Gettin' Ready for Christmas

This weekend we all had a great time decorating the Christmas tree and putting up the ornaments...all of us...that is...except Ella.....last weekend when we were at the wedding Lucy came down with what appeared to be larangitis...Gideon started coming down with a croupy cough on Thanksgiving and poor little Ella started Saturday morning. Last night she was weezing so bad that at 4 am I had Keith get the card table out and set up a croup tent with the humidifier. She is doing ok today but obviously not feeling well....so goes our 3rd illness of the year....thank you preschool!!! Anyway other than that we are enjoying this snowy Monday morning tucked in here at home. Lucy's got dance class tonight which she is totally excited about and I'm sure Gideon will come home with homework to do. My dad left about 2 hours ago to get on a plane and fly to Israel. I am suppose to be his master of e-mails while he's gone. He'll e-mail me and then I have a list of individuals to e-mail with the information. It scares me that he going in such a dangerous time in the world. He will be able to spend Christmas in Bethlehem which will be really neat though....Gideon asked if he was going to see the stable and visit baby Jesus.....so sweet!!! He will spend a lot of his time in the city but some of the time he will be walking Palestinian children to school. I guess the kids have to walk by a Jewish settlement and a lot of times when they walk past kids get stoned and there have been occasions where the kids have gotten their arms broke....etc....sounds pretty scary!! Dad says that for this job he has to know some arabic and has to be able to run fast.....GREAT!!! That really helps my nerves....Please pray for him and his safety!! It will be hard for the whole family over the holidays because of his absence!! Anyway so that's what's new! Hope all are well!! Love ya!!

Weird Genetics

So, some things are obviously passed down from generation to generation. Such as: eye color, hair color, stature, even teeth alignment....other things are moderatly obvious like character and personality. The things that really weird me out though are the things that are seemingly not genetic but obviously have no other source. Take for instance what has weirded me out the last couple of days about Gideon and me. Ok so Keith and I have made it a point to try not to pass our aversions and fears onto our children. We want them to make there own decisions up about what they like or dislike in areas of food and fun. We give them a selection of options and try to "expose" them to as many as possible so that they can see what they like or don't like. We also try to not "fear" or in the matter of food say "I don't like that" in front of them so they can format their own opinions. That is why I find it strange that Gideon has an aversion to hair....it totally grosses him out...in the tub....on the floor....in the sink.....on food (who wouldn't) etc.... because I get incredibly grossed out by hair as well....it makes me gag sometimes but I have never really showed that to the kids and yet he somehow he has that same reflex....and even weirder (is that a word?) I have just found out in the last couple days that he absolutely hates oranges...in fact he had to sit at the table on Sunday for 30 minutes until he ate a half of a clementine orange slice and he gagged it all the way down...ironically it has only been in the last few years that I have begun to eat oranges...I hated them as a kid and would gag on them just like Gideon...I can sort of stand them now but every once in a whlie I still get that reaction to an orange....anyway...call it coincidence....call it paranoia....call it whatever....I just think it's really weird that somehow....what can only be described as genetics I guess are passed down from generation to generation....so the next time I judge another parent for pressing their own fears on their children I will think twice....it may just be weird genetics!!

Wedding Bliss

This weekend we took a trip out to PA again to watch my friend Traci get married! HALLELUJAH!! It was really awesome because we have prayed so long for Traci to find someone because she's just so awesome and our prayers were answered! It was a complete whirlwind! We left early Friday morning with just Ella and came back around 530 on Sunday night. I was a bit nervous because I was asked to sing and I didn't know the accompaniest at all but it ended up going well. Because Traci has so many friends over the years she had 6 bridesmaids (mostly family) and then had 10 honorary attendants (that's what Ang and I were) The 10 of us walked down the aisle one at a time with our flowers and put them in a vase at the front of the church and then they brought in the mothers and the bridesmaids. It was a beautiful ceremony and Traci (as you can see in the pictures) looked amazing!!! The reception was at an old school with a huge double spiral staircase and large fireplace in the foyer. I love the historical buildings in the Philly area! They are so beautiful!! Anyway we brought my cousins home with us for Thanksgiving and even got to visit with friends in Lancaster before heading home. It was a really great weekend and Keith and I were thouroghly exhausted at the end of it!

Well, I hope everyone has an awesome Thanksgiving. We are headed to my moms where all her brothers and sisters are coming home. We haven't been togethor in 5 years so it should be really fun!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Busy Busy Busy

