Santa Visit, etc.

Ho. Ho. Ho. Isabelle was beyond thrilled to visit Santa Claus this year! He was at the local library, so we went to meet him there. Right away Isabelle was star struck. When she hopped on his lap, she told him that she is "3 old" and she wants a book for christmas (quite appropriate for being in the middle of the library). Ben was not phased by Santa's presence. Isabelle was so happy to meet mrs. claus too. Isabelle informed me that her job was to make cookies and then she asked where Santa's reindeer were? I told her the roof of course! (which reminds me I have to make some magic reindeer food for her to sprinkle on our lawn christmas eve). Isabelle and I made our frosted sugar cookies the last couple days. Her favorite ones to make were the snow man and the blue fish (blue tree. dont ask me. I just work here). Today we will make our ginger bread house. I made homemade chex mix for the first time. It was good but not great. I didnt have onion powder to include like it says, so I wonder if that makes a big difference. I caught Isabelle talking to our christmas tree the other day. This is the conversation that took place, " What are you doing with my tree Grinch? Don't take it home Grinch! You'll ruin it Grinch!" So anytime that Isabelle smells something (anything , food, a book, a candle) she announces that it smells like Strawberries! My Christmas wish which is very typical and overdone but quite true is I would like it to: SNOW. I remember last Christmas it snowed overnight and when I woke early in the morning, I looked outside to see snow and a bright red cardinal. very cool! So big news for Benjamin! He has tried his first (rice) cereal and aboslutley loves it! He was smiling and kicking while eating it. I could barely get it in his mouth. I think we got a little monster on our hands. hehe Boy, have we got a lot of use out of Benjamin's Reindeer outfit so far (thanks Sal). I wonder if Santa will have "alone" time to wrap gifts...time is fleeting.

The Nativity Cow

I don't recall there being a black and white spotted cow in most depictions of The Nativity Scene, but in this preschool program version, my daughter played the part. I can't even explain how joyful it was to watch her "on stage" for this program. Isabelle, started out shy when she first step out...but it didnt take long and she was "working the room" as she took over the show with her funny antics as she thrived on the attention. She was hilarious! Total Show Girl. Adding extra jestures and words (and volume) to songs, Thanking the audience...etc.... She had the whole room laughing and Noah and I enjoyed every moment of it.

Outtakes

Here are a few pictures from our photo shoot that didnt make it quite up to par for our christmas cards.

Bendeer & Cheer

Lancelot enjoying our first big Snow!


My little Bendeer.


Sunday Sunday Sunday. It's Sunday morning. I feel kind of sick. (head, stomach etc). This house looks like a tornado stopped by and stayed a while. It amazes me that I feel that I spend my life cleaning, yet my house is never clean. Im starting to feel a little overwhelmed by the holidays all of a sudden. I haven't made my christmas cards yet (I'm going with an angel theme this year) and I have 9 dozen cookies (peanut butter balls) to make for an exchange on tuesday just to name a few things that should get done asap. Oh well, I guess all a person can do at this point is throw in some Christmas music and hope for the best.

It has been such a joy to see how much Isabelle is getting so excited for Christmas this year. This year she "gets it". She makes me sing Santa Claus is coming to town to her 50 times a day. I have lots of fun things planned for us to do tradition wise. Ive been looking all over for a christmas night gown for her and cant find one! The kind that look little house on the prairish. Red plaid, long with ruffles with a bow on the chest...kind of gown. We been watching a lot of Christmas specials lately. I never saw Polar Express until last week - We all loved it. Now Isabelle goes around with my paper puncher and punches the paper like crazy and says: heres your ticket! -Silly Girl. It's so funny to see her talk to and play with the ornaments on the tree like I used to when I was a child. I adore her imagination.

Ben had his 4 month check up this week. He's 15 plds and I think 12oz. He is doing wonderful. Got 3 shots poor little guy. He cried until his mouth quivered, it was so sad! I can start him on Rice Cereal anytime now. I think I might give it a try today. Wow, he is growing up so fast. My sweet little boy.

Daylight is arriving. It looks so cold outside today...

