Up before the Rooster

Here is a fun painting I finally got to finish (started it months ago, put it away...brought it out again...hehe). It is probably hard to see from the picture, but there is glitter on her wings. I love how this little fairy turned out. It is a 8x10 - flat canvas (verses stretched canvas), acrylic.

Here is our bathroom after it was ripped apart. It has been a busy and cold week, so new drywall is up, but taping and painting still needs to happen, then tiling floor and shower and wall and installation of fixtures...and more plumbing...so we still have a ways to go.

It's always nice to see a Woody wiz past you on a remote control car. boys. Speaking of Woody, whom Ben drags around everywhere with him, drops him in the slush, hangs him from the shopping cart, sleeps with him...etc... well, he just got a new bedding set. Aunt Mary is here for the weekend and Ben talked her into making custom blankets and pillows for Woody and Buzz. They are sleeping very comfortably in this freezing weather.

Isabelle and Ben love to listen to the book that Grandma recorded for them as a Christmas Present. The story is Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, it is a recordable Hallmark book in which my mom reads the story to the kids. It is awesome and they love it!

Sure, don't let this adorable, sweet , calm little peaceful baby fool you. This little girl, kept me up half the night, I have no clue why and forced me to be up by 6a.m. (on a Saturday mind you!). I had to get up, I had no choice. She has been a pistol all morning (yes, I can say pistol cuz shes my little puddle duck). So anyway, let's just say, I would have seen the sun rise if it ever came out this a.m. I've had one cup of coffee and I guess it is just not enough. Good news is this should mostly be a non requirement day at home. It's snowing again and freezing, but we plan just to be at home and take the day as it comes. Have a few fun surprises (activities) planned for the kids today. I am hoping to get a few personal things done, but my expectations are not set super high. This weekend I plan on reading the book: Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. Only problem with this plan is that I really need to concentrate in quiet, to grasp and understand this subject...and I have a feeling it will be slightly loud here today. Wishing you a WaRm and BeAutiFul Saturday :).

Morning Report

Good Thursday Morning. Just a quick report before the day begins. No pictures included :(. I am drinking my coffee, sitting on the leather chair in the fireplace room (I don't want to sit on the couches cuz I don't want to risk the chance of dog hair contact). Took a sink bath this morning. Honestly, a sink bath is way better then no bath which I have gone for the last couple days. Our bathroom project was put on hold due to our contractor, got ill and was in the hospital for a few days. :( , but he is better now and things are back in full swing. The next two days are supposed to be dangerously freezing tempatures so I am not looking forward to that. Oh well, what can you do but buck up? I am working on some canvas paintings, so I am very excited about that. My painting stuff is all over the kitchen. There is nothing like adding that first brush of color on a white surface and creating a little world from nothing. I love how the kids play their Ninetendo DS and don't understand that they don't earn an actual prize. Like Ben yesterday, won the piston cup on his cars game and asked me how he was gonna get it, would they send it in the mail??? Olivia had her 9 month dr. appt. this week and she is doing SUPER as I suspected. There is no cure for her non-sleeping...but, that's o.k....I can deal with it most the time. I have signed up for a very special conference in march called: Hearts at Home. It is amazing retreat for mothers to be encouraged, inspired, united and skilled. The best part is that I am going with some of the most wonderful friends that I have the privilege of being in my life. A new bible study series starts today that I am very excited about. I really look forward to these sessions because the women involved truly gift me with their knowledge and presence. Well, I suppose that I should start the morning process of waking up, feeding, dressing and directing the troops. It was nice to sit for a few moments of peace and thought. Good Day to YOU.

Hawaiian Monk Seal

C is for Cookie and that is good enough for me! Just a reminder that Brownie Scout Isabelle is once again selling Girl Scout Cookies! (Family - be prepared...she may be making a phone call your way...hehe). She really wants to get to her goal of 1000 boxes for the Ipod touch, but I am seeing a prize of a nice t-shirt in her future.

