Grandkids.

For Christmas this year we started in September. Abby had a great idea to make Pookie and Buzz these profile paintings. Each of the grandkids got to paint their own. 10 Grandkids in 5 years and 3 months. We waited a while, but then we all got busy! They are growing up so fast. Here is the final result beneath the Christmas tree.

I don't want my children to be happy.

http://itsalmostnaptime.blogspot.com/2010/02/i-dont-want-my-children-to-be-happy.html

Gavin

Driving in the car we had a conversation about getting a dog. Gavin says he is going to have 2 dogs. He is going to name his dog Cheese. And his other dog Ice Cream. Then he can have dairy. I laughed so hard. How does he think of these things!?!

Thank You, Holly!

So my friend Holly has this Walmart curse. She has a bad experience every time she goes. I have never had a problem at Walmart, and am very glad because it is the closest place to home and one of the least expensive options for groceries around here. Holly gave me a great purse for my birthday from the Water for Christmas etsy site.

Promotion for Water for Christmas: Cut and past the link to visit the site - I still have 2 jewelry sets for sale on there, and they are way cuter than the photo. If you want you can buy them and have them mailed to me cause I don't have any of my own jewelry. :o)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Water4Christmas

Anyhow, I have discovered that Holly has passed along her Walmart curse so I don't forget her after she moves. Yup. My purse. Every time I go in or out at Walmart it sets off the alarm from the magnets that hold the bag closed. Yup. Thanks! :o)! I won't ever forget you.

Still here.

I have oodles of things to post about, but have been so busy that they haven't gotten done. And now I am so far behind that...
We are really glad to have Daddy home again. Gavin is instantly better and in love with all the time he is getting to spend with Daddy. Seth has been prickles and stings and ornery as all get out about everything since Daddy got home. This morning we had a long talk about being angry with Daddy about him being gone and learning to forgive him. He did better today. This stuff is soooo hard for the boys - they don't understand why Daddy leaves. They just feel abandoned. It is very hard for me to watch as a mom. We want to protect our children and give them the best. And yet my boys are learning to deal with hard things at a young age. And life has a lot of hard things.
I had a great birthday, and chaotic week, and a busy weekend ahead. Tomorrow is cooking baking for my "big kids" and skating as a family. Then a chili dinner with friends. Then a big morning at church where I am singing a song (not ready yet!) and potluck lunch. The church I go to MOPS at offers free childcare on Sunday night for Valentines Day, so I think Andrew and I are going to take advantage of that. And mixed in between lots of Olympic sports. The boys are very excited about the previews they got tonight before bed.
Oh - I have been working on something for the last 6 weeks that has consumed a lot of my emotions and thoughts, and it looks like it is working out, but there is a big hurdle ahead next week sometime. Please pray. This is one of those learning to be more obedient and having no idea where it is going to take you things. :o)
One last thing - after watching a clip about a skier that started skiing for the first time at age 7, Seth asked if Daddy could teach him to ski when he is 7. The power of seeing people do what they love and do it well is amazing!

LOOT!

So can I say that I LOVE my MOPS group. I always laugh and have fun. The ladies are awesome and I love getting to know them. They have childcare available so I can go whether Andrew is available to watch the boys or not. The speakers have been interesting and challenging. The crafts and activities have been fantastic. And there are presents. I leave with something everytime. So this is what I came home with tonight - great parenting resources and tools from the speaker, a new cute orange Bible in a version I don't already have (for being a February birthday), a heart shaped dish full of chocolate covered strawberries - our "craft" for the night, and a rose from the centerpieces since it is Valentines. And they are having a Valentine party for the kids next week where we get to make Valentines for senior citizens in our area. And they open up the church gym several times a month for kids to ride their bikes in during the cold cold winter. Tonight I feel rich in every way. Blessed.

Cheater Post.

So I haven't had time to post yet. We have been traveling, cleaning, organizing, planning, exercising, making, partying...

BUT, my lovely sis-in-law posted some fabulous pictures of all our kiddos together at Christmastime in a bunch of posts on her blog.
Check them out: seidelfam.blogspot.com

More real posts coming soon.