Two Deer

Two Deer in the Snow (a lesson in prayer) by Cheryl 12.03.06

Earlier in the evening, I was feeling very frustrated and sad. I was at my wits end with misc. situations throughout the day. I went up to my room alone for a few minutes (since I am never alone, I decided I needed to steal a few moments) and I got down on my knees and I prayed. I prayed and I cried. Tears were falling down my cheeks and my heart felt like it was actually aching. I ended my prayer and got up, moved the curtain over and looked out my bedroom window. We had a beautiful snow the day before and it looked so peaceful out there, I thought to myself wouldn’t it be neat if I saw a deer right now as a little sign that God heard my prayer and was with me. There was no deer of course. Silly thought, I know. I knew I just had to believe, it didn’t need to be proven to me. I went downstairs and resumed my evening activities, not with the greatest heart, but in better condition than what I was in when I went upstairs.

Well, at 3.a.m. this morning, Ben wanted to get up which is not unusual. I carried him downstairs to make him a bottle and change him. I placed him down and then went into the kitchen to make his bottle like I usually do. I had not turned any lights on yet. (outside in the country everything is pitch black at night, but everything was lit up outside by the moon & snow). I looked out the window that is above the sink and there and then I saw them. Two deer in the snow. They were in my backyard just wandering around. It felt like magic to see them there. (I dont see deer too often around here, especially never near the house). Ben was fussing that I left him alone and hadn’t fed or changed him yet, so I went and picked him up, held him and I continued to watch the deer. They came very close to the house and just poked around, looking for food and exploring. They walked so peacefully in the snow. I watched them for several minutes (and Ben was fine with that which is a miracle in itself). Then the deer went by the front of the house and stayed there a bit. That’s when I realized that I was watching them out of the window that was directly below my bedroom window. They were standing exactly where I had “hoped” to see a deer earlier.

Musings by "Jesse"

The Little Cookie Maker HelperIzzy & Ben
"Raising Children is like being pecked to death by a duck." I just came across that quote this morning and had to chuckle. Because at times, it does feel like that...pure torture! hehe Seriously, Crying and Whining and Fussing moments are really trying..especially when now that there are two pulling me in different directions! All I have to say is they are lucky that they are so darn cute.

So, Isabelle has decided to rename me for some reason. She now calls me: JESSE. o.k., kid. Lancelot's hair is everywhere! I can't stand it at all. I told Noah to build him a crate outside to live in. This is ridiculous. I love my dog, but enough is enough!

So, I made this super easy and really good CORN SOUFFLE the other day. Here's the recipe: Ingredients: 1 cup sour cream, 1 can white corn, 1 can creamed corn, 1 stick of melted butter, 2 eggs and 1 box of Jiffy cornbread mix. Salt and Pepper to taste. Mix all ingredients together and pour into a round casserole or a standard souffle crock. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes to an hour, until the edges are pulling away and look like they are forming a crust. The center may still be somewhat soft, but the top should havea crust on it.

The End.

Thinking about putting away all the thanksgiving decorations is not a big deal, but thinking about pulling out all the christmas decorations is a bit overwhelming I must say. We need to get a new christmas tree stand this year...oh and I need to get Ben a special stocking. I think I will bake sugar cookies (since I have had recent success with that) and peanutbutter balls this year. I will not strand popcorn and cranberries because that was alot of work and ...well maybe I will. I have to finalize my thoughts for my christmas card design and take a photo shoot of the children. I cant wait until I live in a house that has a proper place for a christmas tree. This house just isnt suited for one really well. Weve been putting it in the dining room and everything is super squished. I wonder if I should put up an additional mini tree for just elvis ornaments this year. The lights I put on that tree are just blue (blue christmas). I wonder how Isabelle will react to visiting Santa this year. Last year she didnt want to sit on his lap and was quite shy. Ben will probably smile at him and pull his beard (like he pulls my hair). "We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns, and syrup." - Buddy Elf

Explosion Box - Craft

So, I have been wanting to try this paper craft for awhile. It is called an explosion box and basically it is a box you make out of 12x12 papers and when you open it in unfolds. You can decorate it with photos, quotes, sayings, journaling, whatever you want. The flaps of the sides are to be lifted to reveal the next layer of surprise. Very fun to make and give! Also you can put a small gift inside the box if you want.

Turkey Day

How to observe Thanksgiving Count your blessings instead of your crosses; Count your gains instead of your losses. Count your joys instead of your woes; Count your friends instead of your foes. Count your smiles instead of your tears; Count your courage instead of your fears. Count your full years instead of your lean; Count your kind deeds instead of your mean. Count your health instead of your wealth; Count on God instead of yourself.

