Tired me with tired Baby I trying out a sling (ya think she likes it??).
Four weeks old here:
Showing posts with label about mom24. Show all posts
Showing posts with label about mom24. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Introducing Our Newest Blessing!!
Since I haven't been blogging very often this school year, I haven't had the time to harp & complain about journal my 5th pregnancy. Consider yourself lucky - I was not a happy camper most of the time and I was hoping through it all that this meant I was carrying a baby of the 'female' type! So you get to skip all that jazz and get right to the good part - the sweet, precious, adorable, tiny, unique, and beautiful BABY!! (But first you must sit through the gorey details of the delivery.... hey, I want it written down for the kids' sake!)
Our duedate was January 23rd but I felt nothing close to being ready by that time. January had been particularly stressful for this momma since Reagan had developed chronic diarrhea after a stomach bug (from which we all recovered) and we didn't know why she was so sick. We finally got a colonoscopy scheduled for February 1, *knowing* that dh would be able to take her. We fully expected that I would be home with the new baby.
But durned if that little thing didn't want to bake extra long! She was just nice and comfy and I guess this momma still needed to be available for her other little girl in her time of pain and need.
So NINE days after our duedate, on February 1, Reagan goes in for her procedure and I start feeling what I thought were more braxton hicks contractions after she left. I fed the other kids, got dinner in the crockpot, sat and *listened* to my contractions, read the kids books, and *listened* again. By 11:30 I realized that those tummy muscles were hitting me every 12 to 15 minutes and I had better doggone well get my bathroom floor scrubbed clean (isn't that your first thought when you realize you're in labor??)! Talk about last minute nesting! My cleaning lady had cancelled that very day due to all the nasty ice we had and I couldn't stand the thought of my midwife seeing the dirty floor (that is, IF she could get there through that nasty ice we were having). What a sight I was, if you could imagine me, hugely pregnant, on my hands & knees in the bathroom and then running around hollaring at the kids to vacuum the floors and pick up toys!
I had started this day out thinking there was no way the baby would come if not by now and that I would just have to be pregnant forever. I gave my dh an awful computer virus for his first birthday gift of the morning and a birthday cake made out of paper (since Reagan was too sick to eat cake, none of us would have it in front of her). It was February and I could not believe there was still a baby inside of me and that I would have tostruggle through with a loopy prego brain teach yet another day of school, when all I wanted was a *break* from school (if that's what having a baby really is - lol!). And then there was Reagan, who needed her momma and daddy to help her through her pain and her hospital procedure. The baby just would not be allowed to arrive on this day.
But alas, after I made lunch, my mother-in-law brought Reagan home at 12:30 and my contractions jumped to regular 2 minute intervals. For this reason, dh harped on me for not calling the midwife ASAP and for fixing lunch instead. Thankful to have childcare already there (in the form of a doting grandmother) and a daughter who finally had a diagnosis (albeit, not a good one - ulcerative colitis), I headed upstairs to labor and wait for the midwife and her nurses (who were all soooo lovely, by the way! I felt so comfortable with them).
The rest is quite boring and likely TMI for ya'll to read anyway. Suffice to say, that 4 hours and 15 mintutes after those first contractions, our second daughter arrived (rather quietly - not much of a screamer, that one) and stole our hearts away! We were not surprised at her size or that she looks more like my dh (he has dominant Romanian genes in his side - just take a look at his mom!). We were not surprised at how amazingly beautiful she felt in our arms either. We were not surprised at how happy we felt to finally see her!
So, may I introduce our 5th child and 2nd (much prayed for by Reagan who "already has enough brothers but if it's a boy,I'll love it anyway") daughter:
A lovely birthday gift for which Dave was thrilled! No - that is not a typo - she is a nice big girl (but thankfully smaller than her last two brothers were!)! Her name is pronounced "eye-luh" and she is 5 weeks old as I post this, so I will just stick the newest shots of her here and post others as I have time. Reagan is so thrilled to have a sister and the boys are enthrhalled with her as well! I can not figure how to give her a *presidential* name for this blog - 'Eisenhower' just doesn't seem to suit a girl. So I welcome any suggestions for a bloggy name for her!
Our duedate was January 23rd but I felt nothing close to being ready by that time. January had been particularly stressful for this momma since Reagan had developed chronic diarrhea after a stomach bug (from which we all recovered) and we didn't know why she was so sick. We finally got a colonoscopy scheduled for February 1, *knowing* that dh would be able to take her. We fully expected that I would be home with the new baby.
But durned if that little thing didn't want to bake extra long! She was just nice and comfy and I guess this momma still needed to be available for her other little girl in her time of pain and need.
So NINE days after our duedate, on February 1, Reagan goes in for her procedure and I start feeling what I thought were more braxton hicks contractions after she left. I fed the other kids, got dinner in the crockpot, sat and *listened* to my contractions, read the kids books, and *listened* again. By 11:30 I realized that those tummy muscles were hitting me every 12 to 15 minutes and I had better doggone well get my bathroom floor scrubbed clean (isn't that your first thought when you realize you're in labor??)! Talk about last minute nesting! My cleaning lady had cancelled that very day due to all the nasty ice we had and I couldn't stand the thought of my midwife seeing the dirty floor (that is, IF she could get there through that nasty ice we were having). What a sight I was, if you could imagine me, hugely pregnant, on my hands & knees in the bathroom and then running around hollaring at the kids to vacuum the floors and pick up toys!