So thankful that today is Saturday. It has been a lonnnnnnnnng week. Last night I was up with Olivia 3 times. That kid just can't cut me a break. hehe - I am a zombie thus far this morning. My coffee is bitter but I don't care. I just want some quiet time before my 3 little ducklings get up and start following me across the pond. Construction zone is full blast around here. Bathroom in the basement is about complete (mind you this is not a pretty bathroom, it is a functional place to take care of business and honestly at the moment it is a wonderful option rather then going out in the woods). I must be honest, I am getting sick of all the clutter, dust and noise, but I know it is for a good cause. It has been such a crazy week and next week is jam packed as well, so I'm thinking we won't be in the midst of it too much. I have been researching, planning and thinking about my decorative (murals, furniture, glass) and fine art (canvas)painting business non-stop....I am so excited. One step at a time, I know I have such limited time right now (those darn kids steal most of it, they are lucky they are cute) and I can only do what I can do, but I want to do it the right way so I am going very slow with the set up and expectations upon my self. I think I will make banana bread today. If I could save one endangered species from extintion this year, I think it would be the Hawaiian Monk Seal. I counted, there is only about 1,500 in the wild today. Isabelle told me the other day that she is very lucky because God gave her 2 talents! I asked, really what are your 2 talents? She proudly responds: Singing and Art! I couldn't help but smile (anyone who has heard Isabelle sing, would slightly question if that is truly one of her talents, hehe). That coffee was so bad, I think I may switch to tea. Chai that is. I suppose I have rambled enough for one moment in time. Have a beautiful day and may the best be yours!

Hard Days Night

Olivia Helen is 9 months old today!

Raising children requires all we have and all we are. So, when I feel I am holding on by a thread...I pray. I pray for the strength, wisdom, guidance and most of all Heart to make it through the best way that I can for them with kindness instead of bitterness and a smile instead of tears. The demands and the responsibility of being a parent, often overwhelm me. Oh, but the LOVE...the love of being a parent...this is why I am here. A crumb just fell into my keyboard. joy. So, our bathroom is going to have a black and white theme. The floor, shower and wall tiles will be b&w and a black and white vanity/cabinet. So, I am kind of excited, we need to pick an accent color. Noah want's red...I want robin egg blue...or a nice lavendar...maybe even charcol. I am very sad to realize that my beloved shower curtain (shabby cottage-ish) will no longer belong. I will never find a shower curtain that I feel so connected to...unless I order a new ELVIS jailhouse rock shower curtain like I had in the past!!!! Of course, then I would feel the need to do that whole theme throughout and honestly, I am not in the mood. Today was not the best of days. I hope I don't sound too down, but it was kind of just plain rotten for no major reason just a bunch of small ones that started to feel like too much. Having workers at the house early in the morning, getting the children ready for school, keeping the dog contained, not being able to take a shower, not being able to find one of the lunchbags while the baby cries...that's not the best way to run out the door (late). ((plus snow and cold and cold and snow)). Not wanting to be at home cuz all the clutter, noise and dust...not wanting to be at the store cuz theres no fun shopping money and the baby is fussy, not wanting to impose on any friends because I am dirty and exhausted...I felt I belonged nowhere today...like a rolling stone with no home. The librarian guy at the library probably thinks I am insane cuz Ive been there 3 days in a row (only because books I put on hold keep coming in). Did you ever notice that when you go out into the world not wearing make up and your hair a mess, that you are mostly treated like crap by store clerks and such. Well sorry, screw that...got more important things to do with my time at the moment. Today I came across some incidents of some totally rude/ignorant people...and I let it get me down/dishearten me. I hate that I let negative people get the best of my emotions sometimes. I was feeling weak and tired so when these things happened , I kind of let them beat me down instead of raising above what does not matter. I can say now though, that I am trying to place those things, put them behind and move on with my evening as there is too much to take care of and do. Tonight I made a lazy dinner (turkey hot dogs) because Noah would be out and the kids requested it. While at the library today, I picked out lots of great books for the kids while they were at school. I layed them all out on the living room table and when they found them they were so excited and have been reading most of the night. Tomorrow, I have a neat and simple surprise for them. Since I really want to get some drawing done, I bought them each a little drawing/doodle pad of paper and new colored pencils. Tomorrow after school I will lay them out with some "How to draw animals, people , etc" books that I got from the library (wont show them those til tomorrow). I know they will love this. I am excited. Simple, cheap and I will hopefully get do some sketching/drawing as well. I am freezing all of a sudden. I love the smell of Tide. Where are my slippers? Tomorrow should be a better day, in fact - I am counting on it. goodnight

Dust & Dumpster

Here are a few shots of little Miss Livy as she is approaching 9 months of age.

