Thank you Jeff and Eileen

Simon is wearing an outfit that my friends, Jeff and Eileen, bought him. He fits into it nicely now. I was propping him up trying to get a cute shot when he started falling. This is what Simon looks like falling:


It looks like he is thinking, "Ummm...a little help?"

Olaf was sick this weekend with some sort of a stomach bug or food poisoning. That made for a fun weekend.

There was a first for my precious Camille this weekend. We let her spend the night with her best friend for the first time. It was Molly's 12th birthday and she asked Camille to stay the night. With great trepidation, much prayer, and advice from a friend we allowed her to go. It was her first night away from us ever. She had a blast and we all missed her terribly. They went to Dixieland Fun Park on Friday night then Molly got her ears pierced on Saturday. Camille got her ears re-pierced a few weeks ago so Molly got the same earrings that Camille has. They match now. Isn't having a Best Friend fun? At the suggestion of the Claire's Manager, Camille got her ears pierced this time with earrings that have an extra long post. Camille has thick earlobes and the last time she got them pierced they got very infected and we had to let them heal over. The manager said she would have better luck with posts that were long so the solution could better penetrate into the piercing. So far so good.

Wordless Wednesday

I'm thinking Princess Diana

I was watching a docudrama (is that a word?) on Princess Diana tonight and I realized that I really liked her hair. I think I am going to get my hair cut like that. I haven't had bangs in 18 years. I already made my appointment for the afternoon of August 31st which, as I typed that, realized it is the day she died. Can you believe it has been ten years since she died?

We went to Ikea today. We ate lunch there and I had the Swedish Meatballs. They were yummy. Olaf and I have decided that will be our next date if we ever go on one. The last time Olaf and I went out by ourselves was when we went to Fogo well over a year ago. Probably closer to two years ago. Anyway, someday...we want to go to Ikea and look around without worrying about the children. That would be a fun date for us.

Round Up

I went to our local homeschool group's "round up" this morning. It is the first time I have ever been. I wouldn't have gone at all but there was this mandatory meeting for all parents who will have their children in any of the co-op classes. Thank the Lord Olaf called and told me the baby needed nursing:) I just really enjoy being home. I don't like being away from my family. I mean, a few hours at Target is fun for me (especially if I can get free babyfood), but to go away for more time than that is just not something I desire to do. There is nowhere else I would rather be than with my husband and children. Even if it means we are just in the house together doing separate things. We are still together.

Thank You Tammy!

Remember my BFF I talked about a few posts back? Look what we received from her today.



Look at these Nike shoes. Aren't they adorable?



Thank you, Tammy! You are very generous. Now go sell some more houses and send more stuff!

Friday Felicities

Baby Edition

*Baby goos and giggles
*Looking at Simon's little hand holding my finger while he nurses.
*Watching my children try to make Simon laugh.
*Watching Simon smile at Olaf when he gets home from work.
*Cloth Diapers
*Pampers Cruisers on clearance at Target and getting to use a coupon on top of that!
*This coupon (Thank you Stephanie) that lets you get almost free babyfood at Target. I bought 70 jars of babyfood--40 the first trip and 30 the second trip--for just a few dollars.

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen things about my husband:

1. For some reason, the man still thinks I am beautiful.
2. Thanks to a really rough time in our marriage about a year ago, he no longer takes me for granted....ever. (I guess when your wife says, "Don't let the door hit you in the ass" it does something to you.)
3. He gets more handsome to me as the years go by.
4. He is a good provider for us and works hard at a job he doesn't particularly like to make sure we have more than we need.
5. Our family always comes first to him...ALWAYS!
6. He LIKES to go shopping with me.
7. He also likes chick fliks but I am not supposed to tell anyone. We just rented "Miss Potter" (all about the life of Beatrix Potter) and he wants me to buy it for him.
8. He makes me laugh harder than anyone else can.
9. He is a fabulous father and the children adore him.
10. Caleb couldn't live without him.
11. He gives me free reign at Target when I am having a bad day and never complains about how much money I spent on all my clearance sales.
12. He is 10 months younger than I am.
13. He adores newborns as much as I do.

Wordless Wednesday

Cuteness

Grace lost her other front tooth last night. She chose to keep the tooth rather than get money from the "tooth fairy." When the children lose a tooth, Olaf goes into their room while they are still awake and does a "fairy dance" around the room, collects the tooth and deposits money, and then dances out of the room. The children LOVE it. They laugh the entire time. However, for some reason only Grace knows, she chose to "keep" her tooth and not have the tooth fairy come. Oh well...

On another note, my baby turned three months old August 4th. Oh yes he did! Can you believe it?


He doesn't look like this anymore:

Not a flattering photo, eh?

I have been using the all in one cloth diapers that I have on Simon because they fit him perfectly right now. I took a picture of him in a Kushie today. It is my least favorite all in one, but they work.


I just ordered two Hugga Buns to see how they will work. I have four Fuzzi Bunz and about four Bumkins as well. He looks so cute in his cloth behind.

Caleb started school today. He was so excited to ride the bus. He loves school. I can't believe I have two children in middle school.

Michelle Duggar had her 17th baby August 2nd.

Olaf and I always said we wanted 10 children but that isn't attainable anymore in my old age. God truly is in control of my womb because I am the woman that wants ten children and only have five. I am so thankful for the five gifts that He has given me though. Each one is a present straight from heaven. I pray that we have at least one more, and that she's a girl. Hee hee.