I had started this day out thinking there was no way the baby would come if not by now and that I would just have to be pregnant forever. I gave my dh an awful computer virus for his first birthday gift of the morning and a birthday cake made out of paper (since Reagan was too sick to eat cake, none of us would have it in front of her). It was February and I could not believe there was still a baby inside of me and that I would have to
But alas, after I made lunch, my mother-in-law brought Reagan home at 12:30 and my contractions jumped to regular 2 minute intervals. For this reason, dh harped on me for not calling the midwife ASAP and for fixing lunch instead. Thankful to have childcare already there (in the form of a doting grandmother) and a daughter who finally had a diagnosis (albeit, not a good one - ulcerative colitis), I headed upstairs to labor and wait for the midwife and her nurses (who were all soooo lovely, by the way! I felt so comfortable with them).
The rest is quite boring and likely TMI for ya'll to read anyway. Suffice to say, that 4 hours and 15 mintutes after those first contractions, our second daughter arrived (rather quietly - not much of a screamer, that one) and stole our hearts away! We were not surprised at her size or that she looks more like my dh (he has dominant Romanian genes in his side - just take a look at his mom!). We were not surprised at how amazingly beautiful she felt in our arms either. We were not surprised at how happy we felt to finally see her!
So, may I introduce our 5th child and 2nd (much prayed for by Reagan who "already has enough brothers but if it's a boy,I'll love it anyway") daughter:
Isla Jane
February 1 @ 3:44pm
10lbs and 22 3/4 inches
A lovely birthday gift for which Dave was thrilled! No - that is not a typo - she is a nice big girl (but thankfully smaller than her last two brothers were!)! Her name is pronounced "eye-luh" and she is 5 weeks old as I post this, so I will just stick the newest shots of her here and post others as I have time. Reagan is so thrilled to have a sister and the boys are enthrhalled with her as well! I can not figure how to give her a *presidential* name for this blog - 'Eisenhower' just doesn't seem to suit a girl. So I welcome any suggestions for a bloggy name for her!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
New Do!
For those who don't know me or chat with me on face*book, here's a look at my latest hairdo. I generally have the urge when I am pregnant with a girl baby (not that I knew the baby was a girl but I suspected) to drastically chop my hair. I always regret it and know that the new style won't last long but at least I enjoy the new do for a little while. This time I had been eyeballing the more sculpted looking 'bobs' out there now - you know.... the ones that angle up from chin up toward the back of the neck? So that's what I tried for. And I do so like it - it takes less time to dry & iron and stays in place easily! But we'll see how long it lasts with the baby around!
(Hmmm - can't figure out why this is rotated! Grrr...)
Thursday, February 4, 2010
A Reflection of My Brain These Days
I don't know if it's having four young children, getting older, or just that I'm only now realizing it,but my brain seems to be becoming more and more scattered! Try as I might, I often succomb to what I call "The Overwhelm" and just throw my hands up and throw my stuff around, where it sits and give me a panic attack to look at until the day (months later) when I can return it to some semblance of normalcy and order (snortchucklesnort....riiiiight).
This photo is evidence of thishomeschool/cook/cleaning lady/mommy me phenomenon occuring on my desk. I have my highschool yearbook (Why? Oh - that would be for FB) up with my Teacher Manual along with my garden notebook, a book on allergies, Mystery of History (am I even utilizing that this year?), printer/scanner and colored paper up where they should be safe from clutter, but alas..... All other scraps and pieces are a hodgepodge of life. Don't know why I need a 150 piece pack of safety pins or reciepts from Christmas 2008 but hey - why deal with that now when I can wait a few months years?
It truly is a reflection of my brain these days.....how do I even function? Oh...the coffee - that's how! LOL!
This photo is evidence of this
It truly is a reflection of my brain these days.....how do I even function? Oh...the coffee - that's how! LOL!
Friday, January 22, 2010
Random Thoughts
Playing along with Living to Learn's random meme today!
The phone rings. Who will it be?
Blockbuster telling me that the movie(s) I rented will be charged to me and owned by me very,very soon if I don't get my rear up and return them!
When shopping at the grocery store, do you return your cart?
Always - my almost OCD can't stand them to be not in the right place (sad, I know)
In a social setting, are you more of a talker or a listener?
Listener - tend to be more introverted and love to observe people
Do you take compliments well?
They embarrass me but feel good too
Do you play Sudoku?
Love it but don't play it often enough
If abandoned alone in the wilderness, would you survive?
Absolutely not but at least the view would be lovely!
Did you ever go to camp as a kid?
Band camp - what else? LOL! Girl scout camp when I was little and music camp when I was in high school (intense amounts of practice - ouch!) and drum major camp in high school (no, I did not get to be the drum major - sigh...lol!).
What was your favorite game as a kid?
Rummi Cube with Mom...actually any game with mom - I just liked spending time with her.
Use three words to describe yourself?
Friendly, shy, too perfectionistic to get anything done
Do any songs make you cry?
My middle name is SAP -yes!
Are you continuing your education?
Everyday I teach my children I am learning a TON! But I've recently been inspired to look into Speech Pathology after I've finished educating my kids...
Have you ever taken pictures in a photo booth?
Yes - with my sister. I vaguely remember a seal in the background or something?
How often do you read books?
Everyday with the kids - Little House on the Prairie series right now. For me? Maybe 1 or 2 pages a day, if that....just so busy (as I sit here blogging - snortsnortchuckle!)
Do you think more about the past, present or future?
The future- always trying to plan everything out (as if I have any control over it though!)
What is your favorite children’s book?
I have to pick just one?? Sheesh!
Llama Llama Red Pajama brings such joy to their little faces - we love it!!
What color are your eyes?
blue (sometimes greenish)
Where is your dream house located?