Don't let the cuteness fool you....sure she smiles at you...but there is a bunch of trouble wrapped up in this little package.
Below is an example of when shes not exactly in the smiling mood:

Here is my beautiful trio of trouble....they are in a cage.

There is a dumpster on my front lawn. So my house is a construction zone at the moment. It's a good thing, but it will be hard to function for a bit. We are remodeling the UGLY bathroom on the main floor (believe me it is a neccessity)and installing a simple bathroom in the basement. We are also finishing off the extra room (that we have been using for storage since we moved in). Of course all of a sudden, our kitchen sink leaves a wonderful swimming pool for me to step into this a.m....so that of course is another story. So afterschool, I decided to be strong and brave and take the trio of trouble to the library because A. I wanted to pick up a book that I had on hold and B. I wanted to stay out of the carpenters way (Ben likes to follow them around and question their techniques). I threatened no DS tonight if they were anything less then angels while we were in the adult (quiet) section. Let's just say their behavior was just slightly below satisfactory which was better than what I anticipated. I managed to get some wonderful painting and art books and the kids even picked out a few books themselves when I got them to focus on the task at hand. Back home to eat some honey crisp apples (yum) and start the evening routine of homework and dinner prep. Well, the baby is not happy so I have got to go. Someday there shall be peace, but today is not that day, I know that and I am o.k. with that. I sure wish my hair would grow. I haven't made it back to the gym yet, I am such a loser...yet not. bye.

Chicken in the Oven

There is Chicken baking in the oven and I need to get off the comptuer and set the table because there are people here who would expect a proper place to eat. Elton John on the radio. Can I just say that it is about time that people who still have their Halloween decorations up, should take them down about now! Just my opinion. Girl Scout Cookie Sales start tomorrow. If you are interested in purchasing these amazing treats for a wonderful cause from an adorable girl, please let me know. k. I have got to pick a green vegetable. bye.

Your Boots

Everyone else says it's a WOLF. Ben says it's a Husky. So Husky Hat it is. There are some things in life that will never cease to delight me such as spotting a bright red cardinal in the snow or how good a nice cold glass of water tastes when you are thirsty beyond the norm. I'm heading off to the library once the baby gets up (unless there's not enough time ,then I will have to drag all 3 little people in with me...maybe, I will wake her up.) , some of the books that I put on hold have come in. I am so excited. (hint: they have to do with ART). I look out the window and it's snowing again. I hear the furnance heating the house and the dryer drying the clothes (yes, I am doing laundry again). My lips are dry and cracking and my hair is a total mess. I just wrote down this quote I found online that I find quite appropriate for some of my current ponderings: ((Your Boots are not set in concrete. Life IS change)). I failed to write down the person who said it, but I am sure its been said many times before in just this exact way or quite close. Today one crappy thing came in the mail: An advertisement for Kohls. Hi, I don't have a Kohls around here, I don't really want to look at your ad. thank you and good day. It was not worth the trip (of a mere few feet) to the mail box. k, I got to go. Really looking forward to the weekend :)