Ben's First Thanksgiving!

Watch out for biting giraffes.

Here are just a few photos from Benjamin's Baptism (or in Isabelle's words: Ben's God Party). I just can't say enough about how wonderful of an event it was. Benjamin did fantastic (and so did Isabelle!) and our family was with us. It was a very Blessed day.

So now, here comes the holidays! Crazy busy times ahead! But so exciting! Isabelle really has the Santa concept down pat this year. Last year she kind of sort of got it a little bit, this year she already keeps talking about how Santa is going to come to her house with presents. That's when I tell her about how he is watching if she's naughty or nice... Now Im starting to get excited about Christmas! My all time favorite Christmas movie is: The Christmas Story, but my second is ELF with will ferrell. My all time favorite Christmas Song is O Holy Night. But I guess, we should talk about the TURKEY first. Im not cooking the turkey meal so thats probably a blessing to us all. Speaking of cooking, well baking, I recently attempted making sugar cookies and they turned out excellent! (they were cross cookies for Ben's favors and by divine intervention they turned out).

Recent Isabelle Tidbits:

In Church when Isabelle hears the bell ring she shouts: Tinkerbell! Also in Church at the Baptism, she announced pretty loudly that the babies were Taking a Bath!

The other night, I told Isabelle that there was a DRAFT coming in the window. Then she responded, "A giraffe is coming in the window to bite me!"

Isabelle playing with her princesses - Me: Isabelle what are you doing? Isabelle: Sleeping Booty is driving to the shopping lot for TOYS!

Isabelle calls my Aunt Chris, Aunt Christmas.

I had a parent/teacher conference with Isabelle's preschool teacher and she gave her excellent reviews/remarks throughout...the one thing she had a negative mark on was: Isabelle doesn't help her friends clean up toys.

Isabelle: I am going to be a super hero when I grow up and Benjamin is going to be a Reindeer huh?

Pre-baptism photo shoot

more halloween...

Halloween

"What a fool I was! Tricks and Treats comes once a year and I missed it by sitting in a pumpkin patch with a blockhead!" - sally brown

Autumn Sunset

I was just so fortunate to look out the window and see this sunset in front of my house tonight. I don't know how well the picture captures it, but it was beautiful.

Let the leaves fall

Ben @ 10 weeks

(poor kid, I found this knit outfit in a bag of clothes that my friend gave me and I fell in love with the sweetness of it. hehe)

Autumn is escaping too quickly. Im not ready for frost on my car windows and frozen grass. time change this weekend - fall back. Isabelle doesnt want to be a chicken for halloween anymore, she wants to be a super hero. She wants to be a chicken when she grows up though. Ive been making a lot of crock pot meals lately. I love the crock pot. Throw the stuff in, walk away come back later and bam it's ready. So, Noah has been on the home computer alot because his work computer crashed. I dont like to share. I attended a wonderful MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) meeting this week. The speaker was very inspirational and funny. Ive been super tired lately, I dont know if its the weather or that Im getting up with Ben more then I realize.... but I could take a nap every day now if I could (the chance of that happening doesnt usually work in my favor though!). The Office was a rerun this week. Last night I watched this 20/20 show in which they introduced a story of people having "animal sanctuarys" and exhibits of big cats such as lions and tigers...and the public can enter the cages and pet them and people have been totally mauled by these big cats and even serious injury (women with boyscout troop just next to the cage, arm ripped off) or died (teenage girl posing for school picture with tiger and attacked). Just sad sick and scary. I cant believe these people are allowed to run these type of establishments and that people actually think its safe to go in with a wild animal. I get scared around crazy regular sized cats every once in awhile. I asked noah if he would rather be in a cage with a tiger or bear? well, he took this opportunity to tell me yes, he would defintely choose to be with a BEER in a cage (since thats how I say the word bear and he found it hilarious that I said it wrong proposing the question). I myself , I think I would go with the tiger. Only because they seem to be trained more then bears and hopefully the one I was in the cage with would be one that was trained well and was having a good peaceful day and that he was feed, so chance of attack would be at low. It's 5:30 am, I think I'll go back to bed. Or maybe I'll just make some coffee...