Where ever my family is but hopefully overlooking rolling farmland
If your house was on fire, what would be the first thing you grabbed?
My scrapbooks, my computer and my kids - in that order! No serisously....
When was the last time you were at Olive Garden?
Can't remember - haven't eaten pasta in what seems like forever!
Where was the farthest place you traveled today?
Lancaster to drop Jefferson off at school - I'm starting to love this drive at 7am. It's beautiful when the world is just waking up!
Do you like mustard?
Love it! Foods with zing!
Do you look like your mom or dad?
NOT my mom. I think God just put my dad on the copy machine and left my mom outta the deal!
How long does it take you in the shower?
Too long and I never have enough time for it!
Can you do the splits?
Why on earth would I want to do that?? My knees pop just sitting down anymore!
What movie do you want to see right now?
The Blind Side - it'll probably make me cry (remember my middle name?)
What did you do for New Year’s?
Uhhh - I think I just made dinner and went to bed - the usual. Couldn't find a sitter and probably couldn't keep myself awake anyway!
Do you own a camera phone?
Yeah but it takes cruddy photos so I rarely use it.
How many hours of sleep do you get a night?
6-7 hours but I need 7-8!
What do you buy at the movies?
Depends on whether I'm being good or not - lol! Good=water and naughty=Raisinets
Do you wear your seat belt?
Absolutely, although I thoroughly hate that the government 'requires' me to. I am not a child and it should be my choice.
How many meals do you eat a day?
3 and 2 snacks
Do you like funny or serious people better?
Funny! Serious people scare me. :-(
Ever been to L.A.?
No but San Diego was probably nicer!
Did you eat a cookie today?
Coconut macaroon (one too many!)
Do you hate chocolate?
Do chocolate haters really exist?? How is that possible?
Are you a gullible person?
Ohhhhh yeah! Wait - did you really mean that question or were you justing trying to get me?
Are you easy to get along with?
Depends on who you ask cuz hubbs may say 'No way!'
The phone rings. Who will it be?
Blockbuster telling me that the movie(s) I rented will be charged to me and owned by me very,very soon if I don't get my rear up and return them!
When shopping at the grocery store, do you return your cart?
Always - my almost OCD can't stand them to be not in the right place (sad, I know)
In a social setting, are you more of a talker or a listener?
Listener - tend to be more introverted and love to observe people
Do you take compliments well?
They embarrass me but feel good too
Do you play Sudoku?
Love it but don't play it often enough
If abandoned alone in the wilderness, would you survive?
Absolutely not but at least the view would be lovely!
Did you ever go to camp as a kid?
Band camp - what else? LOL! Girl scout camp when I was little and music camp when I was in high school (intense amounts of practice - ouch!) and drum major camp in high school (no, I did not get to be the drum major - sigh...lol!).
What was your favorite game as a kid?
Rummi Cube with Mom...actually any game with mom - I just liked spending time with her.
Use three words to describe yourself?
Friendly, shy, too perfectionistic to get anything done
Do any songs make you cry?
My middle name is SAP -yes!
Are you continuing your education?
Everyday I teach my children I am learning a TON! But I've recently been inspired to look into Speech Pathology after I've finished educating my kids...
Have you ever taken pictures in a photo booth?
Yes - with my sister. I vaguely remember a seal in the background or something?
How often do you read books?
Everyday with the kids - Little House on the Prairie series right now. For me? Maybe 1 or 2 pages a day, if that....just so busy (as I sit here blogging - snortsnortchuckle!)
Do you think more about the past, present or future?
The future- always trying to plan everything out (as if I have any control over it though!)
What is your favorite children’s book?
I have to pick just one?? Sheesh!
Llama Llama Red Pajama brings such joy to their little faces - we love it!!
What color are your eyes?
blue (sometimes greenish)
Where is your dream house located?
Where ever my family is but hopefully overlooking rolling farmland
If your house was on fire, what would be the first thing you grabbed?
My scrapbooks, my computer and my kids - in that order! No serisously....
When was the last time you were at Olive Garden?
Can't remember - haven't eaten pasta in what seems like forever!
Where was the farthest place you traveled today?
Lancaster to drop Jefferson off at school - I'm starting to love this drive at 7am. It's beautiful when the world is just waking up!
Do you like mustard?
Love it! Foods with zing!
Do you look like your mom or dad?
NOT my mom. I think God just put my dad on the copy machine and left my mom outta the deal!
How long does it take you in the shower?
Too long and I never have enough time for it!
Can you do the splits?
Why on earth would I want to do that?? My knees pop just sitting down anymore!
What movie do you want to see right now?
The Blind Side - it'll probably make me cry (remember my middle name?)
What did you do for New Year’s?
Uhhh - I think I just made dinner and went to bed - the usual. Couldn't find a sitter and probably couldn't keep myself awake anyway!
Do you own a camera phone?
Yeah but it takes cruddy photos so I rarely use it.
How many hours of sleep do you get a night?
6-7 hours but I need 7-8!
What do you buy at the movies?
Depends on whether I'm being good or not - lol! Good=water and naughty=Raisinets
Do you wear your seat belt?
Absolutely, although I thoroughly hate that the government 'requires' me to. I am not a child and it should be my choice.
How many meals do you eat a day?
3 and 2 snacks
Do you like funny or serious people better?
Funny! Serious people scare me. :-(
Ever been to L.A.?
No but San Diego was probably nicer!
Did you eat a cookie today?
Coconut macaroon (one too many!)
Do you hate chocolate?
Do chocolate haters really exist?? How is that possible?
Are you a gullible person?
