Photoshop

So.. I've been thinking today about Photoshop. I know people swear by it and im sure if you read enough tutorials that you can figure out how to use it, that it's awesome. HOWEVER is it cheating?
Shouldn't someone's skill be judged from how a picture looks straight out of the camera?
I use my editing software to straighten, crop, or change a picture to black and white. Thats it. Now i do realize i am not a professional but i think on occasion I take good pictures. I don't think they compare to Ansel Adams. Though.. i don't think he used Photoshop either.
I'm just saying.
I've been looking at all these pictures on various blogs i follow and they talk about how they do all this editing of pictures show before and afters.. I can see that Photoshop can take a mediocre photo and create something amazing. I dont have the time for that much fiddling around. I think a picture should be judged on the feeling not just the editing.

<----- This one.. Straight out of the camera.

Merry Christmas from us to you

The Birth of Jesus

 ¹ In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while^[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to their own town to register.

 ⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

 ⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

 ¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

 ¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
   and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

 ¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

 ¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Merry Christmas! May God bless you all 

Oh Christmas Tree...

Well apparently this post got erased haha so i posted a blank blog post! 

Thanks T for letting me know it wouldn't pull up. 

On Sunday evening we had our tree decorating party! We made cookies, drank egg nog, and had the best time ever!! 

I think our tree shrank though... 

Normally the tree took over the whole living room. This year hahha in the new house it appears small. 

I wonder if it has something to do with the huge ceilings?  

This year.. it struck both Bigdaddy and I that our babies are growing. :( They didn't need help reaching the top. They evenly placed all the decorations. We didn't need to move any higher up. BigGwrl had some issues with knocking decorations off on accident. She said she fought she was the worstest decowaiter evew. Mommy and her had a talk and she decided she wasn't as bad as she used to be. 

All in all it was a great time. :) 

We are getting so excited! It's almost time for our Happy Birthday Jesus party!! 

The promised land

Early this week to reward the girls for all their hard work helping mommy, Daddy promised the girls he would talk them to the beach this weekend. HAHA he SOO regretted that promise come Saturday. It was cold and rainy.  BigDaddy had a cold so he TRIED to talk the girls out of going. They didn't go for that.
So off we went to Myrtle Beach.

Welcome home

well as of right now I don't have pictures to post because i'm doing the wifi at McD's thing. I just wanted to update everyone on what all was going on. We got here late Saturday night Got to walk through our truely amazing new house. We celebrated my eatting pizza on the floor! The next morning we went to Church and met lots of new people. People at this church actually talk to you! It gets better.. Later some men from the church stopped by to help us unpack the truck! It gets better. About 3 the pastor and the youth stopped by on their way to go caroling at the nursing home and wanted the girls to go with them. How awesome is that? We are so blessed!! The animals are adjusting. Mimi is loving all the space to roam , Genesis is laid back as usual and Indiana well the poor thing cried all the to South Carolina then cried all night and all day the next day. Today she didn't cry as much but she didn't want momma to leave her alone. :)  i think that about covers a quick update.
Sorry for blathering on. i am sooo sore and sooo tired :)

Gravy

It's been a stressful time lately, im not gonna lie. The girls have been crazy. I've been crazy. My saving grace has been T who always seems to know when to call or come by. She also seems to have a magical power to get the girls to behave when no one else can. Tonight is the last night in this house with all our stuff..such as it is. Tomorrow the moving truck will be loaded and we will be all packed and ready to move to South Carolina. Big_Daddy is on his way home right now and the girls are in bed (even if the lights aren't off yet). The plans i've been meticulously making for the past week about how the next few days are going to go have been in constant flux. People will call me and ask what the plans are.. then when they disagree they call Big_daddy in ANOTHER state and say how about we do this.. then HE calls and says such and such called with an idea to do things this way. To which i then have to explain that i've already told that person THIS way is how we are going to do it. *SIGH*
I'm trying TRYING to remember that this move is what God wants and my plans are not nessicarly his plans. It doesn't matter when or how things get done as long as they get done. The rest is just gravy. who cares if we start packing at noon or 5 as long as it gets done and Saturday evening I get to see the house God provided for us? NOTHING ELSE MATTERS. NOTHING.
People can change my plans, and they certinly will. They WILL complain that i'm not doing things the way they would. They can and will invite people they think are important. They can and will try to take charge and tell me how to do things. It's just the way things go. I need to remember this is just a little fraction of time. It's all just a blink. Our new life is starting soon. The rest is just gravy.

