I love this girl!

For her birthday this past June, McKenzie asked us for an ipod. We tend to shy away from things like that. I just can't stand to see a self-absorbed teenager with something plugged into their ears! Marc felt like she was old enough to make good decisions with it and he got it for her. One Friday evening, McKenzie and I went shopping. It was getting late and the baby had fallen asleep in his car seat. I left them in the van and ran into the grocery store to grab a few things. As I was walking back to the van I saw a young guy gathering the grocery carts. He had his pants falling off of his rear and an ipod plugged into his ears. I got in the van and there sat my daughter with her feet propped up on the dash and.... yes, her ipod plugged into her ears.:>) I casually asked her what she was listening to. She responded, "A Voddie Baucham sermon." Thank you Lord for a daughter that has grown into such a wonderful young lady... in spite of me!

Blueberry Muffins

We have always made the same blueberry muffin recipe from the Bread Beckers cookbook. We have grown tired of them and wanted to try something different. This recipe that I found was a hit!

Blueberry oatmeal muffins:
3 1/2 c. oats
4 T Brown sugar (I used sucanat with molasses, but I think the brown sugar would have melted better.)
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 c sugar (I used sucanat and it was fine in this part.)
2 T baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 c. milk
2 eggs
4T oil
2 tsp vanilla
2 tsp grated lemon peel
2 c. fresh or frozen blueberries

You separate out 1/2 cup of oats mixed with the brown sugar and sprinkle it on top of the muffins before cooking. Bake at 400 degrees for 18-22 minutes. Makes 2 dozen muffins.

Lovely art work done by none other than Malachi! Of course, mommy was gone and daddy was in charge when it happened! :>) What is really funny (or maybe not so funny...) is that I don't even care about this kind of stuff anymore! One of these days I will try to clean it off. If not, I can always paint!

Don't let the sweet smile fool you!

A boy's dream...

We live in a farming community. It has given me a new appreciation for "organic" farming! There is a cotton field across the street from us. Shortly before they harvest it, they have a crop duster spray. It is so much fun to watch the plane, but I cringe at the toxic spray they are dumping on us! As soon as I hear it I make the kids come inside and we shut all of the windows. This year I decided to let them go out and watch it. The pilot was aware of us watching and he turned into a stunt pilot! It was a little unnerving watching how close he came to our house! Matthew has always been fascinated with airplanes. He dreams of flying one someday. He is looking into different career opportunities that would have something to do with airplanes. I think flying is terrifying and I told him that he was going to send me to an early grave! He said, "Oh mom, you don't want me to do anything!" If safety is an issue... that is probably true! :>)

"Chasing" the plane in his p.j.s, armor, mud boots, and cowboy hat!

Dreaming...

Life...

A day in my life...

It must have started with this little home project. Matthew helped to replace the corner on the house. He took the old board (there is no such thing as trash as far as Matthew is concerned!) and made a sword for Malachi out of it.




Then it turned into this...

The pictures don't do it justice. They were flying!

Madeline's newest hens started laying! She found some tiny eggs today!

We really do clean up the playroom everyday! On the other side of that white gate is a pumpkin candle. One recent evening I was burning it. Mariah blew it out to "let the baby smell it". The candle had melted into an oily wax and he got some in his mouth. After a frantic call to poison control I learned that the pumpkin scented candle from White Barn Candle Co. isn't toxic. Can you believe they have that specific of information in their computers? I have now had to call poison control for all of my boys at some point, but I don't think ever for the girls!

I love clean laundry off of the clothes line. There is a never ending flow of laundry in this house!

This evening Mariah came into the kitchen with a plastic ring on her finger and said, "Look mama, I'm engaged!" I non-chalantly said, "Who is the lucky fellow?" She told me to guess, so I said, "Prince Charming?" She very seriously said, "No. You know that is just an old woman's tale!"

I often wonder what life will be like when all of these guys are grown!? :>)

I am thankful for the six blessings the Lord has given me.

Are We Really Free?

Anybody that likes clean, healthy food, or even if you just believe in freedom needs to read this! We have been ordering raw cheese from Morningland Dairy for years. I feed it to my children and I even eat it while pregnant. We have never gotten sick! They were shut down a few months ago and recently raided by the FDA even though no pathogens were found at their plant!

http://foodfreedom.wordpress.com/2010/10/09/fda-shuts-down-morningland-dairy-despite-clean-tests/

“If people let the government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live under tyranny.” ~Thomas Jefferson

School days and other ramblings...

Malachi likes to join in on Mariah's school lessons, especially if it involves food! The other day we had to make a "favorite apple" graph for her math lesson.

I don't think granny smith was a favorite! :>)

Mariah and her pink cast.

This little guy is one loved baby! The other day I asked Mariah if she loved him and she said, "Oh yes! I would give him my life!" Then yesterday while running errands with me she said, "Mama, if you die can I have Myles?"

Everyone needs a Mariah in their life to give them laughter! :>)
I think Myles is just a tad bit spoiled. I put him to bed and he looked at his sisters like this.

Then as soon as McKenzie said, "Ohhh..."

The tears turned to laughter!

He has learned to "give kisses" and he has sisters asking for them all day long!

We don't have televsion so Matthew listens to a lot of sports on the radio. I told him I didn't want it on tonight because I was tired of noise. I felt bad, so I told him to turn it low. Marc came into the room and said he thought I had told him no. Matthew said, "She changed her mind. I know how to work it!" Thankfully for him, he was just being silly! :>)
Oh the joys of motherhood.... NEVER a dull moment!