Amazing

I am amazed at how my children are growing. I have heard it from many older folks since we have started having wee ones. They tell us to enjoy our children because they grow up so fast. I am seeing the truth of it. I believed these lovely folks, I just hadn't experienced it until now.

My oldest boy just finished cleaning off the roof. This boy is now big enough and capable enough to do many things. He can chop fire wood, start fires, and change bike tires. He does a good job when he puts his mind to it. I am so proud of him.

The second son is a calmer. Like when we lost power and my water broke with our latest model. He gathered the younger girls together and read to them while the Ole Daddy Rabbit drove down the road to get my mom. What a way to think and be helpful.

Our oldest girl is really starting to draw. They are even recognizable pictures. She also is very helpful with the baby. All three of the oldest are capable of picking the baby up and helping out with her.

The three oldest have rotating chores. Some of their chores include the dining room area. It is so wonderful to cook a meal and then go bath small children. When I come out the dining room is clean.

It is such a blessing to have children capable of helping. I listened to one teacher that quipped how she was training herself out of a job. I am doing just that. I can see how teaching them to cook and clean and be part of a team is going to pay off the more that they grow. It is so bittersweet. We are training them to be able to be responsible adults and one day be part of their own family team. It is the way it is supposed to be. It still seems like yesterday when that big boy on the roof was the one I held in my arms like I hold his small sister now. I sure miss that baby, but I wouldn't trade that strong boy back. I do realize that I need to treasure them as much as possible at each stage they are in. It is fleeting. Let's treasure today. It is a gift.

You Know You're A Redneck When...

Your husband fixes your son's bike intertube with duct tape. When your sons want to build a robot and actually find enough scrap metal buried in the backyard for their project.

Note: The metal was not thrown in our backyard by us. It was probably quite a few owners previous to us.

Tidings of Sloopy Chickenbutt

Yes, I got that forward from a friend too. You know the kind that you get to have a new name using different letters of your real name. I have a new friend now. Her name is Doombah Dippintush. That is right. Can you guess what mine is? That is right Sloopy Chickenbutt! True life is stranger than fiction.

Pleased With Myself

I was the happy recipient of some Amish Friendship Bread a little while ago. It made me wonder about some things. Things like how Amish is it really? Why do they call it bread? It is more like cake. Why the "friendship" after distributing it to my small circle of friends, who else can I pawn the stuff off on without losing their friendship?

Our particular starter came from a good friend that asked me if I would want some before bringing it over. It makes some really good cake-like stuff. This particular one also makes four new starters every ten days. So every ten days I need to find another three friends to give it to. Unfortunately, my mom can't have wheat products. She's out. The friend that gave me the starter already has her own. My sister-in-law isn't really into cooking. All that and I would have to think of three new people every ten days. I also have this horrible problem of not being able to throw out food or potential food. I am such a cheapskate. What was I to do?

Well, I did go ahead and throw out the extra three. It was a challenge, but I did it without too much remorse. Then when I made the new friendship bread I quartered what I was to add to the starter. Then I only put 1/4 of a cup of new starter in one bag. Then on day 5 or what ever day I am supposed to add more stuff I add 1/4 of what is called for. Today I made a thing of my Amish Friendship Bread and I have one starter! I can keep making bread every ten days. I don't have to stress out about to whom I need to pawn this stuff off on either! I am very pleased with myself. I am also going to enjoy a nice, warm piece of bread.

Fixed

Okay, I fixed my over-exuberance of Tim Hawkins :)

A New Blog

I promised our boys that when they had a perfect spelling test then they could have a blog. Of course it will be duly supervised. It is a great way to get them to write too. So number 2 son had a perfect score today. We set him up with a blog spot. We will work on adding pictures and all soon.