January Pictures of the Kids!

Baby G at age 10 weeks. 

J3 at age 18 months.

R at age 46 months.. or 2 months short of 4 years old. 

E at age 5 years and 3 months old.

L at age 6, will be 7 in 3 months. 

J at age 8. 

We've Passed 5000

Hit's on the blog since I put the counter on the blog :) YAY!!  I have no idea when I put the counter on but it was at least a year ago?? My stats page on Blogger says that I'm OVER 8000 hits since I started in 2008!! In the last month, Blogger informs me, I've had 396 hits.. NOT counting mine :) Thanks for reading :)

Cinnamon rolls for Havi

The kids and I recently made cinnamon rolls and posted a finished picture on FB. An friend of ours from Wa. State asked for the recipe :) Here you go Havi!!

I just use bun or bread dough with a few additions for the dough. I make my dough in the bread machine on the dough cycle.

2 Cups warm water
2 tsp yeast
2 tsp salt
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup oil or butter

Let this set until the yeast has come up from the bottom to float on top.

Add 6 cups of flour. I did 2 whole wheat and 4 white.

That is my bread recipe :) To make cinnamon rolls I put in twice as much sugar, a egg and another tsp of yeast.

You can either make it on the dough cycle on the bread maker or by hand until it's well mixed and dough :) Then let it rise for about an hour or until it at least doubles.
This part is fun and the kids love to watch and help. Sprinkle flour on the table or where ever you have a nice big surface and roll out your dough. I did half at a time because it makes it easier to deal with. When it's about a 1/4 of an inch thick get some soft butter and butter the surface of the dough. Lots or little will depend on the person. I do about half of the surface with a very lite cover of butter. Then take cinnamon and sprinkle some on :) This too depends on the person. I have a great big cinnamon container and just do a light dusting. Brown sugar is next and I try and cover as much of the surface as possible with a thin layer. Raisins, if you like them, go on next. About a cup in total for all the bread. Too many and it makes it hard to roll up!
 Rolling it up is fun! start at the long side of your dough and roll it up until all the dough is rolled. Pinch the ends into the side of the roll and your ready to cut! We always eat the ends of the roll :) I cut mine about 2 inches deep all the way down the roll. Put them in the pan as you go to save mess. Put them cut side up into the pan. I let mine rise for about 20 minutes.. until the sides are touching. If you let them rise too long you'll have all dough :) Btdt. I baked mine for about 30 minutes at 350 but my oven is a bit cool.. so 25 might do just as well on yours.

I don't make these very often and I'm still playing with the recipe. I like to use my bread recipe because I have it memorized. Cinnamon rolls that I've had that others have made seem to have richer dough which is why I added the egg. Next time I may add two just to see what that does. But these were defiantly better then the last batch I did with no egg and no extra sugar or yeast. Hope you like them :) Oh and I just put store bought icing, and only a tiny bit, on them when we eat them. You could also mix a bit of icing sugar and milk and drizzle it all over them while they are warm. The kids like them plain with no icing or anything. These do tend to stick to the pan.. so loosen them up as soon as the cool off a little and then cover them with plastic wrap before they are completely cool... YUM!!!

Aprons. Momma's Little Kitchen Helpers.

A friend of mine made these made these aprons for the girls :)

 We LOVE them and they wear them often.. 

whether we are baking or playing :) 

Just so you know.... I've changed my list settings and recently found a bunch of half finished posts

SO I'm finishing them :) 

Proof, Fun And Games!

More proof that I share :) 

Papa and the kids playing Battleship on my Ipad2!! 

J3 loves to push the red button!! 

Yes they are all in their PJ's :) 

We often have very lazy mornings on farm when Papa is off :) 

Baby G was happy until 2 seconds before I took the picture! 

12 Years!!

Better Late Then Never :) 

Beautiful aren't they??  Papa surprised me with them on our 12th Wedding Anniversary!!
My mom took the kids for the night and Papa and I went out to our favorite local place for a special supper out. Papa had shrimp for his appy and another one for his dessert!! I had cheese cake for dessert and stuffed mushrooms for my appy!! YUM!!!
We had a great time together and talked over memories, parenting ideas, hopes and dreams and enjoyed our time out together :) 

Ahhh.. The Life of a Home Schooled Kid!!

Well now that the holidays and birthdays of the last month are done we've started school again. Full time.. which means every day except the ones Papa has off, unless he does science with them on his off days, and only a part day on Wednesday as that is AWANA. Doing a full day of school and AWANA is a bit much together. Which means we do a half day of school on Wednesdays and a full day Thursdays, Friday and Saturday :) A full day runs between 2 and 3 hours of actual school work plus some reading time. Actually they all read every day, whether Papa is working or home, some days they do Raz Kids online and other days they just read books on the couch :)  Actual school work these days is me circling page numbers and the kids working independently at the table, coming to ask me if they need help, while I mark finished PACES or blog :) or feed the baby or whatever.

