Vision Forum Contest AGAIN!

I got to go "play" shopping once again. KimC at "in a shoe" is holding ANOTHER Vision Forum contest. This time it is new and improved with the prize being $250.00 worth of your favorite VF products. So heres my wish list! See the details here.

Thoughts for Young men (52014) $8.00
Wise Fatherhood (78553) $15.00
Home Maker (34801) $20.00
The wise womans guide....(68221) $16.00
Develop character in your children (20758) $10.00
Keep children from becoming bitter(20752) $10.00
Expect from a 12 yr old (20760) $10.00)
Pass on convictions to children (20762) $10.00
Influence of older/younger children (58785) $10.00
Maidens of Virtue (68538) $20.00
...A family that will stand (10176) $30.00
Masters plan for fathers (43752) $35.00
Be Fruitful and Multiply (84325) $15.00
Blue back speller (51030) $13.00
New england Primer (12755) $10.00
Dominion Mandate (58771) $10.00

With a total of $242.00

Fingers crossed, again.......

Family Table

We have been needing a new "bigger" table for a while now. Ours sat 6, so the kids ate at the table and Rob and I would eat at the coffee table.

Those days are long gone. Rob has had some free time lately and this is what he has been doing with it.

We now have a table that will seat up to 14 people. His next project will be the benches to go along either side. I figure at leats 5-6 little tooshies can fit on each bench. I am so happy! Its a bit large in the dinning room, but we will adjust to walking around it.

Who doesnt love a contest?

Kim at In A Shoe is having a Vision Forum contest.....and who doesnt love Vision Forum ;-)

Heres the scoop. You browse through the 2008 catalog and choose $150.00 worth of V.F. products. Post them on you blog and cross those fingers. Heres my list. I am a book addict as you will see below.

Passionate Housewives desperate for God $16.00
Family Man Family Leader $15.00
Thoughts for young men $8.00
Raising maidens of virtue $20.00
Home making $20.00
What the Bible says about scorn and mockery $10.00
The wise womans guide to blessing her husbands vision (boy do I need this one right now) $16.00
What to expect from a 12 year old (Yikes only 8 days away) $10.00
The influence of older children on younger children $10.00
How to pass on convictions to your children $10.00
Who controls the womb (always wanted to read this one) $15.00

$150.00 exactly!

.......fingers are now crossed ;-)

Time Together

By the looks of it, it would seem we spend most of our time lately at the park. Yesterday Rob had a bid to give about 45 minutes from our house, near Cooper State Park. So we all loaded up and drove to the house he was putting the bid in for.

North west of Greenville, actually right behind our house is nothing but small towns and farm land. Its beautiful.

The town we went to yesterday had one street going through it with a population of probably 200. The family was super sweet. I got to talkinging with the lady of the house and she was one of 15 children. Yet she only had 3 herself. The children got to play in her chicken coop with brand new baby chicks. We just swang on the back swing and watched the kids play while the men talked business.

After that we headed to Cooper State Park. We saw a box turtle and weird wild melons growing all along the trees. Last time we were there they had a sandy beach area. so we were hoping the kids could go swimming, but the water level was so high it was not possible. Funny considering last year they couldn't swim there because there happened to be no water in the swimming area. Nature is such an ebb and flow isn't it.

I have really been enjoying Robs time home. It has been slow the last few weeks and he has been home quite a bit. There is such a peacefulness around our home right now, even though I should be a little nervous about getting the bills paid. He is providing though, sometimes on the very day the bill is due. Yet HE is providing! Thank You Father!

Rob has been helping around the house, with the kids. Its as if before he was so caught up in work, because they had him working so many hours, that the house was mine to care for and run and work was his "job" Now we both talk about the things going on in the house, he gives me tips, keeps me on my toes with schooling the boys. We are a team both in the house and with the Construction Business. It is worth the trade off of having a steady pay check, to having my hubby here. We got home last night and cooked dinner together. So nice!