So here is the first real picture taken with our new camera...Keith would be so thrilled to know I posted this....anyway he was talking to Chad the other night and I was messing around so oh well!! I really like it..the camera that is....it's got a huge screen in the back and seems so easy to operate! Keith has never really appeared on my blog except in pictures of the whole family so I thought I would post his pic! Anyway our lives have been total and complete chaos lately so I haven't had a whole lot of down time! Gideon, of course is in preschool 3 days a week and now, lately with Lucy I have felt like she is in preschool too! We have been taking her to meet with therapists, have monitered "play times" where a whole group of people sit around and watch her play listening to what she says and seeing her inter-act with other kids, we've had a home visit, opthomologist appointments, we've been patching her eye 4 hours a day, we are potty training her and on top of everything else she still has dance class once a week and Christmas Play practice for the church program! AHHHHH! This has put her in extremely cranky moods and she is very impatient! That, along with Ella into just about everything and cranky with a cold herself...and did I mention she still wants to nurse EVERY 2 HOURS! another AHHHHH! Keith says to just cut her off but it's hard when I am at my wits end with Lucy worried and stressed and she cries and cries until I pick her up and then tears and bites my shirt until I give in.....it's going to be a hard "weaning" in a few months! We are preparing to go to my friend Traci's wedding this weekend which I am really looking forward too, but my mom had to have "emergency" surgury last week and the recovery has been harder than expected and now I'm not sure she'll be available to watch the kids...another AHHHHH!!! Anyway, I know that I will survive all this it just feels like total chaos with the holidays quickly approaching! I have done most of my shopping on ebay so far getting good deals so that's coming togethor at least!

Gideon turned the big 5 yesterday! Can you believe it...5 years old! He was so excited about turning 5 that's all he could talk about! "Mom...you have to measure me....I'm 5 now" Anyway we celebrated in shifts for his b-day! Friday night we took him out to get his first pet....a fish..but realized you can't just get a fish....you have to get a tank and let the water get just right before you can put fish in it.....it takes 24 hours...so we got all the stuff....took Gideon out to his favorite McDonalds for supper and went home to set it up! On Sat...we ate Pizza at my moms for supper and then he opened his gift from them which was legos...the big kid kind....my mom apologized knowing I had little kids that would eat the little parts but I thought that was fine...now he has something special he can play all by himself at the table with Dad or Mom. Anyway on Monday he got his birthday breakfast of powdered donuts with his Papa while I took Lucy to a "play therapy session" Then we came home and he had his choice of lunch...Chicken Nuggets, Peas and Applesauce. He then took chocolate cupcakes to preschool to share with his friends. While at preschool he got to ....and I quote..."ride in the rocket ship" because it was his birthday...I have no idea what that means....anyway after that we rushed Lucy to dance class and proceeded to go back to the pet shop to pick out fish...He picked out two goldfish...one he named Stripes and the other he named Silly....well stupid mommy forgot she had to go to Walmart too and couldn't leave the fish in the cold car or they'd die and didn't want to risk questions....so I took the fish put them in the diaper bag and ran into Walmart with the kids...we did our shopping and then went to check out....and....dadadada......forgot my purse in the car....so I had to take the kids....and the "secret fish" out to the car....with Gideon saying really loud..."mommy I didn't tell about the fish in the bag" GREAT!!!! Anyway so I run back outside with the fish and kids...(I don't know why I didn't just leave them out there to begin with...) grab my purse run back in with the load in tow....pay and run out.....drive like a mad man to pick up Lucy and get home before the precious fish died.....We got home, and ate Enchiladas (made by Gid and Keith) for birthday supper...while I went and aclimated the fish to the tank. Gideon....luckily got a gift from Uncle Drew and Aunt Melinda in the mail so he actually had gift to open....which he loved!!!(Hot wheels cars and a transformer)....the fish were acclimated but I could tell the little one...Stripes was not doing well....well...this morning....he took a ride in the old throne....poor little guy....at least Gideon didn't have time to fall too in love with him.....We still have Silly and he seems to be doing ok....he ate alot this morning so hopefully he lives! Anyway last night we ended the night getting phone calls from family for Gideon's b-day and playing with his new toys! It was chaotic but fun and Gideon said this morning...."Is it still my birthday" and I had to break the news to him that it was not (although we are meeting Grammy and Papa tonight for his b-day) anyway I love that little booger! He is turning into such a big boy that during the day doesn't need his mommy much but at night after snack still wants me to scratch his back for him! We love him so much and are so proud of him! I see him growing up before my eyes and it's so hard to let him go...a little at a time...he's been asking all these questions lately about heaven and hell and Satan and Jesus and what Jesus did on the cross...understanding more and more about what it all means....it's exciting to see his spiritual maturity but scary at the same time....I want so much for him to understand the gospel of grace and Christ's love for him at an early age...to have no fear and to trust his savior! The responsiblity of a parent is overwhelming to me sometimes when I think about spiritual things....I just don't want to screw him up!!! Ya know what I mean moms? Anyway! This blog has gone on long enough!!! Hope everyone's well! Blog ya later...

What 4 bucks can buy you.....

