Wordless Wednesday

My Daybook, Entry #14 - Good Bye 2009 Edition

FOR TODAY
Monday, Dec 28, 2009...

Outside my window... Sunshine and clear blue skies. High temp of 45 today!

I am thinking... About my crazy 8 year old, Bud. Santa brought him "The Chronicles of Narnia" series - all the books in one very very thick book. It is 766 pages long. This is intimidating to some adults - let alone an 8 year old boy, I'd think! Well, not him... he has spent each night reading long into the night, well past the time that I am asleep, even! He has read that book three nights now and is on page 711. That's right... only 55 pages left before he is finished. He wants me to read it next. There is NO way that I am going to find the time to read that book in four nights, let alone a week or two!! Oh, well.

I am thankful for... plenty of time to spend with my little family here at home!!

From the learning rooms... Doing well plugging away - we'll have another go this week at our workbooks! We are working on core subjects to keep up on that and forgoing the art and such these days. We'll be back up to doing that by the time St. Valentine's Day rolls around - plenty of hearts we will make!!

From the kitchen...

Monday - Grilling marinated chicken breast (my FAVORITE marinade!!!)

Tuesday - Farfalle Pasta with Spinach & Bacon with some crusty bread

Wednesday - Either pork chops or a pork roast...

Thursday - lots of hors d' oeuvres for New Year's Eve

Friday - Breakfast - Apple Pancakes with fried apple topping

Saturday -Cheese Enchiladas, refried beans, chips and salsa

Sunday - Roast, Potatoes, Carrots, home baked loaf of bread

I am wearing... those soft cozy socks again, gray University of Nebraska yoga pants with "HUSKERS" screen printed up the side of the leg, a black Huskers Alumni t-shirt. Do you have your DVR set to record the Holiday Bowl on Wednesday the 30th?!?! Go Big Red!!!

I am creating... Quite voices signs for my children. When ever they are loud, the sign will light up and buzz back at them. I hope that it works in teaching them to use a quieter voice. OK Ok, not really, but I WANT to create something like this. I suppose that a dog's bark collar would serve the same purpose... do you think that would work?

I am going... No where, I hope... all week long! Well, we'll go to church on Thursday night and again on Saturday night (it seems to be easier to be on time with a new baby - when we live just over a half hour from our church, to go in the evening instead of in the mornings!) - but other than that? I hope NO WHERE! Oh, shucks, our membership to the drive-thru zoo expires this week - we might go there one more time, too.

I am reading... Shhhhhhhhhh, I am still reading about that secret that I mentioned last week!

I am hoping... that my poor old dog gets a bit perky again. Pops needs to take her to the vet to have her thyroid tested... he thinks that it is part of her troubles these days.

I am hearing... Blossom is wandering around looking for the die to the game that the treekids are trying to play. She tossed it across the floor and now can't find it. Santa brought a new game and I'll let you know if it is any good after we play a few times!

Around the house... Seriously? We had a bit of an explosion here in the living room as we opened presents this past week. There was wrapping paper everywhere! Even in our attempt to get each gift's paper into a trash bag before opening anything else... there were three very excited children!!!

One of my favorite things... I came out of my room on Christmas morning when I heard Blossom singing as she snooped around all of the Santa surprises. Here is her song...

"Happy birthday to Jesus,

Happy birthday to Jesus,

Happy birthday Dear Jesus,

Happy birthday to you!"

A few plans for the rest of the week... core subjects for school work, find homes for all the new Christmas gifts, drive-thru zoo, begin planning all my secret surprises for the treekids that are to arrive on Epiphany - when we celebrate the three kings finding the Christ Child!

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

Bud wrote a letter to Santa Claus back in early November (to beat the rush) and gave many ideas of things he might like to unwrap for Christmas. He also asked for four jars of dill pickles. WHY, pickles?? He says that he likes the taste of them and wanted to eat his fill!! He has shared his pickles at several meals since Christmas Morning.

To read more daybooks or to join in the fun, head over to Peggy's.

WHOSE Child Is THIS?!?

We sang Christmas Carols at church this weekend... lots of them. Some we all knew well, others weren't so familiar to us all. Either way, they were all beautiful with the violin and flute playing along!