You might be wondering what else we do during the day?? Well we do chores; animal and household. Animal includes chicken chores which the kids are in charge of this winter.. meaning they do all the feeding, watering, egg collecting, and egg washing. Papa is doing the rest of the animal chores this winter which is wonderful!! No running the pig gauntlet for me!! Household chores include kitchen chores like the dishwasher loading and unloading, wiping things down, baking, large dish washing, and cooking. Household chores also includes bathrooms, floors, dusting, laundry, general cleanup and toys swaps. Chores during the day takes about 2 hours TOTAL. Not two hours in a row, though normally we do about an hour in the morning and then just little bits through the day. SO school and chores take up between 4 and 5 hours of our day... Kids get up at 9:30am and go to bed at 9pm. That means of the 11.5 hours left we spend max 5 on housework and school.

Which leaves us with 6.5 hours in which to do other things. Meals take up about an hour or an hour and a half. That leaves us with 5 hours!! What do we do?? Well it depends :) Play is high on the list. Inside or out. Often both. Watching movies (They really love Answers In Genesis movies on creation or dinosaurs so even that we can count as school :) is on that list. They watch quite a few movies with Papa working evenings as by about 7 I'm about done in for the day and need a reading/internet break and Baby G needs more of my attention then as cranky time has hit her. Though more and more I'm keeping larger amounts of energy and Baby G is getting more involved in 'Kid watching'. Puzzles and games (Computer games, battleship, chess. Etc, etc) Crafts and Reading. Visiting. Company.  More playing. Ahhh.. the life of a home schooled kid!!

Papa is such a Redneck!! Winter Fun!!

Papa told me he was going to take the kids for a 'sled ride' up and down the driveway :) I went out a bit later and found this!! Now he's taken the pitch fork and is using it to keep the rope higher then the car to make it easier to turn around!! Too bad it's too dark to take a good picture!! The kids LOVE it and I can hear their giggles inside from the front of the trailer :)

Christmas :)

The first thing we do every Christmas and the only thing that truly matters... 

Papa reading about the birth of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. We know Jesus probably wasn't born in December, we've even explained it to our children, but for us it is a time to celebrate His birth when the world celebrates themselves. A time to put some meaning into a otherwise meaningless holiday. It doesn't all make sense, it is tradition.. not just the worlds or the Churches (neither of which matter to us as a couple), but our families.

About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David’s town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel. There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.” At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises: Glory to God in the heavenly heights, Peace to all men and women on earth who please him. As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. “Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.” They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed. Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they’d been told! When the eighth day arrived, the day of circumcision, the child was named Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived. Then when the days stipulated by Moses for purification were complete, they took him up to Jerusalem to offer him to God as commanded in God’s Law: “Every male who opens the womb shall be a holy offering to God, ” and also to sacrifice the “pair of doves or two young pigeons” prescribed in God’s Law. In Jerusalem at the time, there was a man, Simeon by name, a good man, a man who lived in the prayerful expectancy of help for Israel. And the Holy Spirit was on him. The Holy Spirit had shown him that he would see the Messiah of God before he died. Led by the Spirit, he entered the Temple. As the parents of the child Jesus brought him in to carry out the rituals of the Law, Simeon took him into his arms and blessed God: God, you can now release your servant;release me in peace as you promised. With my own eyes I’ve seen your salvation; it’s now out in the open for everyone to see: A God–revealing light to the non–Jewish nations, and of glory for your people Israel. Jesus’ father and mother were speechless with surprise at these words. Simeon went on to bless them, and said to Mary his mother, This child marks both the failure andthe recovery of many in Israel, A figure misunderstood and contradicted— the pain of a sword–thrust through you—But the rejection will force honesty, as God reveals who they really are. Anna the prophetess was also there, a daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher. She was by now a very old woman. She had been married seven years and a widow for eighty–four. She never left the Temple area, worshiping night and day with her fastings and prayers. At the very time Simeon was praying, she showed up, broke into an anthem of praise to God, and talked about the child to all who were waiting expectantly for the freeing of Jerusalem. When they finished everything required by God in the Law, they returned to Galilee and their own town, Nazareth. There the child grew strong in body and wise in spirit. And the grace of God was on him.
-Luke 2:1-40 (MSG)

Winter fun :)

J3 just doesn't seem to see the need for mittens. Why would you put something on my hands JUST so I can take them off?? And then I can pick up snow or fall on my hands and get MAD because they get cold.. Yeah I think I have to agree... what is the point of that!! Papa has the solution though... DUCT TAPE. 