Ohhhhh yeah! Wait - did you really mean that question or were you justing trying to get me?
Are you easy to get along with?
Depends on who you ask cuz hubbs may say 'No way!'
Sunday, December 20, 2009
A Fresh Makeover!
I'm totally excited! Can you just guess about what?? Come oooon....you've gotta notice the lovely change in scenery around here? (gringrin!)
You guessed it! I finally made it onto Darcy's queue at Graphically Designing and made a change for the better here (now that I know I'll be stickin' around cyberspace for awhile....after all, I DO really like it here - ya'll are great)!
But I was getting soooo tired of my old diggs, ya know? The one with the BRIGHT orange and blue flat, boxed design?
You guessed it! I finally made it onto Darcy's queue at Graphically Designing and made a change for the better here (now that I know I'll be stickin' around cyberspace for awhile....after all, I DO really like it here - ya'll are great)!
But I was getting soooo tired of my old diggs, ya know? The one with the BRIGHT orange and blue flat, boxed design?
I mean thanks and all to my hubbs for at least giving me a different title than the one that came from Blogger, but I knew I needed some real designing talent in order to redecorate around here....someone who's designs are always beautiful, functional, and balanced.
Enter Darcy! You may already know her from her musings on life with 3 young boybarians but did you know that she is an artist as well? Check out her humor, great cyberbloggy advice, and beautiful photography (not to mention the cuteness of her 3 favorite young subjects) at My 3 Boybarians as well as her other wonderful design work in cyber space over at:
And I'm sure that you'll understand why I was so glad to have her give Heritage Academy a lovely new look!
Here are her thoughts on her design:
"Your 4 children are the "cornerstones" of your homeschool. With you and hubby being the center. So I cornerstoned a notch - representing each child who shapes your homeschool. This was the inspiration for the design shape in your header and button. You at the heart - your children each shaping your academy."
So sweet! Hey.... let me know what you think!
Cuz I'm just totally excited!
Sunday, October 18, 2009
My first video post!
So weird to do a video post - felt really silly hiding in the bathroom and trying to get that stupid red book out of the frame while I talked and talked about ME! I missed a ton of topics but at least it's an intro for those who don't know me or see me.
Let me know what you think of the crazy lady from PA! Maybe you all would be brave enough to post some videos of yourselves too? :-)
Let me know what you think of the crazy lady from PA! Maybe you all would be brave enough to post some videos of yourselves too? :-)
blog introduction from mom24heritage on Vimeo.
Friday, August 29, 2008
The Food We Eat!
Note to self - sourcream doughnuts are NOT health food!! They have NO nutritional value and shall not pass my lips again, if it means burning down the local D&D..... *sigh* 
It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery.
Galations 5:1
Sunday, August 17, 2008
6 Random Things About Me
Doing the Next Thing tagged me for this one.
3. I cannot stand bugs. I don't mind looking at insects in a bug box or dead ones, but I don't want any live ones touching me. This is the one thing I can't stand about camping. Don't even talk to me about tics!
love movies/books with dragons, even cheesey ones. I finished reading "Eragon" last year and am working on "Eldest" now (both by Christopher Paolini). I don't know what it is about these things - maybe the magic, maybe the flying, or maybe the power of the fire-breathing (I think my kids might say I DO have that power)!
Here are the rules:
1. Link to the person who tagged you (i.e. me)
2. Post the rules on your blog
3. Write 6 random things about yourself
4. Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them
5. Let each person you have tagged know by leaving a comment on their blog
6. Let the tagger (me) know when your entry is posted
Six Random Facts About Me:
1. I had a pet garter snake in middle school and still really enjoy these reptiles. I want my kids 
will have one some day but know that will mean that we never see my mil visit ever again!
will have one some day but know that will mean that we never see my mil visit ever again!2. I have terrible posture. My mom was always on me to "stand up straight" but being the tallest kid the entire elementary school at age 11 did not help. My back is feeling the consequences these years later! The last 2 pregnancies with 60 lb gains and 11 lb babies each didn't help either. :-/
3. I cannot stand bugs. I don't mind looking at insects in a bug box or dead ones, but I don't want any live ones touching me. This is the one thing I can't stand about camping. Don't even talk to me about tics!4. I had my belly button pierced in my 3rd year of college. It stayed that way until I was pregnant with Jefferson 6 years later. All the girls in the pep band (yes - again I remind you that I was a band fish) swore that if our basketball team (Drexel University) won even ONE game of the NCAA tournament (this was only the 2nd year they had ever even made it), we would all get pierced. I wasn't into drinking, tattooing or being crazy so it was the craziest non-permanent thing I could do! I was almost engaged to dh - I think he's the only person to ever have seen it (except maybe my sister)! But I have to say, it's a good thing it's no longer pierced - you mom's of 4 or more babes know what I mean.... *sigh*
5. My favorite fantasical creatures are dragons (hmmmm.... lizards -go figure). I 
love movies/books with dragons, even cheesey ones. I finished reading "Eragon" last year and am working on "Eldest" now (both by Christopher Paolini). I don't know what it is about these things - maybe the magic, maybe the flying, or maybe the power of the fire-breathing (I think my kids might say I DO have that power)!6. I got mono my 4th year in college, just before the fall semester (I had been living in Philly working an internship). I was only just engaged to dh and he and my mom had to pack and move ALL my stuff because I was moving to a new apartment. I just laid on my bed all day and pointed with a pointer at them!
Wow - if this post doesn't expand your horizons, I don't know what will! :-) I'll break the rules here again and tag whoever want to be tagged. It's fun little dity so if you have time, let me know 6 random things about you, huh?