I would just like to thank daddy

quote for the day...
* middlest* mommy MOMMY MOOOOMMMMYY
*me* WHAT
*middlest* Watch this! (jumps off my chair despite asking her not to do that)
*Middlesy* Does that look dangerous?
*me* yes PLEASE do not do it again
*middlest* DADDY said if it doesn't look dangerous it probably isn't and this doesn't look dangerous. See I didn't hurt myself!
-Thanks Daddy
 I just wanted you to know how much your support means to me :P
By the way if you are also the one who told Rose tricycle rides are even bettew inside you better run.
im serious.

Bedtime

With Big_Daddy gone bed time is even worse than normal. Those with kids know what I mean. This was my evening. We started at 6:30 so the girls would have a full hour of fussing before i got upset.

Okay little ones Go get jammies on and teeth brushed.
*yea*
Are your clothes out for tomorrow?
*ummmmmm*
are your clothes out for tomorrow?
*i think they are in the dryer*
No nothing is in the dryer look in the clothes baskets
* where are the baskets? *
Same place they were. Beside mommys bed.
* okay* * i tired to make the bed and x punched me*
 go to bed. go to bed. go to bed. go to bed.
 *but*
 go to bed.
 *but mommy*
go to bed.
*how come Eldest gets to stay up late?*
Cause I love her more and she is 12 go to bed. go to bed. go to bed bed bed. go to bed.
 *do i have to go to bed*
 yes. go to bed
. *im not sleepy*
 I don't care go to bed.
 * I have to go to bed?*
YES GO TO BED.
 * you don't have to yell.*

- Can I move to South Carolina without them? Just for a few days? Please?

Our new home

Today Big_Daddy made my year.

This is our new home. 

It's a rental BUT it's my dream house

and this....

is my dream kitchen

all i've been able to do since Big_Daddy called is think about how much more furniture i need and how yummy my bread will be coming from that oven. 

I am joking about the furniture. 

kinda.

the packing chronicles

So. I am sitting here.. well wallering in my chair. Big_Daddy is leaving tomorrow to go to South Carolina. SOUTH CAROLINA. In possibly 9 days I and my family will be residents of South Carolina. RURAL South Carolina. R.U.R.A.L as in doesn't even have a WALMART! Most of the time I am 100% raring to go and so super excited to see what God has planned for us. HOWEVER I have moments of incredible panic about what we are doing. Mostly while i'm surrounded by boxes and things that need to go in them. What in the WORLD am i thinking?! Seriously?! We are moving 600 something miles away from our family our support groups!! We are taking our kids away from everyone they have EVER known!! WHAT AM I THINKING!! HOLY MOLY!! Then I remember to pray. This move is in Gods plan for us. It's not supposed to be easy. I have learned so much from this experience.  A move like this is scary and nerve-wracking, it is definatly not something for weenies. Thank goodness I have God to hold me up!

my job discription

Big_daddy came home yesterday and told me that in able to continue reciving help paying bills the company needed me to write a note stateing that I am able to work but dont and that it needs to be noterized.  I think the following will be my reply.
To whom it may concern,
             I was asked to send in a note stating that I am able to work ( not disabled) but that I don't. I feel this is to make me feel like I am not contrubuting to my family.  . I feel that being a stay at home mother IS a job... One I do not recive pay for.
My qualifications for these jobs are basic math, reading and cooking skills. I hold both basic and infant first aid and CPR.  The ability to carry 50 lbs of dead weight, while simotasily carrying a 10 lb diaper bag, 4 grocery sacks containg milk aqnd eggs and still being able to open a locked door.  The patience to deal with a whole neighborhood of children all hopped up on candy. As well as the stamina to deal with three children and a husband  with the flu.