The greatest thing to watch is how he has been able to laugh at all the kids antics. Being home with them he really is able to watch them and interact with their day, and smile with them. When he was home, usually only Sundays, he had to catch up on his around the house chores, then it was off to work again. I realize a living has to be made, but I can truly see the benefits of a father being home more than he is away. If the family can work together to make a living that is a real blessing.

Some pictures of our day at the park

Jordans sand castle

Rob and Devon seeing who can swing the highest

Eve pushing her toes in the sand

Jordan running

Our Stick Family

Letisha found a fun website called our stick family. It was alot of fun creating this. So here is mine. No, I am not alluding to anything, just figured this represented what I look like more often than not.

Delighting in...........

Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young— a place near your altar, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.
Psalm 84:3

..........gathering

...........exploring

.............waiting

.............reaching

............watching

Thank You Father for my heart and all that You have placed so deeply in it.

Goings On

We had a nice weekend. The weather here has just been exceptional all summer long and the fall is proving to be just as lovely. We have a large pond about 4 minutes from our house, so Saturday I decided I would take the oldest three fishing (yes , I love fishing). It had rained during the morning and afternoon, so when it finally stopped we headed out. I pulled into a section that we normally pull into and lets just say that was a mistake. It was VERY muddy! I pulled forward and realized that my truck was sliding tOwArD ThE PoNd!! I put it in park and we stopped, but I quickly realized we had a big problem, when I stepped out of the truck and saw that I only had about 4 more feet to slide before I was in the drink.

So, we found the nearest park trash can, emptied it out and filled it with wood shavings from the city compost pile across the street. We put as much of it around the truck as we could and I put it into 4 wheel drive and tried to drive out. It took me about 20 minutes to pull out of the muddy area. We just kept putting wood chips under the tires until we were able to get all the way out. After all this fun the boys were able to fish and caught quite a few fish.

School is going well. It is taking up quite a bit of the day now with all 5 of the boys doing some type of learning. The youngest two have started reading and are doing really well. It never ceases to amaze me how they can all be so different in their learning styles.

I am excited to have my Extend-A-Bibs being sold in another boutique. Gissy Bella has added them to her line of fun and neat products. Go take a look at all the things she has over there. Us Mommy's are an inventive group of people aren't we!?!

I know I don't post as often anymore, I do apologize! But life has become so full. This is not a bad thing at all, it just leaves me with less time to blog here. I do think of and pray for my bloggy friends often. I hope everyone is having a great school year, filled with excited, bright eyed children. Praying also for all the "babies in waiting", I cant wait to see them in "person"

I am off, have a great day!

The sewing corner

Here is a cheap, fast and fun project that takes almost no real sewing "skills". In our home we have colors for our children. This helps them know what is theirs to keep up with and it helps mom know who to tell to pick their towel up off the floor. Today I made the boys pillow cases.

It took me under an hour because there was no cutting and minimal sewing. One yard of broadcloth is all you need. I got it at Wally World for $1.87 a yard. Keep it folded in half and sew up the one open long side and one of the end sides. Turn down the other open end twice over and sew. Turn right side out and your done.

Now I just have to wash them so that they are soft and fresh smelling, for my little men to rest their tired heads tonight.

The Horror

Here lately Ava Rosa has been pestering us while we eat. She will come up to Rob and just stare at him. If I am at the table eating and she is in my lap, she pulls at the plate trying to get what is one it. She is also notorious for picking up ANYTHING off the floor and eating it. So I thought well, maybe the poor girl is just hungry. I sat her down in the high chair with smashed carrots in hand.

Lets just say that she HATED "real food" She couldnt get it out if her mouth fast enough. Even resorting to gaging after the 3rd bite or so. I was laughing so hard I had tears rolling down my face. I guestemate that only about a tablespoon made it down her throat before I pulled the plug on the whole thing.

So at 8 months old she is perfectly content with what Elijah calls "mommy milk" or "tea" depending on what side shes on ;-)