Monday, June 2, 2008
More about this Mom24
(Me - age 5 1/2)I am - happy in the Lord, a wife, a mother of 4, a sister, friendly, shy.
I want - to become more like Christ each day; my children to know the Lord as their Savior too!
I have - an awesome family! But I also have an old clarinet, a strange collection of stuffed animals (all pigs), and too many useless college textbooks in the basement (anyone need a text on 'Reinforced Concrete Design'?).
I wish - I could be consistent in my quiet time and in my parenting. I wish that I could hug my kids all day long!
I hate - not getting enough sleep - it ruins the next day for everyone in the family.
I miss - my brother (and family in Phoenix - oh if they could live next door!), my sister (in VA), my bil and sil (in VA), and my church family from CBC (Phoenixville, PA).
I fear - being the center of attention/performing in front of people (I once actually hid in the bathroom at a state music audition in high school!). I also fear that someone will find out that I'm not that smart, so I often refrain from debate or conflict.
I feel - very deeply and tumultuously and am often called moody (I find this to be a character flaw and would rather be more even-keeled).
I hear - the emotion in people's words. I am empathetic and want to fix/help them.
I smell - BREAD baking across the street at the Pepperidge Farm factory. It really does NOT help my cravings!
I crave - bread (thank you Pepperidge Farm!) and cookies (too dip in milk) - story of my life! Also coffee - I just love it!
I search - for better ways to teach and reach my kids. Some days I feel like it's all I think about and I live on the web searching.... I would probably do better to pray a bit more!
I wonder - how God can love me so very, very much! It amazes me...
I love - God, the Word, my dh (he's the very best hubby!), my children (so beautiful), my friends (so valuable). These are the most important things to me!
I dance - to Miss Patty Cake (oh, how many times will we watch these videos?) - but only because there's nothin' more cute than 3 kid bums 'dancing'!
I sing - praise music. I LOVE traditional hymns too because they are often so full of powerful truth and they also remind me of my childhood. "It Is Well" is my most favorite. I also sing 'nite-nite' songs - these have the added benefit of a warm child's body nestled close to mine....
I cry - when my dh yells at me because it is so rare that it shocks me into crying. I usually deserve it though, when I have pushed him too far or startled him (I can be very loud - yeah, I can hear those who know me rolling eyes about this).
I don't always - get as much accomplished as I want to or treat my family as I should.
I wish I had - more time so that each child could get more of it. I could also use a few more board games - can never have too many of those!
I write - when I have too - it is not a skill of mine. I do not write poetry.
I never - do risky things (like parachuting) or athletic things (I'm not that coordinated!)
I listen - to Sarah Groves, Third Day, Cold Play, Mozart, Vivaldi. Also I listen to whiney children (part of my job description ya' know).
I wish I could - play the piano well enough to gather the family around for worship; use a camera as an artistic medium; eat cookies and milk (*sigh*)
I need - more time with the Lord and my family. Oh... and some more coffee...
I found this meme over at Pennless Writer and thought it was a good way for you all to get to know me a bit more. If any of you decide to do this meme please drop me a comment and let me know so I can come and get to know more about you!
Monday, May 12, 2008
Memories of Mom Contest
My mom and I are so different that the only proof we have that I am her daughter is that she remembers giving birth to me! LOL! Don't get me wrong here though - I love my mother so much. Ten years into marriage, I still consider her my teacher and guide as I work through my days as a wife and mom.
To illustrate this point I'll share my favorite memory of my mom and interestingly enough - it's not from my childhood.
Growing up I was not much help to my mom in the kitchen. I preferred to be reading. Boy, could she cook! And bake too! She could make a mean pot roast that melted in your mouth. My mouth is literally watering just typing about it! And her sticky buns are worth fighting for - if they are there when I am, I wil wrestle anyone to the floor for the last one. So... when I got married, I wanted to be able to spread this joy to my new hubby. However, I always came up short since I hadn't helped her much in the kitchen and then spent 5 years getting engineering degrees at Drexel.
"How hard can cooking be?" I thought, "It's just following instructions!" (Go ahead and laugh all of you who understand the love and talent that go into cooking and baking - I was just clueless). I mean - I passed my chemistry and physics labs in school. Same difference, right? But every time I used her recipes, the results seemed not quite right and NEVER as good as hers. I was often on the phone asking her for help - I think she was amused (my dh was NOT - poor man).
One evening I was having our pastor and his wife for dinner and wanted to do an impressively yummy, yet simple Hot Fudge Pudding Cake dessert for them. I called dear Mom for the recipe. Her instructions were exactly this, "Put the dry ingredients in and then the wet and throw it in the oven. It's soooo easy!" So this is what I did.
When it was time to serve, the dessert seemed more like runny pudding than cake with pudding around it. One bite and I knew it wasn't right! Fortunately our pastor didn't notice but I could tell his wife had a clue. I was embarrased but at least it was edible.
When I called my mom to lament another culinary failure and complain that she hadn't passed me her great kitchen genetics, she offered to come and bake it together to see what went wrong. As a newlywed, I loved cooking and baking with her so I took her up on the offer. How else would I ever learn what I had thought (foolishly) would be a simple part of marriage?
So as we are standing together with ingredients ready, we start adding all the dry ingredients to the pan. Then I add all the wet ingredients. I pick it up to put it in the oven and my mom says, "Aren't you going to STIR that?"
I say, "What d'ya mean?"
Mom, with eyebrows raised and a half smile, says, "It needs to all be well stirred together before you bake it."