I have 7 years experiance being a short order cook and at annaual events a passive baker. I am trained in the art of stain removal and dish scrubbing. I have training as a 24 hour nurse. I monitor media consumption. I frequently work as a sanitation enginner and house cleaner. I work daily as a teacher, counslor, and a P.E. teacher. I work daily as a taxi driver, and a laundress. In addition to these I also work as a receptionist, personal aide and life coach.   I have  great orginazitional skills. The ability to calm a screaming child with a hug and heal boo-boos with a kiss. I can plan a party in two days AND come in under budget for it. I am a thrifty shopper and am able to save my family money each month with my budgeting.  I have the ability to see  through walls and to tell when a child is lying. I am a Sunday school teacher.  I also have been known to be able to do craft projects in record time. I work as a photographer and historian. I am able to raise clean, respectful, well mannered children and keep a comfortable home.

I recive no salary for my job. I have instead chose to accept kisses, hugs, art work and the occasional weed (not the kind you smoke). I recive few benifits such as medical and dental coverage.  However, I get the ability to raise my children the way i see fit acording to my morals instead of allowing a stranger to do the job for me.

Thank you,

XXXXX X XXXXXXXX

Working on homework TOGETHER

Middlest has been having some problems in school. We study for her spelling tests, do her homework ect. and she was still having trouble passing her tests. We tried: flash cards, computer games, writing over and over, verbal spelling Pretty much everything i could think of! So I decided to try a diffrent route. Since we started homeschooling  Eldest; She and Biggwrl have become a LOT closer, often leaving Middlest out. So Eldest has now been put in charge of Middlest's spelling words. This way they are learning to be more patient with each other. Eldest is working on her handwriting, reading and PATIENCE. Also she gains self esteem as they BOTH succeed. Seeing how much closer and more understanding the girls have gotten toward each other has been a HUGE reward!! I was a little sad to see my little girl doing better working with her sister than her mother but then I realized that it doesn't matter WHO works with Middlest as long as she is learning and doing better.

speaking of boxes

Since we are moving and money will be tight closer to christmas i decided to order gifts ( Santa only) early this year, and have them sent to my mothers house. In case they got in after we moved. Well just our luck they all came back quickly which meant i needed to pack them in a box. We still have a medium size stack of unused boxes that when we find something to be packed we find a box the is close to the right size. Well since these are large gifts i picked the largest box. Makes sense right? NORMALLY. This box is freaking huge! I dont know where Big_Daddy found this box BUT Eldest, Middlest, BigGwrl, Big_daddy and BOTH dogs fit in this box. Seriously! It's a family box!
   So everyone except me and Middlest hid in the box to wait for the bus. I went outside and waited.. the bus gets home and Middlest gets off the bus walks inside and says where did the box comefrom? I dont know the mail lady just dropped it off..
Well how did she get it in her car?
opens it and sees bodies and starts screaming until she notices they are her family
then she starts laughing.
This was Great fun!!

