WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATIE!

Katie, you were a prayer answered. Becca wanted a baby sister. So, not known to us, she was praying hard for one. Wasn't she surprised when we called everyone to the living room for a meeting...Yes, they knew! A meeting, "Mom, your pregnant!" We got, "Oh Yuck" (from the teens :) ) and laughing and crying. Becca cried knowing her prayer was answered. #7. Almost 6 years younger than Tom. Believe me, all those "Oh Yucks" changed by the time you were born. Everyone was so excited...we couldn't wait. You decided to come 3 weeks early.

Katie, honestly from a mommy's heart, you were the most beautiful baby I've ever seen. Your face was perfectly round and beautiful...I told everyone. I can remember seeing you and you took my breath away. I Love You.

For dessert I am making a Chocolate cake with icing. Cake:

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Egg-Free-Dairy-Free-Nut-Free-Cake/Detail.aspx?prop31=4

I double the recipe for 9x13 pan greased and floured. I sometimes use: white whole wheat flour, always less sugar, diary-free http://www.sunspire.com/ chocolate chips (today I used their rich dark chocolate 100% diary free / gluten freee chocolate bar (YUM!). I cut it into pieces, and instead of all water I use half water and half soy chocolate milk. I usually have to bake it longer.
The icing for today I used another recipe from www.allrecipes.com also.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Wedding-Cake-Icing/Detail.aspx

I made the whole recipe changing the water to soy milk and NO almond extract that was called for.

Today seems like it is going to be beautiful. Ed's off and driving the bus for church and we are here getting ready to go to church. I really can't wait to get there today. There is nothing special going on but I just love being there. The girls are actually sitting all dressed, watching a tv show, and just waiting to leave.

I have had a few people on my heart this weekend. One family is from church, I just woke up yesterday praying for them. Last night I read Rachael's family's online journal and they are gong through such a hard time. They miss her so much. I honestly cannot comprehend losing one of my children. Her friend Anna is missing her so much also. Gracie (little note on the right sidebar), is coming to the end of her chemo. Her mom's recent journal page says she has a fever and she needed another blood transfusion. I am one that wants to take away everyone's pain and sadness but knowing I'm not the one, Jesus is, I just keep praying.

Tomorrow is Katie's 5th birthday. I can't believe it. She is so excited that she is going to be the big "5". I have to find her vegan chocolate chips for her cake...which is very good by the way. :) We ran out and the store didn't have any as of Thursday. They had one package which I used. (I wasn't thinking.) I'll have to post some pictures of Katie tomorrow.

Have a good day.
Margarete

"Pocket Chart" for artist cards or other items

Today I hung up 6 page protectors and used them for "pocket charts" for artist cards. Just slide the pictures in. I have many of the 'Mommy, It's a Renoir!' pictures and I've been wanting to display them. They are at the eye level of Katie and Ana so they do not have to stand on a chair. Tom can just sit on the floor. :)

For an idea, you could probably get a large piece of material and "sew the page protectors on. Use a single hole punch and punch 2 extra holes along with the ones already there. position them on the fabric and sew in and out. to reninforce you could turn the top of the page protectors over once. Also, cut a hole on each side of the top so you can hang it over a door. You probably have to reinforce these. The "title page protector can probably be cut and sewn. Just leave a side open.

I think I might run out to Walmart and get a cheap piece of material.

Hope this helps someone. :)

More Pictures of our fun at Kids Castle

There are swings there and more area to play. The creek was behind the play area. I guess you could pretend it was the moat. :)

Yesterday my washer broke. We bought this in January. A Whirlpool top loader. The motor went...already! Believe me, I was not to happy when I heard this. We paid almost $1,000.00 for this. Thankfully we have warranties. The only thing is, I will not be able to wash clothes until Monday. Ugh! Now, My neighbor has been doing my laundry for me all day. I am so thankful for her. We have 10 people home. Bob will be going to visit his fiancee' for a few days so I won't have to do his. Eddie took his to the laundramat.
On the good side, we went and walked around a pond while the boys and Ed went shooting. We took some nice pictures and the girls just enjoyed the quiet...so did I.
Tom has been doing his Latin and Becca has started some of her school work. It just seems that as soon as we started we got alot of interruptions. I'm going to have to pray that this stops.
Well, we are starting to get alot of zucchini so I'm thinking of baking on Friday. Some or most of the kids will be going up the mountains with Ed so I can use that day to bake away...Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread...YUM!!

First Day of School?

Today we are starting The Narrow Way for Devotions and Latin. Maybe I will get a few more "classes" in. It's time to start because the kids seem so bored. Actually, I am excited to start. I have all these books sitting here waiting to be read...I love books! Katie and Ana are started to also. I'm proud of Katie. For quite awhile she had no interest and could not sit still, now she will ask to read and she is trying to read. I'm sure Ana will be right behind her.

One prayer request for Jessica (a teen) from church. She was hit by a car and lost 4 teeth. As of yesterday she went into surgery to try to get them back in. From my understanding she is ok, just waiting for a few more tests.

Have a beautiful day everyone and hopefully I can update later today about our 1st day back!

Marinaded London Broil Dinner (Happy Birthday, Ed)

It was Ed's birthday this week so we are celebrating today.

Tonight we will be having London Broil marinaded with this recipe: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Puerto-Rican-Garlic-Marinade/Detail.aspx; and sweet and hot sausage.

With it, we will have grilled baked potatoes, salad with croutons, raisins, broccoli, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, sunflower seeds and dressing. We usually like Ranch or Italian.

For dessert I am making a Chocolate cake with icing. Cake: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Egg-Free-Dairy-Free-Nut-Free-Cake/Detail.aspx I double the recipe for 9x13 pan greased and floured. I sometimes use: white whole wheat flour, always less sugar, diary-free http://www.sunspire.com/ chocolate chips, and instead of all water I use half water and half soy chocolate milk. I usually have to bake it longer.
the icing for today I used: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Wedding-Cake-Icing/Detail.aspx ; I used 1/2 of the recipe.

Have you had your crude oil today?

I was reading our town's weekly paper this morning when I saw the headline ADHD..linked to food additives. Of course I read it. I never ever knew the food dyes Red #40 and Yellow #5 (and probably the others) were made from crude oil. Oh, how tasty. Yum....Yes, I'm being sarcastic. Why in the world would we want that in our food??? Why would the government want this in "their" food? This is amazing. Even though I have cut out MANY food items in our household I don't think the 'red candy fish' are going to be looking very yummy anymore. Even for the little times we eat them.
No wonder, children can't sit still, think straight, run all over, feel sick, etc. Our bodies are toxic.
So, have you had your crude oil today?
This is a site listed in the articule for information and assistance....I have not used this particular diet but we have eliminated many foods including some fruits and vegetables especially for our daughter. http://www.adhddiet.org/