rugbana's Xanga

Hmm....

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:11:24 GMT

Yesterday I knew it was Veteran's Day. However that did not make the connection to my brain that the library would be closed. So I got all the kids dressed and to the library for story time and it was closed. That was a lot of effort, getting three children ready, so I headed over to visit my Dad. We ended up spending an afternoon over there and I did some shopping at Wal-Mart while they played so it all turned out ok. I was planning on knocking out my grocery shopping also but after looking at the sales papers decided I needed to wait until today because they had a great three day sale going on. Best deal was a coupon deal where I got three boxes of cereal for $1.50 a piece and would of got them even cheaper except now all the local stores will not accept internet coupons anymore due to so much fraud of them. Grrrrrr!!! But anyhoo, the sales were great even without coupons. Kept pretty much in my budget (went about $7 over) but I got lots of extra stuff also for baking and tons of meat so I am quite happy with my deals.

Having an early Thanksgiving Dinner with my family tomorrow evening. Most of us will be going our separate ways on the actual holiday so my Dad decided he would just throw an early one. I am sure everything will be delish. We don't get together very much with my family as a whole so it will be nice.

I haven't done an update on the kids lately. They are all doing well. Avery is full of energy as always. She is the biggest "helper" I have. If your in the kitchen she will be right there wanting to help. Her favorite food in all the world is potato chips. She loves chips. Don't freak out, I substitute a lot of other crunchy foods that she also likes. She enjoys a good crunchy pickle, carrot and even loves raw potatoes to eat. My dad got started on that It seems as she gets older her and Aleigh get more and more in trouble together. This past week it was getting candy out of the Halloween bowl and crawling underneath Ryan's bed and eating it. I caught them in the act and they were grounded from candy for a whole day which was quite excruciating for them both. They also got into my room and got out their make-up and some stamps from the school box and decorated up their cabbage patches. They were a mess. I should of taken pictures I know, but it happened to hit on the day where it just wasn't cute because they had been acting up all day. I love how close her and Aleigh are. They are just really good friends. We are working on potty training and it is a slow process. Lots of accidents still. We did get her to poop on the potty this week so that was great! She is such a rough neck and is always pushing the limits.

Ryan is really developing a sense of humor. His goofy side is coming out a lot more and he seriously gets me cracking up. His newest thing is having his hood up all the time. If his sweatshirt or coat has a hood on it it will be on. If you try to put it down he will yell at you. He really likes to wrestle with Avery and they are quite entertaining to watch. I think they learned to do this from their cousins Tyler and Trey which wrestle often at family functions. He still loves anything Super Hero. When we redo the bedrooms I am going to decorate with big posters of the different characters. One of his favorite things to play is being a puppy. He also loves to play ball and have you pitch to him. He does really well at swinging the bat and is quite coordinated for a two year old. He is no interest in potty training. He is going to be a late bloomer in that department. So for the next two years I will be potty training. Not excited about that.

Aleigh is my sweetie. She has such a big heart and I am always impressed at how she cares for others. Her prayers will melt your heart. She has really been looking for ways to help others this month as she has been learning a lot about this in Children's Church. She is doing well with school and we are learning more complex sounds and getting closer to her reading. She really hates writing though. Especially writing her numbers. She always sighs with disgust when I bring out the math book. She loves to sing and sings constantly. Her favorite thing to play is rock band. Her and the twins will set up a whole rock band stage, instruments everything and put on shows. It is quite entertaining. As I tried to snuggle her up in my lap the other evening I got a big lump in my throat as I kissed the top of her head. She just has grown so fast and I know way too soon I'll become the uncool mom. I am cherishing the moments when she says that I am her best friend. I am a bit concerned with her being boy crazy. She is always talking about boys all the time. Maybe she will get over it early and hate boys later? Yeah, I can hope ok.

As for us...the remodeling continues. Hopefully the tub will be going in tonite for permanent and we can get busy finishing up the tiling. I am really read to have my bathroom done. Volleyball is almost over, we have one more game next Tuesday. It has been fun but I am ready for a break from it. Not sure if we will play next session or not. Well, back to the daily grind...need to do lots of cleaning as always.

All I want for Christmas is....

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:14:25 GMT

Cuisinart SM-55 5-1/2-Quart Stand Mixer

I really have wanted a stand mixer for quite sometime..... I bake a lot. I love baking. My other mixers just don't do justice. More times then not I end up mixing by hand b/c my mixers can't keep up. After using J-nellie's Kitchen-aid I was completely jealous as I watched her make perfect meringue. I did a lot of research on Mixers, consulting many sources and consumer reviews. It seems a lot of people were unhappy with the newer made kitchen aids. The Cuisinart had overall the best reviews and the best warranty covering up to three years versus 1 year on the Kitchen-aid. I really like the black finish on this one. Right now they have a great rebate also for a free Food processing attachment with purchase through Amazon. That would be great for me because I also need a food processor and is a $110 value. Anyhoo, if your in the market for a mixer this really seems to be a good one. For now I am just dreaming that Santa may bring it my way. Actually would love it a bit before Christmas for all my holiday baking A girl can dream can't she....