Houses for Our Souls

"Make yourselves nests of pleasant thoughts. None of us yet know, for none of us have been taught in early youth, what fairy palaces we may build of beautiful thought - proof against all adversity. Bright fancies, satisfied memories, noble histories, faithful sayings, treasure houses of precious and restful thoughts, which care cannot disturb, nor pain make gloomy, nor poverty take away from us - houses built without hands, for our souls to live in." - john ruskin

It's 2 a.m. and that is the quote on the back of my celestial seasonings chamomile tea box. I can't sleep. I hear the slight rains and the brutal winds whipping around outside and I am glad that I am inside. I just got done feeding Benjamin and got him back to sleep, but my mind was wandering and I couldn't find peace enough to properly rest...so I made a cup of tea and here I am. quiet time. alone. a few minutes by myself.

Im thinking about many things. Things that I want to get done on a daily basis that I never have time to acomplish, these endless lists in my head. I think about friends that I want to contact because I miss them, bills that need to be paid somehow, laundry thats piled up because I have skipped it for one day, Lance needs more dog food, he's almost out. I think about the pumpkin that I just got for Isabelle and how when she saw it she said with such excitement "for me? oh wank you mom, wank you!" I think about what fun (and what mess) it will be to carve it with her tonight.

I think about how sweet my little Ben is. I love that when he stretches his arms that they can't reach over his head yet and that his legs are still curled in the fetal position. I love that he looks at me at 2 a.m. and smiles so softly. I love that his pajama's smell like freshness (dreft laundry detergant) and that his head smells of lavendar when I kiss it. His little fingers wrap around my finger and I know that's all I need and that is all that he needs at that very moment.

Motherhood. wow. What a gift. Being a parent is not at all a walk in the park...it's more like a chase and a drag and spin and a carry and trip and fall and a get back up again in the park.. but at the end of the day, at 2.a.m. with a smile just for me...I'd say it's worth entering the park and taking on the challenges that await me...even if I stumble into some dog poo along the way because I get to see the sun brighter and feel it's warmth more than I ever have before.

Fishy Candle

The Taxidermist (noun. person who stuffs dead animals so they look lifelike) ran away with the Fish! OMG! So, some of you may recall through photos (photo on left for example - Isabelle, Noah and Big Fish - Early Fall 2005) or through story telling, that Noah caught a ginormous fish in minnesota last fallish...well, this thing was def. a record braker so he decided to have it Stuffed. Stuffing is a long process, so we left the fish behind when we highTAILED it home, knowing that some day in the future our paths would meet again (well I wasnt thrilled about this because hey, big ugly fish, no where to put it, not in my house anyway. But, whatever). So anyway, weve checked on the fish progress occassionally since and it has not been ready. Well, our friends are coming to Illinois from Minnesota and they offered to pick up the fish and cargo it home for us since we dont have any immediate plans to return to the northwoods. But when I called the taxidermist office to make the final payment arrangements there was a disconnection, with no new number. No where to be found. My friend Sally spent days tracking down this guy (had to deal with his disgruntled estranged wife, with the chamber...found out he closed up shop and left, etc) and finally she got a hold of him and spoke with him directly and guess what? He was on the road (in a big semi truck) with the FISH! They (meaning taxidermist and fish) are currently in Alabama. The guy asked for our address and said he would send the fish. The thing is it just makes me think...if this guy, just decided one day: hey I'm packing up and taking this dead fish with me, I am going to sit him beside me on the seat of the truck so it can keep me company on the road, Ill give it a hat to wear and we can take turns talking on the cb radio and sharing beef jerky... It just makes me wonder...what other "animals" the guy had taken along for his journey as well?..Maybe a moose head? or a few deer... a bear foot... (I'll report if we ever get the fish and then we'll discuss where to put it for proper display... (I say the trunk of noah's car would be a grand spot).