Warning: Tired Crabby Rambling Ahead

Today is one of those days...you know the kind in which you are completely exhausted because you have been going non-stop ALL day...and there's still much to do and the day isn't done yet. Ugh, I am seriously just so beyond spent. Just got 2 of the 3 kids to sleep. The baby remains awake crying in the crib. (last night she took a long nap from about dinner time til my bedtime, not kidding you the second my head hit the pillow she got up screaming and would not go back to sleep...I brought her out to the living room so she could play in her new playyard since there was no way she was going to settle down (playyard - big gated circle type thing to keep her safe and contained yet give her space to crawl etc. Kind of like a cage but different, hehe). So, lets just say it was a long night. Well, you won't believe this but I bring her back to bed and eventually get her to go down again and all of a sudden I hear a thump and crying from the other room, Isabelle fell out of bed. It was like one big giant non humorous joke on me last night. so anway, that may be why im a bit exhausted and (I must admitt) crabby at the moment. Olivia is teething and I hope that is what is contributing to her onereyness, etc. lately. So anyway, there was no way I was gonna let her nap this evening at all and she crabbed most the evening. So now I listen to her crying but the sounds are getting less loud and further in between. She may be giving up on the battle to fight awakeness, and may just rest. I am very envious of her right now in her safe little warm bed , with her footy pajamas...because not only does she have all that, but she also has a musical glow worm. What more could one ask for in regards to a perfect night of slumber? Youth is defintley wasted on the young. I made sloppy joes and misc. vegetables for dinner tonight. I know what you are thinking " What a lamo ungreat dinner" and I agree. I hate sloppy joes, but the kids love them and they were easy and Ive been cooking like crazy latley so I thought I'd go this route. Honestly, I just felt like ripping open a bag chips, throwing them on the table and shouting: dinner served! But, I didn't do that. A. I don't have any bags of chips and B. The guilt of my neglect would eventually get to me. I am kind of sort of freezing right now all of a sudden. I hear the dryer going and that is such a comfort sound to me...it says hey: household duties for loving family are being performed in the simpliest everyday task. I finally took down all the Christmas Decor. I pretty much want it out by new years day and Noah likes it up til the 7th, so I kind of compromised. It feels so good to clean up a bit. More open space. No more nutcrackers starring at me. Pine needles be gone. Christmas I loved you kindly but your time has passed for now, to everything there is a season. Ok so Im sure I could write a ton more but I will end this now cuz the baby has rekindled her crying and I just can't even really think at the moment. Maybe next post I will provide a picture or 2, maybe next post I will have something interesting or excellent to say...maybe. goodnight.

Winter Games

I used elements/papers from the kit : spontaneous delight by Carrie Stephens.

o.k., I really need to stop this digital scrapbooking....the dishes and laundry are piled up to the ceiling.

Good day.

Olivia Branch

Happy New Year & Those Loving Arms

(poem excerpt from a very old book)

I did a quick and simple digital scrap page today. So fun!
(papers and elements are from a kit called: walk with me / Jennifer Barrette.

Christmas Came to Town

Santa Baby!
Isabelle with her American Girl Doll "Kit" from Grandma Barb and Grandpa Al.

Dreams came true when the kids opened the very special gifts from Santa, their very much wished for Nintendo DS's. Here Ben is showing Noah how it works. hehe

Ben could barely speak or breathe when he found this amazing gift on our front Porch on Christmas Eve. It is a drivable monster truck (with a real radio) from Grandpa Paul, Celia, Mary & Margaret. He has always wanted one, "his whole entire life!"

Christmas has come and gone this year without much stress, but with much JOY. Seriously, whatever I did not get done, I accepted and moved on the best I could, I relaxed and I planned but was also flexible and calm. It wasn't easy, it took constant intention. Things of course were far from Norman Rockwell perfect (ex: Isabelle throwing up all the way down the hall last night or Ben crying in church because we wouldn't let him eat his candy cane) But they were our moments. I truly enjoyed these dancing fleeting moments to their fullest these last few days, from my Snowy Peaceful walk in the woods with Lancelot (which whom I have a love/hate relationship) to getting woken up shortly past 5a.m. by an excited Isabelle seeing that Santa came! Wrapping paper flying everywhere revealing such grand gifts, too many baked goods and treats to be had. Magical and Beautiful for the most part. I loved walking out of the Church after mass on Christmas Eve to see the snow falling into a winter wonderland all around us. I realize how very blessed we are in so many ways by the amazing friends and family God has put into our lives. Much more to say, but have to go for now. May you be and feel surrounded by Hope & Peace & LoVe. It's a Wonderful life.

Christmas Eve

Silly Siblings on Christmas Eve

- Isabelle the Angel, Olivia the Baby Jesus and Ben the Shepherd.

"The Best thing to hold onto in life is each other" - Audrey Hepburn

Every child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged of man.
-Rabindranath Tagore
How Ben makes Christmas Cookies: With lots of sprinkles and taste testing.

Spindleshakes our other Elf that comes right around Christmas time, always leaves a surprise gift for the Children. This time the gift was some very special (and warm might I add) hats! Thanks Spindleshakes!