Thankful

Things right now are a little nuts around our house. We have well a lot of boxes and a lot of mess in our house right now. We are in a kinda of limbo waiting for all the beginning of a job security checks to come in before we sign a lease on a house. So here we are waiting. Meme decided she didn't like all this packing and started peeing on my bed. EVERYTIME I put clean sheets on. EVERYTIME. So after questioning the smartest pet person i know we bought my little kitty her own crate for her and all her stuff. She hates it and she yells ALL DAY LONG. The girls are doing better then they were.. they constantly need assurances of mommy's love.. ie they are CONSTANTLY up my butt. Big Daddy did what he was supposed to when I had a check up about my celexa and sold me down river. I had decided to take control of my life and tell the doctor i wanted off my meds. He said and I qoute.. yeah..no.. i am not taking you off. As a matter of fact I want you to go back to the original doseage. All because my loving caring husband told him that he didnt think it was a good idea. I know he loves me but i still wanted to punch his nose. and yes i know it wasnt my husbands fault but still.
anyways this post is supposed to be about things I am thankful for right now.
I am Thankful : for God  providing us with a new job
I am Thankful :having a home
I am Thankful : a loving Christian husband who loves me enough to say no
I am Thankful : beautiful little girls who love me
I am Thankful : for my Family
I am Thankful : for Tim's family
I am Thankful :for my friends
I am Thankful : That Jesus died to save me
There are so many other things I am Thankful for. Right now is a scary time and I am thankful for everyone who is praying for us.
Mostly I am Thankful God loves me

the secret

For a while now we've been harboring a secret..no we are not having another baby.
Big_Daddy has gotten a job in South Carolina!! We are moving!!  So in the space of a few weeks my house has gone from this

to 

to 

There is almost NOTHING left. Except for clothes. 

It has been a crazy few weeks. Last weekend we were pretty sure we were moving to Wisconsin..THEN South Carolina called and asked Big _Daddy to come in for an interview. We didn't find out until this Friday for sure. There have been a lot of prayer that has gone into this decision. We are so happy God has given us the oppertunity! Now if any of you have a Rental in South Carolina can you hook us up?

God Cleanin'

God cleanin'
When God tells you to clean out your lives he sure means it!  A month ago God put in on my and Big Daddys heart to start cleaning up our lives. *sigh* We were not quite prepared for HOW he was going to clean up our lives. We washed and scrubbed and threw away soooo much stuff. Then God told us we needed to go where he sent us. OH BOY! As of right now we have NO idea about where God wants us to go, but we are ready.. ish. Right now my living room is FULL of packing boxes waiting to recive news.  I am struck with how much JUNK five people can get to fill up seven years. I am going through stuff that in September we THOUGHT we would need  ( before moving was even a possibility), Now im thinking do we REALLY need this enough to carry if half way across the country? I now understand how people leave so much stuff behind when they move. What seems important when looked at in other lights doesnt seem so special.  Take for instance we have 4 tables. FOUR. One is the dinning room table, one is a sewing table, one we cut the legs off of and we use it as a coffee table and one is a round table I used as a desk. Do I REALLY need four tables? I will probably take them JUST IN CASE but im not sure how nessicary they really are. I am not REALLY sure how all of this will play out but I know God has a pourpose for all of it.  God wants us to have clean lives this is apparently how he has decided how to clean out MY life.

Soul Mates

God brings people into our lives for periods to teach us things and then sometimes you grow apart. This is what I believe what soul mates are. They are people that are a part of us. Even for a short time. Every time I meet one of these people I fall in love (not THAT kind) KNOWING at some point we will part. It HURTS so much. Its like a part of you is being ripped apart, because a part of you is. I miss you EVERY one of my soul mates. Everyone that even for that small amount of time touched my soul. I just needed you to know.. that EVERYONE of you makes me who I am, and I love you.

Election Day Cake!

To celebrate election day we voted AND we made.... 

Election Day Cake! 

We took a White cake mix and made it according to directions

Seprated it into 3rd's 

Used food coloring to color one red and one blue. 

We poured 1/2 of the white in a greased bunt cake pan.

1/2 the blue one top

1/2 the red then start over until there is no mix left. 

Bake.

We did the same with the frosting.

And no the cake actually tasted better than it looked. 

Except the frosting... Eldest put a little to much red coloring in the frosting.

How do you inspect candy?

