays Letter!

C

C

1. Wish you a Merry Christmas! Every Christmas seems to get more and more stressful. Money is always tight.I am always worrying that we won't be able to do our shopping for the kids and that we won't be able to afford to buy them what they want. But by the time Christmas gets here, I"m always amazed that everything usually works out. I don't know why I stress about this stuff because I don't want my kids learning that Christmas is not about presents and everything being perfect, its about Jesus' birth and the HOPE we have because he was born so long ago. Its just that I'm a worrier. I worry about everything. It drives me crazy!!!! This year I'm trying to not worry so much, realize that more than anything I need to just cherish my kids while they are young, and stop thinking about what might not get done.

2. Cookies..... We made Christmas Cutout Cookies today. Normally I start my Christmas baking a couple days after Thanksgiving, but this year I have started until today. Why? I started a diet the beginning of November. I've lost 14 lbs so far and I just haven't wanted to tempt myself with all the yummy treats! The boys keep asking when we are going to start making Christmas cookies and I decided today was the day. I probably won't make all the different kinds I normally make because I just have way too much of a sweet tooth and not enough self control to NOT eat them! It kinda sucks but I'm sure I'll thank myself when the holidays are over and I haven't gained that holiday weight!

3. Carmels. I made carmels for the 1st time this year and its soooo much easier than I thought it would be!I made some around THanksgiving and made a double batch on Sunday to give as gifts for some of the kids teachers at church. Owen loves them- he is always standing next to the cuboard I keep them in and just keeps saying "mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm" i can't help but give him lots cause its just so darn cute! I wasn't thinking when I made them though and ran out of wax paper to wrap them in- so i have the ones that didn't get wrapped in wax paper in plastic wrap until I can get some more. This time I ended up with almost 200 carmels.

B

B

1. Big Butts! When Clint was 5, everynight when I would tuck him into bed he would always say to me " I love you, you are a beautiful woman! " I don't know why he would say this or what started it but it went on for about 2 years. Then when Ethan was about 5, not to be outdone by his big brothers, yells to me..."Mom, Mommy, Mom............I LOVE your BIG BUTT! " It was sooooo funny, I couldn't stop laughing, which led to them saying that to me for quite a few night later. I seriously think he thought this would be a nice thing to say. i still laugh when I think about it :)

2. Boys, boys, and more boys!!! I haven't for a loooong time thought I would have a daughter! Once when I only had Clint and Ethan, I had my little brothers over ( who are not much older than my kids). We where on a walk down our driveway ( I can still see it ) My brother Isaac was out in front, then Brother Josiah, and next baby brother Michael followed by Clint running and myself pushing Ethan in the stroller. Five boys in a row, spaced by about 2 yrs in age. I had a thought that this was going to be me someday- 5 BOYS!!!! Now I know that didn't happen but I wonder what it would have been like had that happened ( boy, I'm glad it didn't ;-)

3. ginger Bread houses. I know that this doesn't start with B but I really want to tell about the fun time we had yesterday. We got together with a bunch of our friends and made grahm cracker ginger bread houses. My kids were mostly excited about eating the candy rather than putting it on a house! I think throughout the entire time we were there Owen had candy in his mouth constantly. Ethan and Blake helped for about 10 minutes before they got bored of it and decided to play with their friends instead. Clint hung out the longest making it until we only had one side left. I think it turned out pretty good. I'm already wondering how long it will take before they eat it. I told them they have to wait unitl Christmas Eve. But Owen's already been on the table about 4 times trying to pick the candy off.

4. butter. Audrey has been dealing with a bad case of cradle cap. I have such a hard time trying to keep myself from picking at it. The other day, someone told me that they used butter on their baby's head and that it worked. So, I had to try it. I was amazed at how fast it came off (all of it too! ). But after giving her a bath and washing her hair 3 times, the butter has NOT come out! He hair is soooooo greasy. I'll never do that again! I would rather just keep that cradle cap than having my baby smell like popcorn for a week!

I am a terrible blogger!!

O.K, I admit that I'm not doing very well at this whole blogging thing but I think it scares me a little bit! Its very daunting, especially after looking through others blogs and seeing what a good job they do at it. So, in an effort to get on here more I'm going to be copying something my friend has done on her blog- an Alphabet Challange. Everyday my topics will start with a different letter of the day. Today will be A ( duh, it should be easy enough but I'm sure I'll struggle with it-I'm not the smartest nut out there!) So here goes it.......

A

1.  Audrey (of course)! I'm so excited to start with my one and only favorite daughter!! She makes life so happy! She is such a smiley little girl. One just had to look at her and her whole face lights up. Just thinking about her makes ME smile :)

2.Accidents (of the potty kind). I have had to deal with WAY TOO many of these! So many of my funny stories have started out all because of some kind potty problem- in fact some day I hope to write a book titled " It's Just a Little Poop On the Floor"

3. Annoying. I think this is one of my favorite words! My kids are always annoying me! In face at this moment my 2 favorite annoyances are annoying me! Blake is blowing on my face and Ethan is saying "Mom, Mommy. Mom, moooommmmy, can I have a yogurt or can you make me a plane. MOM!!!Mommy. I'm soo so starving! Mom, can't I just tell you one thing!!! 

4. Apple. I don't know why but trying to come up with A topics just keep me saying A,a Apple. We have been using Sing, Spell, Read and ,Write since Clint was in Kindergarten and he finally finished it . Now Ethan has started it. It has made teaching the kids how to read so easy. I'm really happy with this program. (great now I'm humming the phonics song: A,a Apple, B,b Ball, C,c Cat, and D,d Doll...........)