I say,"Stir it? It needs to be stirred? You didn't WRITE THAT IN THE INSTRUCTIONS! I didn't know it had to be stirred! You just said put it all in and throw it in the oven! You said it's that easy! That's what you said!"
Mom says, "I didn't think I had to tell you to STIR it! For heavens sakes, you always stir ingredients that you put together to bake something!"
At this point my mom is practically ROFL and I am so flustered and red-cheeked at my ignorant left-brain interpretation of Mom's recipe. When we finished laughing, I stirred the ingrediednts well and baked it. The results - perfect!
My dh loves to tell this story when friends come over! I will say that I've learned so much from my mom since then - the biggest lesson about cooking being that it's not just about following instructions. It really is a talent...a skill.. that takes time to develop and hone. I am so glad that she has been my mentor and helper - and so is my DH! BTW - I've also finally figured out the key to her fabulous pot roast - but it's not the stirring (*snortchucklesnort*)!
She still reminds me to stir from time to time!
Thanks Mom! It was hard to choose just one memory to post but this is one of my favorite memories of one of the many ways you've impacted my life! Happy Mother's Day! Hey, can I call you about my chili recipe for next week? ;-)
Check this out for the awesome (and yes - simple) recipe for my mom's Hot Fudge Pudding Cake!
To illustrate this point I'll share my favorite memory of my mom and interestingly enough - it's not from my childhood.
Growing up I was not much help to my mom in the kitchen. I preferred to be reading. Boy, could she cook! And bake too! She could make a mean pot roast that melted in your mouth. My mouth is literally watering just typing about it! And her sticky buns are worth fighting for - if they are there when I am, I wil wrestle anyone to the floor for the last one. So... when I got married, I wanted to be able to spread this joy to my new hubby. However, I always came up short since I hadn't helped her much in the kitchen and then spent 5 years getting engineering degrees at Drexel.
"How hard can cooking be?" I thought, "It's just following instructions!" (Go ahead and laugh all of you who understand the love and talent that go into cooking and baking - I was just clueless). I mean - I passed my chemistry and physics labs in school. Same difference, right? But every time I used her recipes, the results seemed not quite right and NEVER as good as hers. I was often on the phone asking her for help - I think she was amused (my dh was NOT - poor man).
One evening I was having our pastor and his wife for dinner and wanted to do an impressively yummy, yet simple Hot Fudge Pudding Cake dessert for them. I called dear Mom for the recipe. Her instructions were exactly this, "Put the dry ingredients in and then the wet and throw it in the oven. It's soooo easy!" So this is what I did.
When it was time to serve, the dessert seemed more like runny pudding than cake with pudding around it. One bite and I knew it wasn't right! Fortunately our pastor didn't notice but I could tell his wife had a clue. I was embarrased but at least it was edible.
When I called my mom to lament another culinary failure and complain that she hadn't passed me her great kitchen genetics, she offered to come and bake it together to see what went wrong. As a newlywed, I loved cooking and baking with her so I took her up on the offer. How else would I ever learn what I had thought (foolishly) would be a simple part of marriage?
So as we are standing together with ingredients ready, we start adding all the dry ingredients to the pan. Then I add all the wet ingredients. I pick it up to put it in the oven and my mom says, "Aren't you going to STIR that?"
I say, "What d'ya mean?"
Mom, with eyebrows raised and a half smile, says, "It needs to all be well stirred together before you bake it."
I say,"Stir it? It needs to be stirred? You didn't WRITE THAT IN THE INSTRUCTIONS! I didn't know it had to be stirred! You just said put it all in and throw it in the oven! You said it's that easy! That's what you said!"
Mom says, "I didn't think I had to tell you to STIR it! For heavens sakes, you always stir ingredients that you put together to bake something!"
At this point my mom is practically ROFL and I am so flustered and red-cheeked at my ignorant left-brain interpretation of Mom's recipe. When we finished laughing, I stirred the ingrediednts well and baked it. The results - perfect!
My dh loves to tell this story when friends come over! I will say that I've learned so much from my mom since then - the biggest lesson about cooking being that it's not just about following instructions. It really is a talent...a skill.. that takes time to develop and hone. I am so glad that she has been my mentor and helper - and so is my DH! BTW - I've also finally figured out the key to her fabulous pot roast - but it's not the stirring (*snortchucklesnort*)!
She still reminds me to stir from time to time!
Thanks Mom! It was hard to choose just one memory to post but this is one of my favorite memories of one of the many ways you've impacted my life! Happy Mother's Day! Hey, can I call you about my chili recipe for next week? ;-)
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
33 Random Things about this Mom24
As another birthday arrives, I thought it would be a good time to post a light little 'get to know me' list for anyone interested. There's doesn't seem to be too much special about turning 33 per se, but I will say that I am grateful to be here - the Lord has blessed me so abundantly that I can't even begin to thank Him.
So here goes!
So here goes!
- I grew was born in Denver (Colorado) and now I live in Denver (PA) - weird, huh?
- I love to organize things. This does NOT mean that I am organized however. It just gets the serotonin flowin' when things are in order in my household. It's better than chocolate - seriously!
- I have a thing for dimpled cheeks (blame my sweet and funny hubby). My only disappointment in my children is that, in four tries, we only got one dimple!
- I was a band fish in high school - played the clarinet, marched and went to band camp. LOL! Can you say 'dorky'?
- I went to college for Structural Engineering because my dad was an engineer and wanted his goodie two shoes daughter to be one too (hey, who cares whether it's the right fit or not!). I don't like it when people label me an 'engineer.'
- I pick all the green M&M's out and eat them first. They seriously do taste better!
- The other M&M's must be eaten in rainbow color order (yes - I know. It's a sickness really).