As I sit here with this ENORMOUS bag of candy in my lap I am forced to wonder how does everyone inspect their candy?
This is how I do it..
-All candy bars get a light squeeze. If they don't have that extra air in them they get tossed. (m&m's get this test too)
-Smarties and hard candies ALWAYS get thrown away.
 -Dum-Dums i twist the wrapper if its wiggly I keep - If it sticks or falls off throw away
-Boxed candies (nerds, dots, milk duds, raisinnetts) get a shake if they shake well and are completely sealed I keep.

But what do you do about things like individual reeses cups?
Carmel apple lollipops
Tootsie rolls
Pixie sticks

Okay I feel throughly overprotective now.

What was the wierdest thing you found in YOUR child's candy bag?
Me ? I found a Fiber One bar
I thought tooth brushes were wierd!

almost Halloween...

yesterday the girls and thier dearest friend went to trunk or treat at our church.

 The girls won most creative in their group contest. I was soooo proud! They won Charlie brown and the great pumpkin!! So tonight we are watching Halloween movies and eating homemade pizza. super yummy. tomorrow we are going over to gwanma and pookieboos house to go trick or treating. Well the girls are I am going to curl up in the livingroom and drink hot toddies 'cause the girls so lovingly shared thier sore throats with me. btw this crust is fabulous. ill post the recipe later.

Halloween costumes on a budget

Big_Daddy is still out a job like many others. We have been very blessed with plenty of help so please do not think I am in any way whining! God has taken care of our needs!
That being said and out of the way:
Halloween is coming up this weekend!!! We have no budget allowances right now for some things. Occasionally we squeeze out enough for a hot fudge sundae or another kid of special treat. The girls have been VERY good during this time about not asking for things.. except for rose.. but she is 4 and its hard for her to understand. I knew they all wanted special costumes for this year and we had discussed how we didnt have money to go buy stuff this year to make our outfits. We decided to make all the girls goddesses!! We had Eldest's outfit she made during the PERCY JACKSON session we did! We also had an extra sheet ( we thought eldest would need two for her project) and Ms. Kitty had a bunch of trim she needed to get rid of. FREE COSTUMES!! How 'bout that? Each child got a personalize goddess costume for virtually no cost. I am rather proud of myself this year!
Here are the pictures:

btw: even though they were from a diffrent project the sheets still cost about 7.00 apiece at Walmart

one reason why I homeschool!

God gave me the courage to homeschool our children. I thank him all the time for putting Homeschooling on mine and Ms. Ducky's  hearts this year. This is the third situation like this in our area. One was at a local middle school. I don't know where we'll be next year or how I will handle 3 homeschoolers BUT I do know that God wants me to do this. Thank you Lord

for giving ME (and Mrs. Ducky)  back my children. 

Woodlawn High School on Lock Down

Woodlawn High School on Lock Down

Copied from NBC13

BIRMINGHAM, Ala (WVTM) – A Lockdown at a Birmingham School was lifted earlier today, but the search for two suspects continues.

Officials put Woodlawn School on lockdown around 10:30 Tuesday morning, after two burglary suspects ran into the school.

Police arrested a third suspect away from the school. The man was armed with a “sawed off” shotgun.

Police also say someone called in a bomb threat after the school went on lockdown. Bomb sniffing dogs were deployed to make sure a bomb wasn’t actually inside the school.

Captain Allen Hatcher says the two men entered the building from its back side. Hatcher says the men were able to easily blend in. “School was in the middle of changing classes at the time that suspects ran into the building,” Hatcher told Alabama’s 13’s Hilary Golston.  “That’s why they were able to kind a intermingle in with the students and go where they went.”

Hatcher says he’s been at the East Precinct for 18 months and has never seen anything like this before.

Several parents were wondering how the suspects were able to get into the building at all. It’s kind of stunning to me,” parent Irma McCoy said. “How did they get up in there in the first  place.