Skating and loving it :) 

On the ice rink.  Papa has looked just about everywhere, I would say everywhere but he still hasn't found them so there must be some place he hasn't looked, for his skates and they are still MIA. So shoes or boots work for him and J3. Since this picture was taken it has gotten MUCH colder and the kids have not been able to skate very much.. but Papa has been able to extend the ice rink and flood it several times!! So when the weather gets more towards 'mildly acceptable' instead of 'Blasted cold' they will have even more room to enjoy skating. 

J3 getting a ride from J. He loved it and the air was filled with the sound of children's giggles. 

We've actually gotten very little snow this year so far and Papa was only just able to make a 'castle' or a snow fort for the kids to mold. Here is R up on top of the new pile with Hunter and Midnight at the bottom. I can't wait to see what their imaginations cook up for that lump of snow and ice this year. Last year it was a pirate ship, a castle and many many more things. 

Baby G @ 6 weeks!

Christmas Family Pictures.

A bunch of gorgeous kids!! 

15 of the 17 grandkids on my side of the family. L to R

O5 & K3, my brother D &A's kids.

 Our family, L6 & J7 with E5 & R3 holding Baby G6w with J3(1) in front of them.

A8 with little brother K2 in front of her and big brother L9 beside her, brother T&D's kids.

K3 is right under L's chin with little brother R2 sitting on the floor in front of her. My sister M&D's kids.

M5 with little sister C2 sitting by her feet, my sister A&K's kids.

Missing are J14 & A11 my sister S&D's kids. 

Just the girls. Beautiful bunch of girls!! We bought their matching dresses at Costco and it was a bit confusing as there was a LOT of little blond girls running around, but MAN were they ever cute!! I didn't plan it this way but my girls are wearing new headbands from the Griggs Gift Box sent from Papa's family and they really helped us tell all those little blond heads apart. The girls LOVE their headbands :) They still were a bit confusing I realized when Uncle D asked which girl was which :) The headbands helped there too as we were able to match colors to girls for him. We don't see them as looking that alike as we always see them dressed differently, but dressed the same and you could totally get E and R mixed up!! 

 There are 9 girls and 8 boy grandchildren on my side of the family. There are 3 boy and 4 girl grandchildren on Papa's side of the family :) 

My side totals 31 members with my parents, siblings, in laws and grandchildren. 

Papa's side with parents with his sibling and niece add up to 12, with our family being 8 of the 12. 

The sort of funny thing about those numbers is Papa's parents have a bigger house :) 

My family got together on Christmas day this year, for a later lunch and afternoon & evening gathering. I took like less then 10 pictures and got these pictures from my sil A :) Thanks A!! We had a lot of fun. Playing games, talking, eating and taking pictures. D&A live in Ab and come every 2nd year and it was really nice to see them again. We had them over for lunch later that week and enjoyed visiting and getting to know them and their children a little bit more. Several of the kids, and Grandma had birthdays in Jan so they are all a year older now :) J8, K4, A12, Grandma, L10 and M will be 6. 

Baby G in her Christmas dress Grandma F made up for her from a larger dress!! Super cute!!

 Thanks Grandma!! 

Baby G's Camera Faces

She smiles HONEST but she won't do it for the camera and if she does it turns out like this....

Which doesn't look nearly as blurry on here as it does on the computer. Or like this 

Or 

Man she is cute..even if she won't smile for the camera :) 

Her soft baby on the side of her play pen was a gift from Sarah at Made on Fifth Street Thanks Sarah!

Oldest & Youngest

Baked Oatmeal Muffins!

What a great way to start the day :) I make a bunch of these a head of time and the kids drag them out of the freezer, nuke them, and make their own breakfast!! Really nice on the days when the baby finally went to sleep at 2am..

This recipe is from a book Papa brought home from Virginia in 98 called Mennonite Country-Style Recipes and Kitchen Secrets by Esther H Shank.
It's on page 90 but if you just open our book on the binding it falls right open to it :)

Baked Oatmeal

2 eggs beaten

1 cup of milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil, we use homemade butter

1 cup brown sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt 

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Mix this all together until it it well mixed. 

Then add.

3 cups quick oatmeal

1/2 raisins or not if you don't like them :) Most of us here do so raisins are a must. 

Pour into a greased 8X12 baking dish and bake at 350 for about 25 minutes. Serve with warm milk. Mildred Bucher. 

We do this recipe twice and still put it in the same size pan and it works.. you just have to cook it for 40 to 60 minutes instead of 25 minutes. This morning Papa did it SIX times and we got a 8X12 baking dish and 3  muffins short of 4 doz. 

Birthday Boy!! J is 8!!

Opening the card I picked out for him :) Love his reaction!! 

Griggers and cousins L and A eating. 