- I would love to garden - I love the smell of the earth and the sound of the outdoors. It hasn't fit into my life so far though - keep having babies!
- I got married the year before I graduated from college. People told me I should wait 'til graduating but my grades went up and I got to be with my best friend!
- I graduated from college in 1998. Wow - that's starting to seem farther and farther away!
- Pilates is my absolute favorite workout. It's does amazing things to that post baby 'tire.' Helps to actually do the workouts though!:-0
- I really want to earn a black belt in karate. How safe would you feel in the city then (okay forgetting about guns and all that)?
- Speaking of cities, I was mugged my freshman year at Drexel. The next day, my barely an acquaintance yet, computer geeky friend (now my dh) came up behind me and pretended to put a gun to my back. Needless to say, if it hadn't been for those dimples, I wouldn't have found his joke so funny! LOL!
- I wish that I could quilt - I love handmade quilts that are hand quilted. Must be the Amish influence around here.
- I wish I could have 10 kids - in another life where we had acres to run on and a farm on which to raise them. Oh ... and only if I didn't have to carry each one for 9 1/2 months!
- I love spanish and can't wait to teach it to my kids so that I can learn it too.
- Camping is one of my favorite things to do with my family.
- Board games is another - but dh doesn't like them so much. Ever played MadGab?
- I have a 'little' brother who is 6' 5" tall. I am already nervous about my 3 boys getting so huge that I have to raise my own cattle in order to feed them if they have the 'tall' gene!
- I was baptised along with dh in 1999. I don't think this sat well with my Lutheran parents.
- I do NOT like odd numbers. If we are leaving at 9:07 instead of 9:00 or 9:10 it makes me crazy (regardless of the fact that we were supposed to leave at 8:30)! Yes my head is wierd this way.
- I have a 'little' sister who is also taller than I. She just got married and that makes me feel kinda old!
- Our family room is decorated in the southwest style (uh..as well as it can be with me having no good sense of interior decorating). I love the warm colors and geometrical patterns.
- I am shy and struggle at social events. This is why dh is so perfect for me - he is extroverted and funny. Blogging is nice because I don't have to make eye contact.
- I was NOT in a sorority in college (due to note number 24).
- I do like to be around people, though. They are fun to observe!
- I had my fourth baby at home. It took 3 1/2 hours. It was an awesome experience!
- I don't do well with lots of noise or chaos (hhhmmmm...wonder where Reagan gets this?).
- I love, love, love to scrapbook. Don't have time for that either. Bummer.
- I don't have a great memory. Lists work well for this little problem (which has only been compounded by the addition of four children to my life).
- I can never get a cliche out of my head properly - dh finds this highly amusing. For example, "Hit the nail on the head" usually comes out "Hit the hammer on the nail" or "Hit the problem with the hammer."
- I love all kinds of music except for jazz and rap. However, I've gotten to the clueless point already about pop culture music. Maroon who? ;-)
- I love working with various colors, whether it's fabric, paper, photos - I just love the colors God created!
So nothing too fancy or even really that interesting. But hey, as long as dh loves these things about me (or can at least live with these things) that's enough for me. Since there will be no cake this year (uh, hello - white sugar, white flour, hydrogenated oil, etc, etc...) I will just sing a little birthday song to me :
Feliz cumpleanos a ti Feliz cumpleanos a ti......Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Adjusting our schedule - a lesson in flexibility
Thank the Lord, we are home with Lincoln this week! He was only in the hospital for 2 days and is improving quickly at home. It was, however, quite a test for me in scheduling school. I already feel a bit tight this year due to having taken time off to have Lincoln. I was hoping to get at least one more week of school in before Christmas. But as though of you who have homeschooled longer than I already know, things don't always work out the way we plan! I guess we will just be using this week to focus on getting Lincoln completely well (and Reagan as well - this week it's conjunctivitus for her!), decorating for Christmas (yes - I am really this late), baking (and eating, of course) cookies, and catching up on housework and other things that I let go while in the hospital.
I also need to make sure that I have our books in order for history and science when we start back into those after Christmas. We are currently reading as many readers as I can get my hands on from the library. Jefferson is still a reluctant reader - it just doesn't go smoothly enough for him to enjoy yet. I really hope that we can move on to simple chapter books by the end of first grade! So I need to remember to keep him reading, reading, reading every day - even when he doesn't want to. Currently dh is reading him "Captain Courageous" at bedtime - he loves the action! They will move onto Prince Caspian soon since that movie will be coming out in May. Be sure to check out the preview - I can't wait to see it!
Looking for input for keeping track of the books we have read this year (my first year of structured teaching - 1st grade). Any ideas are welcome! Should I write down every single book we read together, every one that he reads, every one that we get from the library or only the ones that relate to our studies? I need to figure this out so I know what to do for next year and for each of my other kids. I don't want to get bogged down with details, but I want to save myself having to look up the same books in the coming years with the other kids. I think a simple spreadsheet would work for this and the library prints out a list for me with each visit so .....
Since we aren't doing school this week, I thought I could take this time to post an answer to a tag from Trivium Academy. I'm new to blogging to forgive me if I've just stolen this tag rather than actually being 'tagged'. I just thought it was cute and good way for readers to get to know me! So here goes :
8 Things I'm passionate about
my marriage (it's priority)
my kids
homeschooling
nutrition
homebirth (women's choice in labor)
scrapbooking
God's beautiful creation - nature
music
8 Things I Want To Do Before I Die
make bible time a solid daily habit
earn a black belt in karate
see my children marry godly spouses and train up their kids in God's word
learn to speak, read, and write fluent Spanish
learn to use sign language fluently
to have a strong relationship with my children as adults
make exercise and good nutrition a daily habit (conquer my gluttony)
become an amazing piano player who can play in front of others
organize my life and house - I love being organized
overcome my fears and speak to others about Jesus more freely
8 Things I say Often
Focus, Jefferson
Holy cow!