Cystic Fibrosis and the pepsi refresh program

The Pepsi Refresh voting is going on until Oct. 31st. Help Babies breath is in third place. http://www.refresheverything.com/helpbabiesbreathe 

I just dont know what to say. 

This is the second time we've been in the lead only to drop to third place before the voting closed. 

      Im just.. sad. 

   People in Missouri accused a CF patient of just using his "problems" as an excuse to not work. The patient was on Oxygen and in the hospital. 

How can they not understand? Why can't CF awareness be as big as cancer awareness?  People are SLOWLY dying of a disease... one they inheriated. NOT CONTRACTED by drugs or some other "bad" choice. SLOWLY DYING. DROWNING TO DEATH. There is no cure. 

Countless Pills

Countless hospital visits... a once a year "tune-up" stay (if you're healthy) is two weeks... if you are sick you go in more often and sometimes for longer amounts of time. 

But hey there is good news! The age that most survive to went up from 35 to your 50's! 

I know im all over the place.. i just want a better life for these poor babies, children, teens, and adults. No one should have to go though this and if there was a way to prevent it..or for more clinical studies to maybe one day find a cure I think we should do everything in our power to do it.  

Vote in the Pepsi Refresh program please. Please help these poor babies have a better life, a better chance for survival. 

                          This is my face of CF. This is who I want a better life for. Who I want a cure for. 

the Story of a Sunday Drive

Once upon a time a Biggwrl wanted to take her mommy for a drive. She put the sewing box on the seat to give her some highth and started to go.

Then a sad sad man popped up in the window. She turned to ask if anyone knew who he was.

Then she remembered it was her BigDaddy and he wanted to drive Mommy. She thought she had locked him out BUT.... 

He got the door open anyways. She grabbed on to the steering wheel and refused to surrender it! 

He tried sweet talking her and tickling her....

He tried unbuckling her seatbelt but the Biggrwl wouldn't give up she wanted to drive!! 

She stood her ground and hugged the steering wheel!! 

                     But in the end BigDaddy won the fight :)

The Legend of Noccalula

See how big the Waterfall is? 

The Legend of Noccalula came from the early times.  Originally known as the Black Creek Falls, the legend as written by Mathilde Bilbro says that "long ago, on a mountain summit within sight and sound of a rushing waterfall, lived a great Indian Chief whose young daughter, Noccalula, was famed far and wide for her beauty and lovliness of character."  Many gallant braves sought the old chief for the hand of Noccalula, but only one was favored by the girl's father, a rich chief of a powerful neighboring tribe, who had much to offer in exchange: wampum, horses,  and blankets.  Vainly Noccalula pleaded that her heart was already given to a young brave of her own tribe.

But this young warrior, though noted for his skill and valor, possessed little in wordly goods.
The old chief refused to listen and ordered his daughter to make ready for the marriage he had arranged.  What was a maiden's silly fancy against many horses, much wampum and union with another strong tribe?  The girl's lover was driven from the tribe, and a marrige agreement was made with the neighboring chief.
The wedding day came and a great feast was prepared.  In silence Noccalula allowed herself to be arrayed in festive wedding robes.  It was incredible!...To be sold to a stranger by the father she loved!  Her chosen lover forever banished!  Overcome with grief, she quietly slipped away from the merrymakers during the festivities..the soft rhythmical rush of waters called her...a moment she stood poised upon the brink of the yawning chasm.  One leap - and her troubles were over.
Heartbroken, the remorseful father gave the great cataract his daughter's name.  Since that day the waterfall has been called Noccalula.

Noccalula Falls

On Saturday we went on a special picnic to Noccalula Falls in Gadsten Al.  with our Nana. We had so much fun. Since it's been so dry the past year there really wasn't much of a waterfall this time HOWEVER we were still able to find some water to play in.

We all walked to the edge of the water fall and took pictures.

 They have a petting zoo, a homestead ,which was really cool because all the building were from diffrent places in Alabama and Tenn.