Piercing Arrows w/ a bit of random

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:28:47 GMT

• Anyone seen the movie advertised "The men who stare at goats" Seriously people -- what a title. I don't know how the people announce the title in the promo without cracking themselves up.

• New Moon will be arriving to theaters November 20th and I'm super excited about it. Need to be getting my tickets soon.

• Remodeling is still happening...slowly but surely. I actually got to take a bath in my tub the other night. It is not quite sealed in properly but was close enough for a test run We now just need to set it in a setting compound and then glue the pipes and put a sealer on the grout and we are done with the tub Onto tiling the floor and painting the walls - then in go in the sink/vanity, and toliet. Then we work on the closet shelving and putting on the closet doors and then we are done

• I'm feeling kind of blah today. Had some sad dreams and feeling a bit emotional over some things going on. I seem to be always stuck in the middle in situations where I really don't want to be. I don't really know how to feel at this point...nobody is saying it out loud but it is there under the surface...choose a side. I'd rather not be on side. Why should I have to choose? I never created the division. I've already went through this once this year and it sucked. I lost a friend. It was said the change would not affect our friendship but it did. When the common bond that brought us together was severed it left jagged edges. It is not like we never talk. We do. It is just not the same. People move on and right out of your life. Maybe not intentionally and definitely not outright, just a slow fade as they put that part of their life behind them, and you end up fading out too. It is just easier that way. Less messy, less painful, easier to deal with, a natural reaction to distance one self. He who covers and forgives an offense seeks love, but he who repeats or harps on a matter separates even close friends. Proverbs 17:9 So that was what came out into my dreams, the pain and hurt of separation...a feeling I have experienced way too often in this lifetime. I'm so tired of hearing everyone who has an opinion or a comment to say on the subject and more then once I have found myself biting my tongue at the audacity of the need of people to "vent" out their particular feelings. Sure, I have no choice in the matter and it sure is your choice -- but oh be aware that choices made unravel behind you a whole string of people who are being pulled through it also, unwillingly. "Please lay down your arrows, For they're sure to pierce the skin, And water from a broken well, Will make you thirst again, When all things you've acquired, Are tested by the flames, And you can see them melting, Then will you call his name" The arrows are flying, I see things acquired melting.....and I am just trying to call on His name, to give me peace as I fight my feelings of frustration.

Bid October adieu edit: Fall fun video

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:20:31 GMT

I am so glad to have October behind me...it was such a crazy month. Too much sickness and it seemed it was very busy when we were not sick. All said and done it was kind of an exhausting month & the weather was just dreary and blah most of the time.

Took out the month with a bang though... Wed. nite we finally carved pumpkins. It was a lot of fun and we enlisted Pomp-Po and Aunt Chan to help.

Avery and Aunt Chan-Chan worked together on this one. Avery loved pulling out the insides.

Aleigh and Pomp-Po worked together on this one. Aleigh was having a ton of fun with the pumpkin goo.

Ryan and I worked on this one together with a bit of help from Daddy. Ryan did not enjoy the pumpkin goo. I got him to get in there only two times and that was it. I love the picture below - it captures well what he thought of the process.

Thurs. night we did our "Office" shindig at my house it was fun. Must share pictures:

Amber/Meredith; Tessy/Pam(s.2 Halloween episdoe); Craig/Dwight; Chris/Toby; Eric/Dwight

I was Pam from Season 2 Halloween Episode

Lock-Inn Friday night with the youth group. It was good times. Played Sardines, Kick the Can, Pumpkin bowling, Guesstures, Video Games/Wii, Mafia, and even did a bit of karaoke. Definitely laughed a lot. Good times! I got home about 3 a.m.

Saturday Trick or Treating....

Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana

Batman: Ryan was so funny trick or treating. He really thought he was bat man. He would walk by the other kids and stick his arm out super hero style and make a fight sound. Also other kids would say "Hey Batman to him and he would say "Hi" in a deep gruff voice. It was so funny. He never got out of character all night. Then at one house we spotted a girl dressed up as Batgirl so we were like Hey Ryan look at Bat girl and he looked over and then looked back at me and said "She likes me!" So cute!

Avery was a ladybug and cute and silly as can be. Trick or treating wore her out though and she ready to go home. She told us "I don't want to go to no more houses, I want to go to our house."

My nephew Joel also joined us for trick or treating and he was super cute as a rock star.