Merry Christmas

(Olivia preparing for her role as Baby Jesus)

Wishing everyone a very happy, healthy, safe, magical and blessed Christmas!

Much more pics & updates to come after Santa leaves town...

Table Manners

o.k., so unappropriate, but it was fun! Isabelle and Ben love the scene from A Christmas Story in which Ralphy's little brother Randy eats his meatloaf like a piggy. Well, tonight I let the kids get a little silly. Warning: This is not the most pleasant of productions.

Snowy Salute

Can't believe Christmas is a few days away. This is stuff I have in a basket on my coffee table. I rarely ever drink coffee at my coffee table.
I really enjoy watching our wildlife in the winter snow! Nature in a White Wonderland.

Lancelot enjoying the snow as well.

Ben helping make the dough for our sugar cookies (dough in freezer, no cookies made as of yet, I was way too tired after a long day.).
Although, I did make Toffee for the first time today! Easy peasy and good to boot. I may do something competley unheard of and skip the tradition of peanut butter balls this year. Today we also made some cinnamon/applesauce ornaments (those are the brown things with the glitter on the table). They take 24 hours to dry so tomorrow we will put ribbons on them and finish them off.

One day last week I decided to get all Martha Stewarty and I attempted to make a door wreath from our leftover tree limbs. Well, now I understand why people just go to the store and purchase such decor. A thousand pine needles all over my bathtub, and an aching back later, my wonderous creation was complete (as seen above) and yultiding for all to view with pleasure. I pulled the bow off of an old fake wreath I had and I also used the wire frame from that one and just added new twisty wire and fresh cut tree limbs. Well guess what, these pine limbs are not all that easy to bend into an amazing and beautiful shape to deck the hall. So anyway, I think I will leave future wreath making to the masters and marthas of the world.

In other news:
I am starting to regret/dislike/disagree with my haircut. Speaking of haircuts - Noah says the haircut that I gave Ben makes him look like a little Hitler. (This is also something I normally leave to the masters, but didnt have time to get him to a cuttery yet the hair over his ears and neck were almost braid-able so I took my chances. Once in a great while, I let the kids eat like little piggies (like Ralphys little brother randy in A Christmas Story). Since we were eating meatloaf tonight and the kids weren't really eating it...I let tonight be one of those rare nights (since they asked and all and I alraedy had a huge mess to clean up). So anyway they had a blast and I recorded it, I may post the video here if it's short enough. Last week my car slid a few times at stops and I slipped and fell on my back on the ice...so I promplty announced at that I was so done with winter...yet it's still here so I am trying to take pleasure in the season as best as possible by accepting it and knowing there is beauty and purpose for ice welding my car door shut. School was cancelled for today due to weather so the kids are offically on break and I must say I am thrilled. I need a break from the school routine. Not that I sleep in, but at least I dont have to rush out the door. I need to get Olivia a stocking. I am just using an extra one we have, but it's not quite her. I think I am pretty ready for Christmas for the most part. Noah and I are discussing/planning the meals for Christmas Eve and Day. I think we should just make a mystery meal. Each course a delightful surprise to the culinary palet. Or we could just open a bag of chips. The most fantastic part of my day was that I stayed in my pajamas. O.k., I have probably rambled beyond enough. I wonder where Flick will wind up by morning time.

Oh, Deer - Mt. Rushmore

Noah and I flew away for the weekend leaving the children behind with family. It was a mini getaway with a work related Christmas celebration. We got to stay at a wonderful and private resort. In the mornings we were greeted by coffee, turkeys and deer. The evenings were closed with fireplaces, wine and friendly conversations. One thing that I didn't expect to really be a big deal until I was upon it was visiting Mt. Rushmore. I must be honest, it wasn't something I really thought too much into in the past. But I must say that this American Monument is Amazing and Inspiring. Seeing it in person and also learning all the behind the scenes facts was truly grand. I am so glad that I had this opportunity. Also, flying back to Chicago at night time with all the Christmas lights was a beautiful sight. Bonus: It was so nice not to do dishes and laundry for a few days.

This is the view from our room balcony. We could actually see George from there.

This is what you see walking up to the mountain. Flags and posts from all the states.