So I am really excited! I got my Dominican Vanilla and Ranchero...both large containers and it only cost me 4 bucks!! Awesome deal for real vanilla....even in Walmart real vanilla is about 8 bucks for 4 tbls....I got like 3-4 cups for 2 bucks! Woo Hoo!! Now I can make Dominican Rice and Beans and lots of yummy desserts! A big thanks goes out to Carol and Margaret! I am very thankful for my Dominican connections! :) Anyway so enough of that babble! This past week was a pretty busy one and the weeks only continue to fly on! Last weekend we spent some time doing some Christmas shopping with Jim and Nancy while my mom took the kids to see Beauty and the Beast on stage at her college. The kids had a blast and we got a lot more accomplished than we normally do! We also bought eachother a new camera with a lithium battery sooooo...therefore now I should always have pictures of things we do and should have no more excuses! I am really excited about it! Our old camera was just...well....old and slow and ate up battery juice big time so this should be much better! Anyway Sunday was a rainy day so we kinda just hung out at home and relaxed. Monday was Lucy's Help Me Grow home visit which went MUCH better than the other session. This time Lucy talked the entire time...answered their questions with ease and put puzzles togethor, colored, cut with scissors etc...at the end the lady said..."from what I've seen today...I don't think Lucy will have any problems passing the social aspect of the test" AMEN!!! What a blessing that Lucy cooperated! She stated also that Lucy does not have to go to the preschool every day of the week. She could just go on therapy days for her occupational and speech therapy! AWESOME!! I am excited about that prognosis! Anyway it was a much better experience. Today I am catching up on laundry, helping Gid with his homework, trying to work on some Christmas presents and fixing supper for my mom..she has her surgury tomorrow. Tonight I have bible study which I'm hosting...my house is not that clean but we are all moms I hope everyone understands. Tomorrow is Lucy's second eye appointment so it will be good to see how she's progressing. Thursday I am working at the hospital and then in the evening at the auction...so the next few days are going to be a real blur! Hope all's well! Gotta Run!

Weekend Fun

Ok---so now that the vote has been cast I can move onto more important things like....what we did last weekend!!! So last weekend we made a trip up North to visit Gideon's cousins Andrew and AJ!! We had so much fun! We got to their house just as trick-or-treat was beginning and we all "tried" to eat Kelli's yummy pizza while the kids "helped" pass out candy....(Just as a side note.. I think their house was a hot spot for trick-or-treaters! Either the trick-or-treaters wanted in on the pizza party we were having inside or they each recieved about 4 candy bars--we couldn't quite get the kids to understand the "one per person" philosophy...they each wanted to give one to every kid :) Anyway it was fun and relaxing....lots of laughs...Saturday the men braved the cold to fish while we took the kids to Krispy Kremes where the mommy's ....uh...I mean the kids ate free donuts! Then we headed to Fred Meijer Gardens....and let me just say...Kelli was so right....THEY ARE AWESOME....great place for kids! It was a lot of fun! Gideon's highlights were the giant horse, the tree house, the farm house and the plant that eats flies ( by the way Kelli...my mom told me she had a plant like that when I was growing up and we used to feed it bolonga....hilarious) Anyway it was lots of fun. The day ended out with steaks grilled to perfection by my new favorite steak cheif Marc and a caramel custard sundae from Culvers compliments of my husband...YUMMY!! On Sunday the guys tried one more hand at fishing and then came home in time to allow Kelli and I to have a kids-free lunch at Mongolian BBQ...Another YUMMY! I hadn't been there in like 9 years and although the waiter was a bit clingy the food was great and so was the company!! (thanks Kelli) We headed home after lunch and just relaxed and prepared for the week ahead which has been great so far! If you all want to see pictures you'll have to view Kelli's Blog....sorry....I know I'm pathetic...I forgot the camera---AGAIN!!!!! Love to all!!

Vote Early.....Vote Often....Vote Repcratic

So...the vote has been cast with my kids...now I need to decide! I have sometime in the next 6 hours to cast my vote and I must truthfully admit...this has not been an easy one for me. I have done my research.....at least as much research as I can stand...and understand...because let me just say that I do not and will never understand economics, eco-logics (did I just make that word up?)and psycologics....I must base my decisions on what I percieve to be the truth and unfortunetly that's all it is...a perception. These times always frustrate me because though opinion resounds again and again....truth is never transparent...I watched the Saddleback church interview of each candidate and thought....yes now...after hearing their opinions on faith I will beable to deduce the truthful one...the difference between the true believer......and the one that is "saying the right things" and I must admit...after watching the entire interview of both candidates on some real tough faith questions...I came up at an even tie.....the problem was...they both sounded fine....sounded like believers....and the truth of the matter is....they both may very well be!!! I cannot judge my brothers based upon issues and works....I must take them at their words... and their words were....they believed that they were sinners and Jesus Christ was their Savior....so I am forced to choose based upon my intellect and my opinion....which my friends as a sinner myself is honestly quite flawed....so anyway...I will cast my vote today with a prayerful heart knowing full well that at the end of this election....God will still be God....he will still save lives....he will still love us and care for us.....he will still listen to our prayers and answer with miracles......that in the end....history may look back on this day and just remember the candidates name.....in a long list of names...(does anyone really ever remember Millard Filmore or Franklin Pierce?:) Anyway....I guess I am just saying....I am not really worried about it....because if I worry about it I am doing what God has instructed me not to do...."do not worry about tomorrow...for tomorrow will worry about itself...." I will not waste my time in great worry and fret if the candidate of my choice does not win for I know that God can use any circumstance, any person and any place in his plans....not just those circumstances, persons or places I know or believe to be or live near or in....so enough political debate....at the end of the day it will be over and done.....and we'll all say....Amen....Amen.....Amen and Again I say AMEN