It took TWO men to light his candles :P snicker!! 

Getting ready to blow out those candles :) 

Mobbing Mr. and Mrs B :) This is a regular scene at our place :) 

L and A :) Thanks Grandma for bringing them! 

With his 1st Ted Dekker book! 

Grandpa giving his words of wisdom about fishing lures :) 

Male bonding at it's best!~ 

J and his very first full length Bible.. with his name inscribed on the front! 

Thank You's!!

Many MANY people helped us in the last 3 months, while Papa's back was causing him to hold the couch down and I was 40+ weeks pregnant or snuggling a newborn. Many people brought meals, company and fellowship, took pictures and brought gifts; Jen, Lisa, Ann and Korey, Rosella (and her mom), Justina, Sarah, My Mom and Dad, Mary Anne, Suzanna, Rita, Maria, the Varley Family, Jim and Joy, Blair and Becca, Nicole, Amber and Matt. Some brought gifts for the baby or me or all the kids, some brought meals or snacks or buns/bread, some brought something of everything. Some encouraged us in many different ways. Some watched kids while we had Dr. appointments or trips to the chiropractors office.  Some lifted things and hefted them here or there.   My brother in law and my dad both brought us a 1 ton bag of feed when Papa couldn't drive. Many people prayed for us.. I have no idea who but we felt it. Thank You. Papa and I have never EVER felt so blessed by other people.

I had big plans to print thank you pictures for each of these people and I may get to it yet :)

Sometimes we don't know how to thank people for everything they've done for us.
Sometimes we don't have the words to say.
Sometimes we would love to find the words.
Sometimes someone goes beyond what you expect from anyone.
Sometimes they bless your socks off just because.
Sometimes they take the Biblical principe 'treat others the way you'd like to be treated' to a whole new level.
Thank You Mrs. L!!

Mrs. L who told us she would babysit the kids while we went in to birth our new Baby G.
Mrs. L who INSISTED that she would babysit while we went in to birth Baby G and who did.
Mrs. L who dropped her life in order to help us bring a new life into the world.
Mrs. L who made plans, played games and rearranged her life and the lives of her kids to help us when we needed her... when ever it would be!
Mrs. L who organized meals for us for the 1st ten days or so after Baby G was born, and who made several of them herself.. at our place as well as hers.
Mrs. L who stopped in to 'check on you' and get hugs from the kids several times, until we missed her when she didn't come for a week.
Mrs. L who gave of herself even when her own world has gone a bit sideways.
Thank You Mrs. L!!

Breaking The Houses!! Crashing the Village!!

Trying to smash the houses with their fists!! OUCH!!! 

Our dear friend Lan was with us on New Years Eve for the traditional breaking of the gingerbread house. Or houses this year :) They were SUPER hard to break this year and they actually got them off the tinfoil and then SMASHED them into the board!! Great fun!! 

Slippers From Grandma!!

A bunch of cute kids showing off their new slippers. 

Grandma F made all the kids slippers! 

J's have a fish and a hook for his love of fishing.

L's have dinosaurs.

E's have BIG pom poms!

R's have roses. 

J3 has little pom poms, I'm not sure how she attached them on the slippers but she did a great job as he cannot pull them off.. and he loves to try! 

Baby G are yellow and white and tie around her ankle!! She can't get them off!!

Here she is wearing them while being held by our WONDERFUL DOCTOR Nicole :)
Love her!!

For some odd reason this post got posted unfinished?? Sorry!!

Thanks Grandma for the slippers!! We LOVE THEM!!!! 

Making Pies :)

The kids and I made 4 pies for J's 8th birthday party one morning while Baby G was sleeping. Here is the shell for the pumpkin and an apple. I make the crusts and the kids mix the sugar and stuff and wash and cut the apples, then I put them together. E was quite impressed to be able to use a knife to cut up apples and R was quite jealous!! I told her she could try next time..I need to get a few more cutting boards first. 

Two of the apple pies baking. The one on the right has 8 cookie cut out men on the top!! Pretty neat! 

The Giggles!

Traditions: Gingerbread Houses.

I love this picture!! We got a gingerbread house village this year so each of the older kids could make their own house! J3 and I did the 5th house and Papa smeared icing on everything :) He looks annoyed but he's really not! J and L are holding the roofs of their houses on so the 'glue' can set (icing) and E is showing me the sprinkles to go on top and R is loving the bowls of candy!! J3 wasn't at all interested in building houses with icing and putting candy on them.. he was just interested in the candy!! He's already got one in his hand. We did get him to put ONE on the house.. but that was IT!! LOL. 

The finished village top view! Top, L to R are J's, L's, E's and R's. J3 and I's is the bottom one! 

L's

Mine.

R's.

E's.

Village Side View :) 

J's.