Mix in all that volleyball every Tues evening, daily routine and church and you might just see why I felt a little exhausted by Sunday. Thankfully Nov. is looking a little less crazy. Just a little bit.

Edit: My sister and I being goofy and playing in the leaves - took on the stills we did with fast shutter speed and made it into a still movie.

Lazy Friday Evening.....

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 23:39:13 GMT

A lazy Friday evening is just what the Dr. ordered. No place to go. Just chilling out while the husband cooks supper (what can I say I married a wonderful guy) and the kids play happily (which they are for the moment, anyhow) We just made Wax Paper Ghosts with glitter and read one of our Halloween books from the library. I am looking forward to eating a hearty home cooked dinner of homemade chicken and noodles with mashed potatoes. Craig is working up the noodles right now. Sometimes it is the simple pleasures of such things that can leave you feeling overly blessed.

Speaking of cooking.... I am super dooper excited about the release of this.....

I don't know if you are a fan of the Pioneer Woman but if your not your missing out! Ever since someone posted about her on their blog (I don't know who it was - but thank you) I have followed her faithfully with my Google Reader. She is a great cook, inspiring photographer, and makes me laugh every time I read her blog/website. I must get this cookbook as I have made several things from her website and they are tried and true delish. I was so excited when I heard she was publishing a cookbook and it comes out Oct. 27th. Happy Halloween to me! I haven't ordered it yet, but I am planning too. Want more info... Go here http://thepioneerwoman.com/my_cookbook/

Here is a few pictures from our walk on one of the only warm, non-rainy days we have this season so far.....

Aleigh is my child is that is most like me which probably explains why we butt heads on a regular basis. But secretly I enjoy how much she is like me. Many times her dad says "We're twins" or tells Aleigh she is "Being like her Mom" She loves the outdoors and is a bit of tomboy which also measures up to being like me because I was that way when I was a little girl.

A walk would not be complete without a bouquet of "flowers" for mommy

Then there is my spunky Avery. It wasn't cold this day but was pretty windy, hence the hood being up. This girl always keeps me on toes. You never know what to expect from this one. She is the first one up in our house and goes, goes, goes all day long. Her first words to me every morning "Mom, my belly hungry" She is independent and a goofball.

Then I got very lucky and captured two rare moments. The one above of Ryan actually being goofy for the camera and the one below of him smiling for the camera. I have to work very hard normally to get this boy to smile and he is never just plain goofy so the above is a complete treasure.

The proof is in the pudding on just how much of a treasure these are because he is a sample of the normal "serious" Ryan face:

And then this one from our walk. We found mushrooms and the kids wanted to take pictures with them.

I love being a mom! Look at my blessings!

Still wishing I could get some fall leaf shots but it has been so cold and wet it has made it almost impossible. Hopefully the weather will cooperate this next week and it will dry up a bit.

Have I told you how much I love my husband? The chicken and noodles are ready so time to go enjoy them Yum!

Not much...

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:25:02 GMT

Not much going on......Have some pictures I could post if I had the ambition to actually download them off my camera. Everyone I know is sick. Just found out today that my best-friend got admitted to the hospital & tested positive for Strain A influenza & they are testing for Swine flu. I just got to feeling better this week after two weeks of a sore throat and hacky cough and I scrapbooked with her on Monday night. I hope I didn't pick up any of her germs. Then right after that I got a text that church was canceled tonite due to all the sickness. Several people have strep throat. Some of the schools around here have closed due to sickness. Lots and lots of ucky stuff. I've had my share I don't want more...but my throat has been a bit sore again today.

Just been kind of a blah sort of week thus far. Wishing I'd hear some good news instead of increasingly bad. Normally I just love this season and the weather. But it started off feeling like winter and then when the weather did warm up a bit it seemed everyone was too sick to enjoy it. The kids and I did get out on Monday and took a walk . It was the first time this season we have even been able to enjoy it being fall outdoors.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:40:38 GMT

Sitting here wishing I felt a lot better then I do. Prolonged coughing + me = uck, uck, uck. Feeling very thankful that I have such a loving husband who got all the kids ready for church last night and took them by himself so I could rest. Somehow with this cold/coughing stuff, it is progressively getting worse instead of better which makes no sense to me. I didn't sleep much at all last night. Tossed and turned on the couch the majority of it, because I did not want to bother Craig all night long. How is it even possible to have your whole body ache so badly by just coughing, but it really does. I feel sad for my kids because I've been such a lethargic mom the past few days. I have to say for the most part they have been very good and kept each other entertained.