...the size of Montana! (don't know where this one came from)
Shut it!
Whatever (yes the kids get this poor attitude from me!)
If you fuss, you don't get what you want!!
Yes, I forgive you because I love you.
Are you dry? (Reagan still having pee-pee accidents 1 to 5 times a day!)
8 Books I've read recently
A Bride Most Begrudging (Deeanne Gist)
The Well-Trained Mind (Susan Wise)
Raising Healthy Kids in Spite of Your Doctor (Dr. Robert S. Mendehlson)
The Measure of a Lady (Deeanne Gist)
Allergy Free
Ina May's Guide to Childbirth (Ina May Gaskin)
The Maker's Diet (Jordan Rubin)
Approval Addiction (Joyce Meyers)
8 Songs I could listen to over and over
Cecelia (Simon & Garfunkel)
Yellow (Coldplay)
He's My Son (Mark Schultz)
I'll Be Here (Steven Curtis Chapman)
I am the Moon with No light of My Own? (Ginny Owens?)
Claire de Lune (Claude Debussy)
Billy the Kid (Aaron Copeland) - lots of nostalgia with this one!
The Four Seasons (Vivaldi)
8 Things I've learned this year
I can't do EVERYTHING
I am not in control - God is sovereign
Having a baby at home is an awesome experience!
God's grace will cover my children from my inadequacies
Homeschooling required lots of organization
I love to be with dh and kids more than anywhere else in the world!
Good nutrition makes a huge and noticable difference in my life and my family's too
I miss scrapbooking and should take more time for me do this creative release
8 people to tag
new to blogging and don't have enough people to tag yet!
Whoever would like to do this, just put the link in the comments.
I also need to make sure that I have our books in order for history and science when we start back into those after Christmas. We are currently reading as many readers as I can get my hands on from the library. Jefferson is still a reluctant reader - it just doesn't go smoothly enough for him to enjoy yet. I really hope that we can move on to simple chapter books by the end of first grade! So I need to remember to keep him reading, reading, reading every day - even when he doesn't want to. Currently dh is reading him "Captain Courageous" at bedtime - he loves the action! They will move onto Prince Caspian soon since that movie will be coming out in May. Be sure to check out the preview - I can't wait to see it!
Looking for input for keeping track of the books we have read this year (my first year of structured teaching - 1st grade). Any ideas are welcome! Should I write down every single book we read together, every one that he reads, every one that we get from the library or only the ones that relate to our studies? I need to figure this out so I know what to do for next year and for each of my other kids. I don't want to get bogged down with details, but I want to save myself having to look up the same books in the coming years with the other kids. I think a simple spreadsheet would work for this and the library prints out a list for me with each visit so .....
Since we aren't doing school this week, I thought I could take this time to post an answer to a tag from Trivium Academy. I'm new to blogging to forgive me if I've just stolen this tag rather than actually being 'tagged'. I just thought it was cute and good way for readers to get to know me! So here goes :
8 Things I'm passionate about
my marriage (it's priority)
my kids
homeschooling
nutrition
homebirth (women's choice in labor)
scrapbooking
God's beautiful creation - nature
music
8 Things I Want To Do Before I Die
make bible time a solid daily habit
earn a black belt in karate
see my children marry godly spouses and train up their kids in God's word
learn to speak, read, and write fluent Spanish
learn to use sign language fluently
to have a strong relationship with my children as adults
make exercise and good nutrition a daily habit (conquer my gluttony)
become an amazing piano player who can play in front of others
organize my life and house - I love being organized
overcome my fears and speak to others about Jesus more freely
8 Things I say Often
Focus, Jefferson
Holy cow!
...the size of Montana! (don't know where this one came from)
Shut it!
Whatever (yes the kids get this poor attitude from me!)
If you fuss, you don't get what you want!!
Yes, I forgive you because I love you.
Are you dry? (Reagan still having pee-pee accidents 1 to 5 times a day!)
8 Books I've read recently
A Bride Most Begrudging (Deeanne Gist)
The Well-Trained Mind (Susan Wise)
Raising Healthy Kids in Spite of Your Doctor (Dr. Robert S. Mendehlson)
The Measure of a Lady (Deeanne Gist)
Allergy Free
Ina May's Guide to Childbirth (Ina May Gaskin)
The Maker's Diet (Jordan Rubin)
Approval Addiction (Joyce Meyers)
8 Songs I could listen to over and over
Cecelia (Simon & Garfunkel)
Yellow (Coldplay)
He's My Son (Mark Schultz)
I'll Be Here (Steven Curtis Chapman)
I am the Moon with No light of My Own? (Ginny Owens?)
Claire de Lune (Claude Debussy)
Billy the Kid (Aaron Copeland) - lots of nostalgia with this one!
The Four Seasons (Vivaldi)
8 Things I've learned this year
I can't do EVERYTHING
I am not in control - God is sovereign
Having a baby at home is an awesome experience!
God's grace will cover my children from my inadequacies
Homeschooling required lots of organization
I love to be with dh and kids more than anywhere else in the world!
Good nutrition makes a huge and noticable difference in my life and my family's too
I miss scrapbooking and should take more time for me do this creative release
8 people to tag
new to blogging and don't have enough people to tag yet!
Whoever would like to do this, just put the link in the comments.
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