It's around 5am and I am up with Ben and think I will stay up for the day. Unfortuantly, my whole family is coming down with the flu or something. It's just this sinking feeling that were all sick and it's only going to get worse. Isabelle threw up in her bed the night before last. She never throws up. (She is not sick enough to stop talking 24/7 yet though.) We actually had chicken soup for lunch and dinner. There's something about chicken soup that really does do something for the soul...like the books say. Noah's got it the worst so far..but I just know the rest of us are on our way of following. I can't live in denial about it. Not to be negative, it's just that it's the truth...with cheese on it. JOY, there is nothing more fun then taking care a bunch of sick needy whining people when you are quite ill yourself. Should be fun... So, I am glad that I have some halloween decor up at my home, because the cobwebs look like they fit right in now. Seriously, it amazes me how fast cobwebs are formed. Spiders are quite the little miracle workers. Isabelle keeps asking for bananas and then not eating them. So then I make banana bread. I am no baker, but I do know how to make banana bread. I dont put nuts in mine. The recipe I use does not call for it. I think people either really like nuts or they dont. I do on occassion, but not on the occassion of my bananna bread. It's fine just the way it is. I used to hate anything that was banana flavored related. I dont I feel that way anymore...... SO Noah and I were watching everyone loves raymond last night and Debra was pointing out to Ray that he says certain words wrong, asterik, cinnamon, ask. Well anyway, this gave noah perfect opportunity to make fun of certain words that I say. I dont hear it but people tell me that I say: bear/beer and button wrong among other things. Well that's when I shared an embarrassing little word tidbit with Noah and now with you. I just recently realized that my whole life I have been saying and spelling a word wrong that I had no clue was not right. In my brain, it's always been: oulfit. But, the word is OUTFIT people! outfit with a t not an l. Wow, what an eye opener. I went through my whole life not knowing. I recently took note of the word and discovered my wrongness as I came across it alot when I was researching on line, Benjamin's Baptism ouTfit. (they dont call them gowns for boys. Note: he was supposed to wear Isabelle's gown but I tried it on him and it doesnt fit! Plus I noticed her gown was super girly not just neutral or semi girly, but lacey, flowery, pearly. So the non fitting thing kind of cinched the deal, that he needed his own)....Want to know a long time dream of mine? It's a simple dream, but just has never happened yet.... I would love to have one of those nostogila sepia type photos taken..in old fashioned clothing. Like at a saloon with a gun or somehting along those lines. How cool would that be? A family photo of the four of us would be the neatest thing. Someday maybe ill acomplish that goal....Speaking of goals, I keep forgetting to collect leaves so I can press them in a book for weeks.... I just noticed that it rained last night, which wouldnt be a big deal, but I had clothes on the line. A few days ago at dinner , Noah and I asked Isabelle what she did in school earlier that day, she told us that she made a candle. Were like o.k. kid you made a candle in school. Sure you did. Did you color a candle or paint a candle? No I made a candle! Anyway, thursday she brought home a little book she made in school that was titled: rub a dub dub. There was a page with a butcher that had tinfoil on it (for the cleaver), a page with the baker and it had oats glued to it and on the final page ther was the candlestickmaker, and there glued to it was a little birthday cake candle. So, she did "make" a candle after all.

Listening Ears

"My Listening Ears"

Backpack Surprises...Whenver Isabelle gets home from school, we open her backpack together, talk about what she did that day and review her wonderful creations. Well, when I opened her bag and found this hat with the ginormous ears, I couldn't stop laughing. I don't know if it was more the dumbo size of the ears or the concept of the hat altogether. Now if only Isabelle's "listening" ears were really that big and powerful... Ya know, now that I think of it, Noah could use a hat like this too.

It's funny when Isabelle pretend plays. She doesnt just close doors, she slams them..and if she doesnt "think" they are shut , she will slam it again! It's just so funny when she is imaginary playing, because she gets deeply involved. Lately in the bath she magically turns into a mermaid (ariel the little mermaid to be exact). She swims and sings the whole time. Quite entertaining I must say.

I listen to a variety of music in the car, when im cooking, cleaning etc..and whenever I play U2, Isabelle says to me: Mommy, I like your Susick (music). She only says it for U2, nothing else. It's like she knows. Girl after my own heart!

There's this really cool halloween costume on an m&m's commerical that I wish I could find. It's just an ax going through this guys front and sticking out his back. I wish I could find that costume. It's simple. Easy. And just would be kind of fun. SO anyway, im starting to get depressed that I am not getting dressed up this year. The last couple years, these have been my costumes: 2003, Snow white (with a bloody head injury), 2004 Ghostbuster, 2005 Cool Witch, 2006 nothing. Yep, you heard me right, nothing. HOw sad is that? I dont plan to dress up this year. Oh well, maybe next year we can make a big deal out of halloween. This year we just have to skip..to much going on. Besides, the kids are dressing up and they are going to be so darn adorable! Living in the country, I dont have to buy trick or treat candy...but I bought some just in case. yeah, just in case you never know.