Oskidee (that's what I sometimes call my husband)

My husband came home from work in pain. His back and hip have been bothering him for awhile now, but he needed to take a pain killer today. The vicodin has done nothing for the pain thus far so he took a muscle relaxer as well. I called the pharmacist to make sure he could take them together and his words to me were, "yes, just don't let him go anywhere." I laughed.

My BFF in middle/high school, Tammy, called me this morning. She is just a fabulous woman. I haven't seen her in about 24 years, but you'd never know it from our conversation. That is the sign of a true friend. You can pick up right where you left off... She told me about this fitness boot camp that she attends in the morning. Sounds pretty kick butt if you ask me. That is why she is thin and I am not:) She also turned 40 on July 17th and I forgot to wish her a Happy Birthday or send her a card. Sorry, Tam!

Free Coffee

This is really sad...

Look at what my girls will look like in about 10 years:

Oy, I need a haircut

My hair is starting to fall out. It happens every time I have a baby. The good thing about long hair is I can pull it back in a ponytail. The bad thing about long hair is I can pull it back in a ponytail. Being almost FORTY and having a ponytail just doesn't go together real well. I just wish I had a lot of money and could afford a complete make over. You know, like on those TV programs where they take you to some posh salon and totally make you look fabulous. I also need a personal wardrobe shopper, because I have no fashion sense whatsoever. I wear jeans and a T-shirt and call it a day. I would love for someone with fashion sense to take me shopping. Any takers?

After I wrote that paragraph, I went to Marie Claire and gave myself a virtual makeover. It was so much fun.



So, you like?? I am digging the haircut and color. Let me know what you think.

Books, books, books

I told Camille that if she got an "A" on her History/Geography test that I would take her to the bookstore so she could buy some new books. Lo and behold, the child got a 94% and didn't miss one single question on the geography section. So, as promised, we all went to Books A Million today so she could load up on new books. I have written before, and will say it again, that she is a total bibliophile. Today she spent $45 of her own money on new books. She had no problem laying out the dough either. She bought Eldest, the sequel to Eragon. (Did you know the kid that wrote those books was homeschooled his whole life?) She bought four books in a new series called Warriors. It's about clans of wild cats. She bought the last two books in the Deltora Quest as well. And she's not just an action/adventure reader because she also bought The Diary of Anne Frank and The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom. Whew! I'm tired just listing them all. I can't imagine reading them all. Eldest is really thick. That one will take her a week or so to read. Maybe two weeks. And speaking of reading, Grace has me amazed. I gave her this Pathway Reader and was so surprised that she can read the thing! This book would be what a First Grader would read at the end of the school year, not the beginning. She is reading words like could, Grandfather, and surprise all by herself. I am so proud of my girls.

Drumroll Please

And the winner of the first ever Bloggy Giveaway is.....The Campbell Corner! Congratulations!!

Whoa, Nelly!

Can you believe how many people have left a comment for that stamp set? WOW! I will use this random number generator to pick the winner on Friday morning. I will take the number that it gives me and count from the first comment left toward the last. This has been so much fun for me. Camille is even giving away a copy of Little Women. Go sign up for it if you haven't already. She is LOVING all the comments she is getting on her blog.

I haven't posted a photo of Simon for awhile...so, here ya go!

He looks like Olaf in this picture to me. Well, Olaf's baby pictures anyway. He is absolutely adorable and I am so in love with him. We already are wanting another one. I figure I am so fat right now I might as well try to get pregnant again:0)

Camille, Grace, and Josiah are all going to join the homeschool choir this year. That should be a hoot. Practice is every Wednesday, so I will be running around this year a bit. Camille will have Spanish class on Thursday as well. I am such a home body. I really dislike leaving the house for any reason. Especially if it involves other little children that don't belong to me. They carry germs not to mention bad manners.

Camille is plugging along with school. It is a lot more school work than we are used to, but I think it has been very good for her. Grace gets mad if I don't "do" school everyday with her. Sometimes the baby needs so much of my time that I sit in the recliner and direct her school work from there. She can self direct a lot of her work because she reads well. She can read the directions on her workbook pages all by herself. Twelve more days until Caleb goes back to school, but who is counting?

Scrappers, Stampers and Paper Crafters

This freebie giveaway is for you! Thanks to Shannon and her fabulous idea, I am giving away a brand new, unmounted (I will mount it if you want me to), Stampin Up stamp set called Polka Dots and Paisley. It is a set of six stamps. It is perfect for scrapping and card making. I will also include some other "crafting stuff" as a bonus, but I'm not sure what:)


Now, if you would like to win this prize package (I sound like Bob Barker) just leave a comment below. I will be drawing on Friday. International readers are encouraged to join. I will ship worldwide! If you go to Shannon's blog there are links to lots of other blogs that are sharing the love. Go take a look.

You simply must...

Go watch these videos at Cheri's blog. They are so worth your time.

Grace lost another tooth

Now she looks like Olaf:

It's Friday

*an e-mail from a long, lost roommate from the Air Force!!
*Crayola Crayons 24 pack for 9 cents --9 cents people-- at Office Depot. (They are only 20 cents at WalMart right now) I bought 15 packs.
*Crayola Markers (10 pack) at WalMart for 88 cents.
*School supplies in general. Oh, they make my heart sing.
*A baby that wants his Mama to hold him. So, I am off...