It was such a great visit because the air was cold but not freezing and there were some people there but not crowded. The best part was that the book store was open (hehe). FYI - thoughts off of the top of my head: It took approx. 14 years for this Art to be created. 90 percent was done by dynamite. The rest (the details) were carved and chistled by many workers. The creator died before the project was complete and his son finished his fathers dream.

This is a moutain goat that we drove by while exiting the parking area. We just stared at each

other for awhile then he resumed eating the earth and we continued on our journey.

Thur. a.m. musings.

My Happy Olivia at the preschool performance this week. Yes, my baby lives in pajamas pretty much. Actually, I am quite jealous. Warm & Easy attire for her these days.

Here is a nighttime glimpse of our tree all decorated. This guy sure drinks alot of water.

Here are the kids earlier this week, waking up to Isabelle's finds of her most recent tooth fairy visit. Ben has woken up seconds before this picture, which may explain his look. (Sally - Ben still sleeps with his blanky cow every single night!...and naps...and car rides.. anytime really! hehe)

Thanks to Alton Brown, I now know how to make the perfect cup of coffee at home. I cut Ben's hair last night , I must say it did not turn out bad at all. It still needs a real cut, but for now it will do. hehe. Ben just got up as a matter of fact and told me he loves me and then said good morning to Flick who is sitting on top of the refridgerator. Will I ever get to my craft/art room this season or get to make our families famous Peanut Butter Balls? I hope so. Today will be a day of packing. Packing the kids to stay with family, and packing Noah and I for our trip to South Dakota. Please keep us all in your prayers for health and safety in these upcoming days. Why don't the dishes every go away? When they are piled up like they are this morning (because I was too cold and tired to do them last night), I remind myself how thankful that I am that I have a wonderful crazy clan of people to do them for....but I should really invest in more paper plates. So, I made something called: Lazy Lasagna this week. It turned out o.k. I don't think I will make it again. I hope it didn't snow too much out there, I see the roads/car are white again. After the day I had yesterday, I am so done with this winter (car sliding a few times, and me slipping on the ice as well. Thankful I wasn't holding Olivia). O.k., Isabelle just got up and threw up...looks like there will be no school for her today...

Ben the Performer.

Here is my very tired Ben performing in his preschool program. Before we left to be there for the evening, I asked him if he is going to be the Star of the show? and he replied, NO! I am not a star, I am the donkey!

Ben The Donkey / Horse

There is nothing more precious then Preschool Christmas Program at School. I so look forward to this event knowing that I will laugh and cry every time. This year Ben played the part of The Donkey...but we only had a horse costume so it worked! hehe. This year the show was in the evening (It is usually a day time ritual), so Ben was pretty exhausted by showtime. But, when he got his bells, he sang his heart out. As usual all the adorable children were a pure delight in every single way. The performance started out with the Angel Gabriel announcing that he had to go to the bathroom and it ended with one of the wise men crying because he didn't get bells to shake and these are the wonderful gems that make it what it is! I always feel so blessed to witness these children during this magical time.

In other news: Isabelle lost another tooth! A bottom one this time. (She sure is keeping the tooth fairy busy). Our tree is up and most of the decorations are as well. I absoutley love how the kids decorate the tree. They put like 15 ornaments on one branch. Can there be too many ornaments on a single tree I wonder? I love that Isabelle plays pretend with the ornaments like I used to when I was a little girl. An imaginary Christmas world within the tree. The kids fought while they set up the Nativity Scene (but, then they played nice with it). I love that they get so excited about opening the boxes of decorations and that they remember things from the previous years. the Kids can't wait to see where Flick the Elf is every morning. This morning, I spotted him sitting in the top of the tree. He must be happy that we finally have one! Gingerbreadmen marshmellows are actually not bad. Bought some for our hot chocolate. The weather outside is frightful. We have got no baking or crafting done yet this season. I hope to really focus on that next week. The time is flying by like a reindeer. This week is chalked full of events and Noah and I are flying to South Dakota this weekend for a business/work party. I don't even know if I have a suitcase. I better start getting my act together. While we are away, the children's palet will be filled with lots of fun holiday stuff including being with misc. family. I am praying for safety, health and goodness for us all. I have NO clue what to make for dinner tonight.