It's called Christmas

Early Morning Shopping

Okay, so I confess that I was up at 4:00am this morning to fight the black friday crowds. My first stop was Kohl's. I walked into the store and walked right back out. I could not believe how long the lines were, no deal was worth that. I also made stops at Toys R Us, JoAnn's, Target and then back to Toys R Us. My best deal was a camera for Brendan's christmas or birthday present.

Did anyone else go? What deals did you get???

Happy Thanksgiving

Today is Thanksgiving, a day to give thanks for every that God has given us.

So here are my top 10 things I am thankful for.

10. Our house: with the weather starting to get cold.

I am super thankful for the ability to

heat our house warm and comfort on this snowy morning.

9. Food: we have so much, that sometime we don't know what to eat first.

8. Car: I am grateful for my van and especially for the DVD player inside of it.

7. Clothes: I have so much even when I sometimes think I have nothing to wear.

6. Friends: We have friends who have been around for many years,

and newer friends that we have meet in the last few

years since moving to Freeport.

We love getting to knew each and everyone of you.

Each one of you are special to us.

5. Family: Mike and I both have wonderful immediate families.

Great Parents who are godly and have taught us

so much about how to live our lives centered around God.

4. Church: Caledonia CRC has become a true blessing for us.

3. Brendan, Austin, Lucas, Connor- my boys:

I can't imagine my life without my childs.

I am so thankful for all the joys

that they bring to my life.

2. Mike - my husband: I love my husband

and am so thankful for all that

he does for our family.

He is amazing and so helpful.

1. God: need I say more.

I hope each of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day.

Tonight's Drama

So what do you get when you have a kid running around the house with a blanket over his head?????

Well, that would be a five year old with a wide gash in the forehead and blood everywhere.

Today was a quiet day for the most part when it came to the boys, so I knew something would happen sooner or later. When Mike got home from work all the boys ran into the room to say "Hi" to him. Then they usually go back into the playroom, but not tonight....

Tonight, Brendan started crying. I didn't think to much of it (my boys will cry for a short while and then continue playing without needing me.), then Brendan started scream really loud, so I dropped my sewing(which I have plenty of) and found him with blood pouring out of his forehead. Okay, maybe it wasn't pouring, but it was dripping very quickly. So I yelled at Mike and had him take over. I'm not very logical in these situations, I always think it's alot worst than it is.

So to make the long story a bit shorter. Mike and I butterflyed the gash so we could have supper and then Mike took Brendan to Urgent Care. I talked with Mike about a hour ago, and he said that Brendan needed some stitches. They still aren't home, so I don't know how he did at Urgent Care. I will update with photo later.

Deer on the Road

Brendan: Why are you slowing down, dad?

Mike: There's a deer

Brendan: Was it on the road?

Mike: Yes, but in the other lane.

Brendan: Did it all four feet on the road?

Mike: No, just two.

Brendan: Were they the front two or the back two?

Mike: Front two.

Brendan: Well, Dad...It was in the other lane, so you didn't have to slow down.

Is if the deer would stop for us. What is he going to come up with next.....

Mike's Christmas Present

I decided to get Mike an ipod for christmas. So I went surfing on ebay, my favorite online site, to get one for him (It was no surprise for him.) Anyway I bid on one and won it. It was a great price but the listing really didn't indicate what the color was. It showed a picture of a white one, but the small print under the photo said "it may vary for photo"

So the color was going to be a suspense. Well a few days later, I got a phone call from Mike
Mike: You want to hear about my laugh of the day
me: sure
Mike: I got my christmas present today
me: Oh you did, from who???
Mike: From you. I got my ipod. Guess what color it is???
me: what?












Mike: hot pink

I busted out laughing. Of course the listing as an AS IS or refunds. So what do I do with a hot pink ipod when you have all boys!!!! I already have one.

That's when ebay comes back into the picture. I relisted it 4 days ago and I received an additional $40 on top of what I paid for it. That was easy money.

Take a Fresh Look at Clean

Last night Brendan and I went the Big-K in Hastings to get some items for the Operation Christmas Child Project that his sunday school class is working on. We needed to get a bar of soap. I usually don't buy soap bars anymore and unfortunately I couldn't get just one. So there was an extra bar sitting around the house.

NOW the story gets interesting, this afternoon, Connor got ahold of that bar of soap and decided to take a big bite out of it!!!! At first Mike and I were shocked and just laughed at him, then he start spitting out bits and pieces of soap. Then he started blowing bubbles --- just kidding. Actually, Connor threw up on Mike.

I looked up Ivory soap online after Mike had asked me if ivory soap was made by Dove. (He thought I could title this blog "A new type of Dove Bar") I saw some amazing carving that were made out of bars of soap. Take a look for yourself: http://www.ivory.com/PureFun_IvoryProjects_AmazingSoapCarvings.htm

This being said I think I should start "The Stunt of the Week" with my boys. There is usually something that happens over the course the week that would be worth mentioning. So hopefully my boys will live up to this and I can keep you all entertained.

What's on your purse?????

Did any of you see Ray Rachel Show the other day?

There was a segment on germs invading the purse.

On the Show there was Liza, a self-proclaimed germophobe who’s careful about everything her children touch. “I hope and think we’re one of the most germ-free families around,” declares the mother of four, who has them using anti-bacterial scrub multiple times a day. But, as Liza teaches them to avoid germs, she’s overlooking a major offender. “If most women knew what was growing on their purse they’d probably throw it away,” says Connie Morbach, a scientist and germ expert.

In fact, after examining Liza's purse in a lab, Connie reveals: “I’m sorry liza. This was probably the worst purse I’ve ever tested.”

Traces found on the purse included: Pantoea, E.Coli, Yeast, Staphylococcus

But, she adds, “There are things we can do.”

Keep purses off the floor, Carry a Purse hook, Use anti-bacterial wipes on leather bags and for cloth purses she suggests using Febreze antimicrobial spray but says the best approach is to wash your bag.

To see the whole segment go to: http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/show/segments/view/dirty-purse/

This really grossed me out!!!!! I didn't really think that all those germs could grow on my purse. I try so hard to kill the germs around the house, to try and keep the boys healthy, but I guess I need to be aware of where germs can grow.

the missing pieces

Austin and Lucas are getting into making puzzles. This morning they wanted some help from mommy. As we started making the puzzles I notices that some of the pieces were missing. So that got me investigating what puzzles still had all their pieces. What is it about puzzle pieces missing. Do they try and escape because they are in a black box then they aren't being made? So I spent 1 1/2 hours(precious, valuable time.) looking for missing pieces. Sorry I just had to vent.

This one is missing a piece....
this one is too....

no surprise here - it's missing a piece....

this one is missing two pieces....

And if a piece isn't missing there is a broken piece.... (sorry about the puzzle being up side down)

Finally a puzzle with all it's pieces. ;O)

I've got the blues!!!

Mac and Cheese is one of those lunches that can be a hit and miss lunch at our house.

Some days, they love and other days, they won't touch it.

Today was a hit day especially for Connor.

LIONS, TIGERS AND BEARS! OH, MY!!!

Happy Halloween!!!

Pumpkin Math

Last week at school, Brendan's class had Pumpkin Math Day. For those of you who don't know what Pumpkin Math Day is, it's a day were the kids work on their math and estimating skills. The kids had to estimate different things about the pumpkin; it's weight, how big the pumpkin was, how many lines the pumpkin had, how many seeds, etc.

Here are some photos from that day: