Late Easter pics

I took pictures of the kids on Easter.  I used my phone instead of the camera.  I really should have used the camera! But they are still adorable.

I like these crazy ones of the girls...

I like the look on B's face...

K likes her fake hair pieces.  It looks weird here but the color actually looked cute with her hair and the dress.

My boy is getting so handsome I can hardly believe it. I can't wait until his braces come off and he smiles for real!

Another blanket

I finally uploaded pictures of the blanket for K's math teacher.  She liked the blanket even though I went free-form with the stripes.  I liked it too.  This blanket is the very first time I ever changed colors.  It was easier than I thought it would be. 

The reason I did the various sized stripes is because I did not have enough blue yarn to make it even!  I love the blue and green together.  I thought the green was too girly by itself for a boy blanket. And the stripes made it more interesting even though I used a single stitch.

I enjoyed making the blankets.  I like that I got to enjoy it (make it simple) but make something that turned out cute! I hope they enjoy them...and maybe remember K when they use it :)

Teachers and blankets

K has three teachers for third grade.  Her homeroom /reading teacher is having a baby and is due in a couple of weeks.  Her math teacher is also having a baby which is due in about another month!

I go to school every Tuesday and Wednesday morning to volunteer at school.  Mostly I help her homeroom teacher with her lower reading group.  I usually take a group of about five kids during "centers" and we work on their weekly story.  I also help K's Science/SS teacher and sometimes make copies and stuff.  I really enjoy volunteering at school.  I love working with the reading groups even though sometimes the kids drive me crazy (there are several with behavior issues :)).  Since the teacher is expecting her baby during or before spring break I am finished volunteering after next week.  I will miss it.  I won't miss rushing out of the house to be there around 8:20 because I am not a morning person but I will miss the kids-even the rotten ones!  I am so glad they have let me come in all year.  I really like all three teachers and so does K!

I decided to crochet a baby blanket for the teacher. I love to crochet but I am not great at it.  I like to do it mindlessly, without any counting or concentrating--that's why I'm not great at it!  Too lazy to do fancy stuff maybe.  I started the blanket several times and didn't like it and started over again.  I finally found a yarn I like and finished it up last weekend--just in time!

Not a great picture but...

I went very simple--single stitch.

The shell edging turned out a little ruffly so I was afraid that made it too girly for the boy baby but she said she didn't think so and if mom loves it that's all that matters!

I am at least halfway finished the blanket for the math teacher.  I don't help her so I don't know her as well but she is K's favorite and she refused to let me leave her out!  I will take pics of that one too.  I have to hurry because I heard her say today they may put her on bed rest soon!

Making pies and homemade bread make me feel like Betty Crocker or maybe Martha, but crochet (and sewing) make me feel like I am just too lazy and impatient.  I wish I could do it like my mom or my grandma who could crochet anything!  Maybe someday I'll get better....

Easy as pie?

Last week I made an apple pie.  It was the first apple pie I have ever made!  We just aren't big "pie people" I guess.  I have made chocolate pecan several times.  And last summer I made a couple of peach pies from the fresh peaches we picked at the you-pick farm-and they were yummy!  But I have never made apple pie.

And wonder of wonders, I actually made homemade crust for the first time!

It actually was pretty easy (although not exactly pretty).  That light spot in that crust is BUTTER, see it?  No shortening, just butter so I though I'd give it a try.  And it tasted pretty good too.  I probably should have rolled it out a bit thinner but no one complained!

It was topped with what was called a butter crumb topping instead of a crust.  It was so sweet that it was almost too much.  Maybe if I had cut smaller pieces it wouldn't have been too much....  Next time I may half the topping though.

I know people have been baking pies for ages but I still felt all proud like I was Betty Crocker or something!  Luke had been gone for a month and I wanted to make something special.  And it was!

Sunday

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

Hebrews 12:14

Just like his Daddy

I found a list downstairs beside the computer.  E made it.  I make lists too but not often.  Daddy makes lists all the time.  I don't even know if E knows that so he did not learn it from us.

It says:

do homework u left at school

cut nails


I just thought it was funny.  He didn't take it with him so did he remember to do the homework? Hmm...

He also has a very bad habit of writing down things like computer or video game passwords on pieces of paper and leaving them laying around-never picking them up again.  Yes, like father, like son....

More blessings

B had another visit to the ENT this week to follow up on the hole in her eardrum.  In December the ENT said it was closed and all was fine.  But when we had went to the pediatrician in January and they said she had another hole.  Well the ENT says the peds are wrong, what they see as as hole is not a hole. She does have a hole someplace which is causing air to flow through but it is so small he cannot find it.  He says we do not need to do anything at all, no surgery.  Yay, praise the Lord!  We are so thankful.

Now another appointment next week, this one is with a spine specialist because she has a small degree of scoliosis.  Praying once again that this will be nothing.  We do not want her to need a brace or any other intervention.  Praying that God intervenes and straighten this spine!!!

A close call

I just found out that the weather service confirmed a tornado on Friday VERY near my house (just an EF0--but still!).  I knew it was scary and I did have the kids in the basement but I was upstairs on the phone with my mom at the time! 

Friday was a terrible, tragic day for so many people.  The tornado stories and footage on tv break my heart.  I pray for all of the victims and their families.

Here is a picture of the tornado track.  The curser finger thing is my house.  The track was 3/4 miles long.

I knew we were blessed.  Today I realize once again how blessed...

Need an attitude adjustment?

I found this on a blog and I LOVE it!  It can definitely make you rethink your attitude if you have complaints about doing the laundry!!



In 1912 a Kentucky grandmother gave a bride the following recipe for washing clothes (misspelled words and all) :

1. Bild fire in back yard to heet kettle of rainwater.

2. Set tubs so smoke won’t blow in eyes if wind is pert.

3. Shave one hole cake lie soap in boilin water.

4. Sort things, make three piles. 1 pile white. 1 pile cullord. 1 pile work britches and rags.

5. To make starch stur flour in cold water to smooth then thin down with boilin water.

6. Rub dirty spots on board, scrub hard, then boil. Rub cullord but don’t boil — just rench and starch.

7. Take white things out of kettle with broom stick handle then rench, blew and starch.

8. Spred tee towels on grass.

9. Hang old rags on fence.

10. Pour rench water in flower bed.

11. Scrub porch with hot soapy water.

12. Turn tubs upside down.

13. Go put on cleen dress, smooth hair with side combs, brew cup of tee — set and rest a spell and count your blessins.

It's been a while...

I know it's been a while but here are some updates...

B at the band competition in Indy in November.  She loves color guard and I am SO proud of her! I am amazed at how much work goes into band!

E's birthday present in December. He is 12.  I told him he has to be sure this thing doesn't take him out before he is 13!

K at Upwards basketball in February. She loves basketball.  She likes to get her aggression out on the court.  She wasn't very happy when they started teaching them not to foul each other!