One we sang was "What Child Is This" and we sang THE. WHOLE. SONG. Blossom wasn't familiar with all the words and can't quite read along yet to sing, so I told her to listen and then join me in singing... "This, this, is..."

Could you please imagine yourself with me in a mostly empty church (it was the Saturday night Vigil Mass - the day after Christmas... bound to have low turn out with holiday parties and such!) and we were sitting in the third pew from the front. Now, please get in the spirit and sing with me... "What child is this who, laid to rest on Mary's lap is sleeping? Whom Angels greet with anthems sweet..." Right, now, keep it up! You sound great!!

Now, we are getting to one of the last verses...

"So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh, Come peasant, king to own Him; The King of kings salvation brings, Let loving hearts enthrone Him."

Back to the chorus with the congregation, "This, this is Christ the King..."

Interject Blossom here (in her standard LOUD voice): "WHAT?!?! Why did they THROW Baby Jesus? Who did THAT? That is mean. Throwing Baby Jesus."

"... The Babe, the Son of Mary."

ME: Shrinking and trying to explain in a whisper that "enthrone" is not "throwing"!! Whose noisy child is this next to me, anyway! Oh, she is MINE!

Ho Ho Ho!!

We had a visit last night from that jolly fellow who is thought to wear a red suit to cover his chubby belly. Did he come to visit you, too? The treekids were soooo excited that Branch was up peeking around at 6AM and had us all awake and up and at 'em by 6:30... too early for me. At that time of the morning, the sun is still SLEEPING and I preferred to be sleeping too! But, on this day, we were checking our stockings, having a nice big breakfast and making a right fine mess in our home with gift wrap strewn about!

This little guy thought he was a helper with his super cute hat, but I have to say that he was NOT a help this year... but, give him about 12 more years and he might be helpful at Christmas time! Well, maybe he helped us to smile just a bit broader this year - and that is a fair statement!

I think that the most fun part of our Christmas morning gift exchange was seeing the gifts that the treekids chose for each other and for Pops and I. You see, we take them to the Dollar Tree (where everything in the store costs... yes, you guessed it - One Dollar!) and give them free rein to choose one gift for each person on their list. They all get a basket to carry around and get lost in the rather small store searching for just the right thing to show their love for each other. It is so much fun to see what is chosen...

From Bud

To Pops - an 18-in-one screwdriver with a socket set

To Me - a Coca Cola glass

To Branch - a Princess Belle ribbon batton

To Blossom - a Tinkerbelle dart game that uses velcro balls for darts

To baby - a fish bath sponge

From Branch

To Pops - a tape type lint roller/remover

To Me - spa collection "Ocean Breeze" room and fabric freshener

To Bud - a Pirates of the Caribbean fuzzy coloring poster (Blackbeard!)

To Blossom - a princess (noise-making) wand with an "ariel" on it

To baby - a pair of cotton knit hats

From Blossom

To Pops - a bag of cheese popcorn

To Me - a santa hat

To Bud - funny disguise glasses with a mustache and blinking nose

To Branch - a horse figurine

To baby - a dinosaur onesie

It is pretty cool how thoughtful they all are of each other and what they can actually find in a store for just one dollar that they are sure to like!! It is a fun time and a great tradition for them to think of each other and what they would like - and not spending much money to do it.

... More Christmas pictures later!!

Christmas Eve 2009

Have a very Merry & Blessed Christmas!!

Here we all are dressed in our Christmas finery

by one of our church's many Christmas trees!!

My Daybook, Entry #13

FOR TODAY
Tuesday, Dec 22, 2009...

Outside my window... I see SNOW up on the mountain tops!! The snow line is dropping - will we have a White Christmas??!?

I am thinking... That I really gave too many options on that blogname poll for the newest addition to our family. I am seriously considering a new poll. Sorry! Read yesterday's post to read my feelings on that one.

I am thankful for... my VERY helpful children! See what we've been up to "around the house" and "from the kitchen"...

From the learning rooms... Had a good start last week! We will continue to plug away a little at a time until someone new in our house finds a more "normal" schedule!

From the kitchen... Sunday and Monday we (the treekids and I) began our Christmas cookie making. I decided upon some more simple cookie varieties for this year and made two bar style cookies, one where you dip a store-bought cookie and another that was no bake - but totally kid fun! We will continue to create cookies throughout this week as we get closer to Christmas! As for the rest of the eating... easy meals this week as we will have big "fancy" meals on Christmas Day! Coffee Cake, River Omelets, Bacon and Fresh Pineapple for breakfast and Prime Rib with all the fixin's for a late lunch! I can hardly wait!

I am wearing... my hair back in a French braid, soft, cozy, thick socks, jeans, a favorite taupe knit top and a bit of post-baby jiggle around my middle -- when, oh, when can I expect that to go away!?!

I am creating... A few homemade Christmas gifts. I am way way way behind on this topic. In fact, if you are expecting anything to arrive at your house from our house... expect it to be late!

I am going... to "town" tomorrow to finish my Christmas shopping. Nothing like down the the wire WITH A NEW BABY! How ridiculous of me to not have been better prepared. Now, I have to brave the crowds with a new babe in tow. Luckily, I only have to visit a couple stores. I did do some shopping in a little children's boutique in our town last week and I was thrilled to be able to support a local business and find some great prices on NICE items!

I am reading... There is More to the Secret by Ed Gungor

I am hoping... for a beautiful Christmas weekend with my family. While it is fun and exciting to run around and visit everyone when you live closer to family - it is nice to have a slow bit of time for us to enjoy each other and have time to remember what this Christmas Season is all about and spend our time appropriately!

I am hearing... Adventures in Odyssey - a story on CD that Bud and Branch are listening to while finishing up tidying their school area in the loft.

Around the house... MY house is BACK!! After a month of not REALLY helping much around the house and only "harping" at the kids to clean their stuff up (which OF COURSE does not happen if I don't actively participate here...) things had really fallen apart. The treekids and I have worked as a team yesterday and today to find all of the living spaces - including their rooms!! Woooooo Hoooooooooooo!! It feels so good to have a clean house and helpful kids who helped it get back to normal!

One of my favorite things... snow on the mountains in my view out the window, but NOT on my driveway!!

A few plans for the rest of the week... finishing up my shopping on Wednesday, making more cookies, putting out Christmas decorations, a bit of workbook time with the treekids, Christmas Eve Family Mass on Thursday, Christmas fun at home on Friday!! Sounds like a busy week!

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

They all still seem to be enamored with him... just wait until he eats their books,

knocks over their legos, or breaks their polly pockets!! Ah, he's too sweet...

He'll never do any of that will he?

To read more daybooks or to join in the fun, head over to Peggy's.

Really?!?

I hopped online to write my "daybook" post - although it seems to be a nightbook post these days! I was very surprised to see that currently the readers of this blog seem to be semi-neck and neck on voting in "Burl" and "Buckeye"... This is SO strange to me!

I KNOW why 2 people would have chosen Buckeye... one lives in Columbus and is by default (or maybe choice - who knows!) a fan of THE Ohio State University - not sure if it is football thing or all sports and academia... hmmm. The OTHER one seems to breathe, bleed, sweat buckeye fever throughout football season and then all things Ohio seem to fall away until the season picks up again. So, I GET why there would be TWO (count them... 1, 2) votes. But, what is up with the rest of you'uns??

As for Burl... REALLY? That is what you're thinking is a best option? Could you enlighten me on this one? I mean, I get it - we live in Oregon and there are plenty of burls that show up on trees around here and all... so, it would be a "local" name for a "local" guy. But, it just isn't the name I would think that would go over so well either because of its sound (a bit redneckish to me - sorry!) or meaning (a woody swelling where the root meets the stem - huh?!) - they just seem "off"!

I guess I put ALL the options that I could find out there feeling fairly confident that everyone would sort of follow along my current theme of tree parts and just chuckle about the other ideas! "Bud," "Branch," and "Blossom" are all parts of the tree that actually can be found in the canopy area of the tree! So, when I suggested varieties of trees, I was piggy-backing off of a comment made on a post from earlier this month. I didn't think it was really following my "theme" - although, I do think that "Butternut" is kind of cute!!

So, I prolly shouldn't have made so many options available - and should have just put my top 3 or 5 choices and went from there! I can tell that the old me - the pre-pregnancy me is slowly coming back... The pregnant me was VERY indecisive and couldn't make a decision in any amount of hustle! The pre-pregnant me did not have this problem, and as the hormones are slowly wearing off, I find I have more clear-cut ideas about what I do or do not like/want/need/etc.

Where does all this leave me and you? Well, it leaves You, Ms. Regina, thinking that there is a chance that I will call my babe "buckeye," when that certainly is a mistruth!! I guess I will pick the name in my top picks with the most votes... or, I will just chuckle at all your votes and say, "Silly, silly, silly!! I will instead call my baby... _____!"

Would you like me to create a new poll with only my top 3 or 5?? There were mistakes on that poll anyway - 2 that I spotted after someone had voted... and then it couldn't be edited!! I seem to have rambled on long enough... care to share you thoughts??!! I guess I'll get on that daybook tomorrow - maybe during the DAY!!!

Blech

Spam on blog comment areas is just as weird as SPAM in a can. I don't think that I want to continue with the spam, so...

I have changed how you enter a comment to include a word verification step. Please don't be discouraged, real comment leavers!! Let me know if any problems occur in leaving comments now with that extra step. Send a note my way at "afamilytreehouse {at} me {dot} com" if ya don't mind!

Now, off to read some REAL comments - not that junk about where to purchase codeine and prednisone!!

Our Babe NEEDS a BlogName!!

So... would you mind helping?? I am creating a "poll" over in the sidebar for choosing a blogname for our newest little guy. I hope that you will choose your favorites (I have allowed for you to choose more than one favorite!) to help me choose ONE name for our little guy!

Some of these names have been suggested through previous comments, some found and suggested by Grandpa when he was out visiting, some I found before the babe was born and just hadn't chosen for sure. If you don't really like any of those options... or you have a BETTER one, select "other" and come over here and leave a comment with your other choice!!

Here are the options and possible reasons for use...

An assortment of tree "terms"...

Berry (a small roundish juicy fruit without a stone)

Bonsai (the art of caring for and shaping trees with love and care)

Broadleaf (a tree with wide, flat leaves)

Burl (woody swelling where the stem joins the roots)

Bundle (a bundle scar is what is left on a twig after a leaf falls)

Bract (very small leaf, usually scale like and associated with a flower)

Blade (leaf excluding the stalk)

Basal (originally from the base)

Bole (another name for the trunk of a tree)

Bur (a prickly seed case or flowerhead that clings to animals and clothes)

Common Names of Various Tree Species...

Bramble (any plant contained in the Rubus, most common examples include raspberries and blackberries)

Blue (as in spruce??)

Black (as in locust, gum, ash, tupelo, spruce, cherry, oak)

Buckeye

Birch

Balsam (fir)

Baker (cypress)

Butternut

Beech

Basswood

Bay

Other options that have to do with a tree...

Bump (on a log)

Bumblebee (they add sweetness to a tree)

Cocoon

I received a very unique baby gift from a friend not too long ago. It is a snuggly cocoon of a blanket! Every time that I use it out and about, I get oohs and aahs and compliments galore. THEN they want to know where to get one - "or, wait... did YOU make that?" OH, how I wish that I could claim that I made it as it is so super cute! Alas, I have to admit that a friend made it for me.

I tell them that my friend writes a blog and that she has posted the pattern for FREE on her blog and then I try to remember the web address for my friend's blog and the name of the post... yea, it doesn't usually work out too well for me and I end up with a phone call (from the pediatrician's office in one case, since the receptionist wanted to knit one and they DO have my phone number!) asking for the address again since what I wrote down isn't bringing them to the right location! SO - I thought a link on my blog would help my scatter-brained self out!

(Doesn't it look like he is doing "Here's the church, Here's the steeple, Open the doors..."

I'll have to teach him how to do the "and See all the people!" part!!!)

So, if you knit and you want to give a really unique gift for someone that has had a baby - or is about to have one... Go check out Amy's blog and consider making this great cocoon for their baby! I happen to love this blanket idea for a few reasons:

1. It is WASHABLE wool! So, it is warm, yet washable - important when you have a spitty baby!!
2. It is just the right size... it wraps around the baby without having all that draggin' on the ground corners of a regular blanket.
3. Because it is just the right size to wrap around the baby, the mom (with her fluctuating hormones) does not break into a sweat while everyone else is shivering.
4. I love that it has a matching hat. I like a good lookin' coordinating set! Blossom says that it looks like a little hat for the baby and a big hat for the mommy! Cracks me up, but she did put the cocoon on my head and it did sort of fit like a long snowbunny hat. So, possibly this cocoon has potential use when the baby is a teenager or adult?? ;)
5. Handmade. I love a handmade item from a friend. I think that the time and effort put into a homemade/handmade gift is priceless and shows a great level of love and care! SO, thank you again, SO MUCH, Amy!!

My Daybook, Entry #12

FOR TODAY
Tuesday, Dec 15, 2009...

Outside my window... rain... beautiful, glorious RAIN!!!!

I am thinking... that I NEED to get on that blog name for our new littlest treekid!! I am considering posting a "poll" here in the next week - so, make sure that you come back and vote for your favorite!!!

I am thankful for... Pops. I am a lucky lady to have married my best friend!!

From the learning rooms... we'll be starting back up slowly this week!! (I am hoping!!)

From the kitchen... tonight - something with ground beef... I'm thinking black pepper beef stirfry. Then the rest of the week will involve the crockpots!!

I am wearing... yoga pants and a turquoise long sleeve t-shirt with a few seasonally appropriate screen printed snowflakes, a burp cloth on my left shoulder and a darling babe on my lap!!

I am creating... "Cream" - I would say "milk" but it seems that it is cream instead. At a two-week check last week (Dec 7), our little baby bundle weighed in at 10 pounds!!

I am going... to make a football statement. SHOCK & AMAZEMENT, yes - this IS unusual. I am disappointed in who was selected for the Heisman Trophy this year. Of COURSE I wanted "SUH" (University of Nebraska) to win, but my second choice was Toby Gerhart (Stanford University). I am sure that they were all fine finalists, and I know that I am such a football aficionado and all. So, therefore my opinion should count in the voting and NO ONE asked me who to vote for.

I am reading... Siblings Without Rivalry - not bad, not bad at all!! Will be adding some new techniques to my parenting repertoire!!

I am hoping... that I get everything done in time for Christmas this year!!!

I am hearing... Blossom singing "Whistle while you work..."

Around the house... lots to do - nobody wants to do "it"!!!

One of my favorite things... games with my kids. I like Mancala, Sorry, Connect Four, UNO, Old Maid, Go Fish, among others!!

A few plans for the rest of the week... find a routine!!!

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

Grandpa & "High Pockets"

Geemah & Bundle o' Joy

To read more daybooks or to join in the fun, head over to Peggy's.

An early visit from the Western North Pole?

Our town had a Christmas Party of sorts not too long ago. There was some very yummy hot chocolate, cookies, fires to warm oneself by, a tree lighting ceremony, some caroling children, a cheerful Christmas Song singer, lots of local people visiting and a visit from a "Frontier Santa" (whose outfit was really cool and isn't shown very well in these photos - he had spurs and bells on his boots and a leather pouch and was very "old west") who rode in with "Mrs. Santa" on a horse drawn carriage. We aren't certain what happened to the reindeer, exactly. But, these visitors came to see the children (and adults) in our town and talk about who was naughty or nice, what kinds of things were wished for this Christmas and there were pictures and candy canes for all the children.

Trees need hugs... or just lots of sparkle!

Our artificial tree went to the dump. The pre-lit part of the tree would not light. Kind of makes the pre-lit part a bit frustrating. Anyway, we were in the market for a new option for a Christmas tree this year. Pops and I found a fresh cut tree and brought that home for this year. I am sooooo looking forward to sweeping up pine needles over the next month!!

Pops and I seem to have a bit of "Bah Humbug" in us this year and couldn't rightly care less about having a Christmas tree or other decorations, but those crazy treekids of ours are living up to the tree theme of the family. THEY wanted a tree more than I can describe and weren't "ok" with skipping on the tree for even one year. So, they were super excited about the tree that we brought home - even in its "Charlie Brown-ness"!!!

We had made our attempt at setting up our 2009 Christmas tree on the first Sunday of Advent as I had a "new idea" for this year's tree... Last year after Christmas when everything was on sale, I bought new ornaments and a tree skirt (that Blossom thought worked well as a girl skirt or as a princess cape... who needs a skirt on a TREE!?!!).

I bought a large selection of silver ornaments and then 4 small tubes of very small round simple plain balls in pink and purple... 3 purple and 1 pink tube. The plan was to put up one tube of colored ornaments each Sunday of Advent as we would also light the candles in our Advent wreath. A lovely plan to do a bit of decorating and preparation each Sunday as we got closer to Christmas... and our tree would be more and more colorful as we approached Christmas! A lovely plan... right? Well, it would have been if our pre-lit tree would have LIT!

We are still going with this plan for decorating our tree, we just were several days late in getting the tree up and the first round of ornaments put on. So far, we have put up all the silver ornaments and two tubes of purple ornaments.

This Sunday, we will add the tube of pink ornaments and the treekids are very excited!! Christmas is coming ... it is right around the corner!! I need to get organized... Here we had a baby on the way and this is the first year that I was not nearly ready for all things Christmas just before Thanksgiving! Maybe the baby will help??? Or if he won't help (he slept through 99% of the tree decorating)... maybe this creature will help with other preparations since decorating the tree wasn't up her alley (she slept through only 75% of the tree decorating)!!

I guess I'll giver her a break... she is considered geriatric and all. In just two short months she'll be nine years old. I don't think that she has drank the water from the tree stand, so that deserves a "break" and she can opt out of all holiday preparations this year. But, NEXT year... she better pull her weight!

Babymoon

I think that I will just say that I am on Babymoon... kind of like a honeymoon - but it is just me and baby hanging out A LOT 'round the house. We have been venturing out now and then for various errands and appointments. Those days seem to be stressful and I hole up afterwards and catch up on my rest. So, know that I am still HERE loving on my snuggly baby boy.

It seems that I have plenty of things to blog about, but here's the deal... if I have something to blog about - that means that I spent my computer time DOING something instead of being at my computer! I have some pictures to load from my camera and will do that soon so that I can at least share those with you all!

I am thinking about blogging - but trying to find the new rhythm of my life! Will update sooooooon. I PROMISE!!!!!

My Daybook, Entry #11

FOR TODAY
Tuesday, Dec 1, 2009...

Outside my window... Chilly!!

I am thinking... about a "blog name" for my new precious treekid! We worked on a birth certificate name from April until about an hour after he was born... I don't plan to take eight months to choose a blog name... but I'm open to suggestions! I'm looking for a tree related word that begins with a "B". I have a few ideas, but would love to hear any suggestions!!!!

I am thankful for... children who love books!!!

From the learning rooms... I believe that we are STILL "officially" on a baby break.

From the kitchen... Hmmm - maybe we'll come up with a plan after a bit!

I am wearing... Tan cords, a cream sweater (that I dribbled a bit of salsa on this morning as I ate a breakfast burrito), my maroon slip on Mary-Jane Clarks and two bracelets - one "made" by Blossom and the other a new baby gift from Pops!! :)

I am creating... not much - but dreaming up stuff that I will be working on with my sewing machine soon enough!

I am going... to try to be patient. That is so much easier said than done - but, I'm trying!

I am reading... some picture books that the treekids brought home from their trip to the library with Geemah!

I am hoping... to remember to sleep more - go to bed earlier and remember to take an afternoon nap!

I am hearing... a noisy machine.

Around the house... We tried to set up our Christmas tree on Sunday evening. It is a pre-lit tree and half of the tree would not light. Pops took it to the dump and we now need to find a tree. Pops is thinking a real tree this year since we do live in an area of many Christmas Trees!!

One of my favorite things... home. Quiet peaceful home.

A few plans for the rest of the week... Slow week. Baby Baptism on Saturday evening at 5pm!

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

To read more daybooks or to join in the fun, head over to Peggy's.