My husband and I celebrated 8 years of marriage on the 13th. Unfortunately instead of kissing my husband I was only able to cough on him. I am very thankful for the love we share. He is such a giving person and would do anything for me. I take him for granted way too much. I think of how a few weeks ago he forgot to get my coffee creamer when he ran to the store and when he got back I got all pouty about it. He didn't even hesitate and went right back to the store and got it despite my bad attitude about it. I guess it is amazing to me how He loves me with all my flaws and imperfections. I feel so undeserving at times. Even after we added three children to our family, including twins mind you, he still makes time for each of us even after a busy day at work. What a journey eight years has been. I think of all the time he has been putting into the bathroom remodel, being ever so patient with my indecisiveness. Putting in extra time to make it just like how I want it. I think of our many date nights we have had through out the year and love that we are still so much in love. I think I got the best compliment from my cousin the other day in an e-mail when she wrote "You too still act so much like newlyweds" That was nice to hear. So much of my time is spent in "mommy" gear that it takes an effort sometimes to do the things you need to do to keep connected with your spouse. But that effort is so important. Dressing up cute even though your kids will be the only ones to see you that day, all in an effort to look nice for the husband when he comes home from work. This one is a big one for me because do you know how much I love pajama pants? Taking that extra time to make a nice meal even though you'd rather just throw a frozen pizza in the oven because of the insane day you had with the kids. Verbally thanking him for the things he does on a regular basis. And those are just a few. I just love the time we have together (as a couple and as a family) - snuggling on the couch & watching Lost together after the kids have went to bed, our fun Office shindigs we have, volleyball & tennis, late night talks about anything and everything and seriously weird things, Sunday afternoon football, Family Fridays, "We're a Family" group hugs, having all three of the kids crawl into bed with us at once, sharing stories about our kids & laughing, knowing that only Him and I can really understand why it is so funny because they are "our" kids and before bed snuggle time when we compete for the kids attention are just a few of my favorites How I love our life together.

A place, a time that changed my life.....

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:06:09 GMT

It is hard for me to believe that three years have went by since I was on the mission field in Ecuador. My heart for the place, the people is still so fresh as if I went there just last week. When you feel so changed by an experience it is indefinitely because you have left part of yourself behind.

Part of me, my lip actually, was probably left behind due to a bucket handle catching my lip

So you can imagine how my heart felt and why tears sprung to my eyes when I read a blog update on the place and the people who have been forever entwined into my heart.

Before (2006):

Now (2009):

(Photos from Andean Adventure Blogspot)

This is the church in the Sierra Centro District where we worked. According to the blog during the official organization of the church ceremony the children’s director in the church called up 120 children in attendance to the front for exhortation and prayer. 120 children! It went on to to say that "Pastor Wilson and Paula Paredes were installed as the pastors as part of the ceremony." Praise God!

If that isn't a testimony to why Missions is important I don't know what is. It is too easy to sit in our comfortable "Americanized" world and be in denial of the need around the world to know Jesus. In America there is a church on every corner. Other countries do not have this privilege. Today I encourage you to expand your mind to encompass more then just your own world.

I just think how I gave so little, just a few weeks, not much at all really. But then others, and more others also gave a little, some a little of their money and some a little of their time and then God took all those littles and did what only He can do. Yes, a little is much when God is in it! Once again I got to say Praise God!!

Photoshoot with my great niece

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 14:41:51 GMT

Did a photoshoot with my great niece the other evening and here are a few (ok, quite a few) of my favorites. Isn't she a cutie?

No voice & lots of sawing

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:03:05 GMT

I woke up this morning with no hardly no voice at all. The kids think I sound funny and have been enjoying my attempt at communicating them with my various fluctuating sounds. I said something to Aleigh this morning and she laughed and said "What did you say Mom? It sounded like Grrr.. Grrr.. Grrr..." The little stinkpot, she thinks she is so funny. They are the ones who gave me the cold in the first place.

Still remodeling... Went shopping yesterday and got most of the stuff we still needed. Messing with more electrical stuff today and hopefully will get the closet built. Maybe tile...at least I am hoping...

So how many of my readers are The Office fans? Did you watch the wedding? Oh it was just great! I love that show. Too funny and one of the best. When Jim cut off his tie - that was my fave part. It was just the perfect thing too. Our loyal Office groupie had our own shindig last night and celebrated along with Jim and Pam and The Office crew. Here is some pictures of that....

Our Office groupie had fun celebrating Jim and Pam's wedding!

I decided we must have our own wedding cake to celebrate the nuptials

A Toast to Jim and Pam -- GOOD TIMES!

Doing the Andy dance move - OUCH!

Oh no, I really did have keys in my pocket! (Ryan was amused by our antics)

Although The Office was AMAZING, sports not so much. The Cards got beat again (*sniff, sniff) and then Mizzou lost to Nebraska - and it was a devastating loss as the led through the majority of the game only to get trampled in the 4th. It was just really sad. Ok, so need to do some housework. It is awful. Being without water and plumbing here and there through out the week and then being busy with other things has left me very far behind. Time to get busy so see ya laters!