Since noah wasnt home for supper last night isabelle and i had a simple dinner of chicken and stars soup with goldfish crackers. It was the best. Speaking of noah..why must this man leave wet towels on the bed? hello? Do you not get that it is never a good or productive thing to leave a wet towel on the place you sleep? Well...at least he always leaves it on his side of the bed! Speaking of towels and noah...Whenever he cooks he leaves the biggest mess, anyway..he always mangages to use my decorative for display only towels. This time I found my nice fall hand towel (clearly "decorative only" in my opinion)..I found this towel with a very greasy spatucla laying on it. thats super. Thanks.

I love that Isabelle still loves footy pajamas. I collect Elvis T-shirts. Ben was two months old on tuesday. Navy blue sweaters collect just as much dog hair and lint as black sweaters do. I went to MOPS today. I wonder why I buy wonder bread. What is with the new teas being in a triangle shaped bag? It looks cool, but does it really make a difference in the brewing process? I can't remember if I have ever attend the circus...I think once. I can't wait to watch the office tonight. My current phone ring tone is: Ring of Fire, johnny cash. In the words of dr.evil : It's fricken freezing in here. Brutal winter has already stolen some of my autumn. Not fair! I had a bird (parrotkeet) named feathers once. He was green and yellow. I never really fed him. He died. Isabelle brought a musical wooden fish for show and tell today. It's like whenever its showing tell I think, am I going to be judged as a parent regarding what my kid brings for show & tell? Usually I let her decide but i must admitt i influence the final decision. The best pen in the world is a Zebra F301 ball point. fine point. black ink. I havent written any stories or poems or anything in ages. Rehab is for quitters.

Pick your own Pumpkin

Pick your own Pumpkin!


Isabelle's first PONY ride. (notice short haircut!)

We will be friends until forever, just you wait and see. - Pooh Bear

Halloween - Isabelle will be a Chicken and Ben will be a Chili Pepper. Both costumes were purchased at one of my favorite stores: Target. They are adorable, I can't wait! Recently we enjoyed a nice fall day at a local apple orchard. They have the best apple cider donuts on the entire planet. Well, I dont really know that, I mean I cant verify it... but they are pretty darn good. So Lance is outside howling right now which is super annoying. I want to throw a basketball at his head. But I wont. Isabelle is crawling on me like Im a jungle gym and Ben is laying on my lap and he just smiled at me. So I just learned recently from the news that many left handed people are injured or die from equipment and such that are made for right handers. All my life I have been living a more risky life then the average joe and I didnt even realize it! It's not like I wrestle alligators, but hey being left handed is not always a picnic in the park on a sun shiny day. Also, I must say lefthanders are discriminated against because their stuff cost more. Example: notebooks. lefthander notebooks are outrageously priced! So, Ive never been a person to wear sunglasses or chew gum on a regular basis and I dont really know why. So recently my kitchen sink was not draining properly (like washing a million dishes by hand is not a pain in the butt enough) so I had to decide between liquid plumber and draino, not knowing which the better product would be...well Liquid plumber was my choice...and I was disappointed in the final outcome. A plunger is what really got the job done. It never fails, I trip on someone's shoes every single day. I desinate shoes for under the bench in the dining room, except neither the husband or girl child can seem to keep thier shoes out of pathways. So, Isabelle had a ginormous fit this a.m. because I put rubberbands in her hair instead of barretts. You would think it was the worst punishment on earth. I need water...I just keep coughing. I cant get rid of this cough. I had a cough for a year once. I hope that doesnt happen again.