 How Historical! Big_Daddy, Eldest and Grumpa walked down to the base of the falls.
 While Nana the little girls and myself went to play in the water. I am planning on talking T and her girls into going back later this spring. Apparently you can walk behind the falls into a "cave" and see indian writings! HOW COOL IS THAT?

On the way home we passed by SUMATANGA so that we could show Daddy. He's never been there before. Then we drove home a diffrent way so we could enjoy the trees changing colors. it was a great day!

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

So as a mother I try very hard to raise RESPECTFUL children. After dealing with a 4 year old running rampant in the fabric store touching everything and putting bolts of fabric in Gwanma's basket THEN coming home and having all three of them intentially hanging on things, breaking almost everything just geneneraly running just plain NUTS. I admit I snapped. I told the little ones to bring out all thier toys, books and dollies and put them in a bucket. Eldest was to bring all of her electronics and put them in the bucket. They took all thier bikes and put them in  big_daddys truck. I have decided that I am going to start a toy library. From now on until they can learn to respect other peoples toys then then wont get any! THEN later that evening their FATHER, who has been very "concerned" about the childrens lack of respect, pulled my coffee table over took off his shoes and put his naked feet on my coffee table!
You know how some mothers say well I just cant have nice things? Some days I feel like that :)
Then I get a big hug or kiss and its all worth it

Pork and Apple Stir-fry with peanut sauce

Okay this was an experimental recipe that actually turned out really good and REALLY cheap.
When I say almost all the ingredients can be found in your house I mean it. None of those froo froo ingriedents.
except maybe Sesame see oil ( which I NEVER stir fry without)

Okay...
Ingredents:
4 boneless porkchops cut in strips trim fat ( thats enough for our family of 5 plus seconds for 2 hungry little girls)
2 granny smith apples thinly sliced ( like for pie) - you can do ahead and leave to soak in lemon juice
1/2 a bag of california blend veggies (I just added what looked like enough for our family)

Sauce:
1/2 of apple cider
2 tbsp of soy sauce
1/4 to 1/2 cup of peanut butter ( to taste)

start apple cider and soy sauce heating on med is a sauce pan. While that heats up go twice around the wok with your oil ( whatever kind that might be) once heated start cooking your pork in wok over high heat. Once cooked through remove from wok. go once around the pan with your oil again and add apple slices (drained if you soaked them) and cook over high heat stiring constantly until crisp tender. Add in frozen veggies keep stiring constantly. Ask someone to remove the sauce from heat and whisk in the peanut butter. once veggies are cooked and the sauce is all mixed add by ladlefull until you are happy with the amount. Stir to combine if to liquidy add a little cornstarch that has been mixed with water.

serve over rice or noodles

it was REALLY yummy. our only complaint was our rice was overcooked and really hard. :(

Soda fountian

Today we decided to try a little experimant why sode explodes.

 We needed Mentos, Diet soda (less sticky) and our gyser tube.

 Attach tube to soda. MAKE SURE THE LYNCH PIN IS IN!

 Pose for mentos commercial

  MAKE SURE LYNCH PIN IS IN! Add 7 mentos to the tube.

make sure the pin is in place!

Start the count down.......
And pull the pin...
 RUN!

Awesome huh?

So then They wanted to try it again to see if they could get it to explode a 2nd time.

mentos in

count down and pull pin.....

Where to start

We've made Pumpkin Cake Pops

, A cotton wreath,

 forts,

 cookies,

 we've been to the bootanical garden

We tortured Gwanma's dog Sunshine

 and  the apple orchard

 I think we've done good on this whole fall break thing this year don't you?

Now we just have to figure out what to do with all the apples we bought :)

Apple Bourbon Pie anyone?

Applesauce?

Apple Cake?

Apple Scones?

Carmel Apples?

Chocolate coated apples?

Apple Butter?

Anyone? Anyone?