Delicious Autumn

Ben ~ 6 weeks 1 day old

Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns. ~George Elliot

Im so excited that fall has finally arrived! Yippee! Before I know it I will be watching It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown. I must savor these moments as they are fleeting. I just had a grand thought, what if my favorite scents (burning leaves and baby powder) could be combined into one everlasting candle. <--oh throw some cinnamon in there as well. That would be cool. Excuse me if my thoughts are a muck but Isabelle wont stop talking to me as I try to type. Both kids have colds and now im getting one too. So, here's an fyi for anyone who calls us at the home front, as of tomorrow we are disconnecting our home phone service due to misc. reasons... so if you need to communicate with me or Noah, please call our cell phones. I promise I will be keeping my phone in hearing distance! (not in the bottom of my purse inside the diaper bag in the car with the windows closed.) I will make better efforts to keep it handy. . Our internet has been going out a lot lately, something wrong with our tower - that's nice and inconvient. We started planning an intimate baptism celebration for Benjamin to take place in November. I have been seeking opinions on whether it is ok or not that Ben wears Isabelle's baptism GOWN and from my poll results, the conclusion is Yes. So, that's good! Isabelle has to wear red to school tomorrow and for show and tell she needs to bring two of something. Tomorrow at the end of class (last 15 minutes), parents get to come in the class and watch a presentation of what the kids have been doing, so I am really looking forward to that. Scrapbooking/cardmaking - so now that Ben is offically here and we are settled into a some what routine, I am ready to take on any projects/jobs..so keep me in mind if anyone is looking to get something done in this regards. At this point , I am debating whether or not I will be picking up my Usborne book business. I am sorting the pros and cons in my noggin for the time being. Ive been drinking a lot of tea lately. Tea w/ honey. Oh, and I have discovered a new cheese (well a new cheese for me), I cant believe ive never really choosen Muenster before. It's cheesy but its good. I have a new current favorite song...it's Rob Thomas's Streetcorner Symphony (discovered it from seeing the grey's anatomy promos). Last night I made cheese manicotti for dinner...tonight I will be preparing a dish I call turkey tenderloin and green bean casserole. Im so glad that the new season of THE OFFICE has started. I just love that show! Whenever Isabelle wakes up lately (even from an afternoon nap) she says: "good morning, im waking up now, see!". Tune in next time to see what the children will be for halloween...oh and remember folks, if life hands you lemons...cut them into neat little wedges and squirt them into somebodys eye, because if you must suffer, others must suffer as well.

Laughter

Sometimes the laughter in mothering is the recognition of the ironies and absurdities. Sometimes, though, it's just pure, unthinking delight. -B. Schapiro

Whine & Wine

(This photo of Isabelle reminds my of a song I used to love when I was little. Sugar, Sugar by The Archies...oh honey, ah Sugar Sugar ..Your'e my candy girl... )
Life is precious and everydays a prize...<--those are actually the lyrics im listening to right now. (elton john). So Isabelle and Lancelot both Whined alot today, so I figured I deserve some Wine. I wish they would both take a nap right now. It's been a long day between those two. At least the baby has been good! hehe This place is a circus. I swear Id run away but I couldnt run away to the circus since I live at the circus so there would be no place to go. Here is a funny scenerio that took place earlier today: Isabelle laying under the table where I was working...she was talking to herself: Goodnight grandma. Goodnight papa. Goodnight mary. Goodnight rubberband. Then I heard fake snoring......then she got up and ran away. <--My little weirdo. Yesterday Ben had his 1 month appt. check up. He is doing wonderfully well and he now offically weighs 10 lbs. His nicknames so far are: Benjamin Bunny and Private Benjamin...oh and Benny Bunny. Did you ever want to throw your dishes away instead of washing them? I am actually considering it. I wonder why play-doh doesnt just come in one color since not soon after being introduced to the child that they are all merged as one large glob anyway? It would save me a lot of anxiety...I could much more easily accept this chaos of color if it was meant to be that way from the start. I reordered my special edition elite personal elvis checks today. They will be delivered by DHL service. I must say I dont like that company, the people who deliver to us are quite rude for no reason. I think Im friendly but for some reason I get this attitude from them So has Noah so it's not just me! So I offically have gray hair. Every time I look in the mirror, there it is taunting me. It is a piece that I have cut from existance in the past, yet it grows back each time with more strength and vibrance. Whatever. I must accept this . I am upset to report that there is offically a mouse about the house. That's all I am going to say about that. Except this one comment: lovely. I have never cut the grass in my life. I have never grilled on a grill either...well except this little mini grill that cooked by lighting waded up newspaper in the bottom. I could grasp that conept easily. I believe I used to make premade burgers on it. I love this fallish crisp air...it makes me want to go run through a pumpkin patch field and twirl around while leaves fall on my head. I wish I was a better cook/baker. It doesnt come easily for me. I have to read the recipes 40 times during the process and totally concentrate to get things right. It doesnt come naturally to me at all. I do enjoy cooking though believe it or not. Its fun...well except of course the doing of dishes. Which leads me to my current dilema of my debate of throwing them all away instead of washing whats in my sink. I dont know how isabelle can have two barretts in her hair and still manage to have hair in her face. If I had a choice of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or turkey and cheese sandwiches for the rest of my life...I think I would choose turkey. Yeah, turkey for sure. I just asked Isabelle if she is my peanut head? and she answered, "No, I'm Isabelle!"

Ben.Belle.Etc..

I can't believe that Ben is going to be 4 weeks old on tuesday! Wow is time going fast. He is changing so much already. I am really trying to savor these fleeting newborn moments. They are so precious. My favorite thing is when he smiles in his sleep, I believe that the angels are whispering to him. I must admit that I am so in love with him. Our biggest challenge so far is keeping his big sister from helping and touching and kissing him all the time! (isabelle is a little too hands on, but im glad that she loves him so much).

Other thoughts/news:
-Lately, Isabelle never stops talking. She wakes up and talks non-stop until she goes to sleep. It is a constant noise that does not cease. Ive been taking a lot of ibeprufrin these days.
-Our garden has turned to total crap. I think we might salvage some acorn squash and possibly some peppers in the near future. I think tomatoes and cucumbers are pretty much done. Oh and there are some onions and pototoes somwhere in there.
-Isabelle's imagination is just so interesting to me. I just sit and listen to her and watch her sometimes and wonder where she comes up with this stuff.
-Im still working on Ben's birth announcements and thank yous. Someday, I shall finish.
-I want to move, this "old" house frustrates me.
-I think Noah will be traveling this week.
-I love the crockpot...Im so excited about falling coming! I get to whip out heartwarming fun recipes! Stews, soups, casseroles...etc.
-Would it be a bad thing to make a baby boy, a sunflower for halloween? I just love Isabelle's costume from when she was a baby and I would love to use it again! Hey, it's green and yellow...those are boyish colors....
-Isabelle just put a strawberry shortcake sticker on Benjamins pajamas.

1st day of school

(photo 1. waiting in line for school to start, photo 2. afterschool)

I have not updated in a long while! Feels like I have not been on the computer in forever. (doesnt help that the internet was out for a week!)...anyway...Today felt like a good day to update. It's Sunday, it's raining outside (it almost feels like fall!)..

1st day of (2-morning) PRESCHOOL!
Isabelle has been talking about going to school all summer, and finally the day arrived (aug. 24). She was so excited to go! The night before we packed her backpack together with all her supplies, we picked out her snack and then we layed out her new school clothes (most exciting part, strawberry shortcake mary jane shoes - thanks grandma!). We arrived at school the next morning, and she was so thrilled by the whole experience! She couldnt wait to talk to her teachers and meet new friends and go inside and work on projects and play! When it was time to go in (8:45), she kissed me and waved good bye. As she was just one bouncing pigtailed head in the line of children disapearing out of my site, into a whole new world...I felt the bittersweetness of it all. My little girl, leaving me to explore something new...without me. All I could think was, take good care of my baby... I left...(even though part of me just wanted to wait on the sidewalk right there for her to come out, I figured, I must go. I was happy at least, that she was happy. She was not frightened or scared, that I would not be there with her. She was just fine. 11:15 came.. and I wasn't prepared...for my overwhelming emotions... The class came out holding a rope together in line and Isabelle was first in line with a big smile on her face. The kids marched out with hats they made on their little heads. All you could hear was screams of Mommy! and waves of hands and then the running of the masses.... great grand hugs took place between all the children and their parents...and tears rolled down my cheeks...I couldnt control how I felt. I was so proud of her and so happy for her and I just could not concept until that very moment how big she really is now. How, I have to let go. How I have to trust in her and trust in the world that everything is going to be o.k. I realized all the wonderful things she will be learning and experincing and all the opportunities that she will have. I thought about how she will also come across more moments and situations of getting hurt and feeling sad and disappointed and scared...but mostly I thought about how much I love this little person. How much she has changed me and my life in so many ways and how she has let me be something so wonderful in this world....her mother. So, yeah 2 morning preschool may sound like no big deal...but let me tell you a little secret...it is a big deal...a really big deal.

It's A Boy!

BENJAMIN LUKE

August 15th, 2:13p.m.

8lbs, 4.7 oz, 21 length

Our Benjamin is here and he is amazing! The delivery and hospital stay went very well. We are doing wonderful. Isabelle is so excited to finally meet her little brother. She's such a great helper and loves him so much!

Happy 3rd Birthday Isabelle!