Santa Pictures

I think I have a few more, it just goes to show, I need to organize my hard copy photos!

 2000





2001



2003

2006

Christmas 2010

He Is Born

But we cannot take him home

Two months is too little
They let him go
They had no sudden healing
To think that providence
Would take a child from his mother
While she prays, is appalling
Who told us we'd be rescued
What has changed and
Why should we be saved from nightmares
We're asking why this happens to us
Who have died to live, it's unfair
This is what it means to be held
How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive
This is what it is to be loved and to know
That the promise was that when everything fell
We'd be held
This hand is bitterness
We want to taste it and
Let the hatred numb our sorrows
The wise hand opens slowly
To lilies of the valley and tomorrow
This is what it means to be held
How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive
This is what it is to be loved and to know
That the promise was that when everything fell
We'd be held
If hope if born of suffering
If this is only the beginning
Can we not wait, for one hour
Watching for our Savior
This is what it means to be held
How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive
This is what it is to be loved and to know
That the promise was that when everything fell
We'd be held

10/26/2010

My Halloween Oops...

Obviously the timing of Halloween could have been better this year.  I wasn't really in the mindset, and flubbed it pretty bad.  At the last minute we decided to throw together costumes with stuff we had around the house and a few accessories from what was left from the Halloween store the night before Halloween.  Munch would be a 70's disco dancer and Emmers would be an 80's Valley girl.  Sadly, it looked more like I dressed my kids as a hooker and a pimp.  Not my best work.  I am planning waaaay ahead next year.

Four Months Pregnant

When you're pregnant with your third baby you don't tell people how long you've been pregnant in weeks. You immediately go to that in your own head, but when people ask, you narrow it down to the month for them. At 12 weeks you you usually are just telling people, "I'm pregnant!"




"How far along?" they say.




You say,"3 months!"




I kept saying to people, when they would ask how far along I was, "Four months pregnant, and gosh, I feel like I've been 'four months pregnant' forever." 


Little did I know that all I ever would be was four months pregnant. I was actually 1 day shy of 18 weeks pregnant when I delivered baby Henry.

Bun in this oven

 

Shocking and exciting!! I am PREGNANT!


We are having a baby!

My Birthday Present

The family, the day I got engaged. This was right before my birthday dinner.

Big News!

Mr. and Mrs. are making it official.  That's right folks, after almost 5 years of living together...

We're getting married!!!

More news on this blog to come, so stay tuned...

I could spend HOURS upon HOURS here...

ETSY-----check it out!  You can find a gift for ANYONE and EVERYONE on this site.  I have bought many gifts from sellers on this website because the stuff is awesome and they usually wrap it for FREE and ship it FOR you!!  The best part is that if you are materialistic like me, you may have less concern over your impact on the environment if you shop here. 

How you ask?  For one-vintage things being recycled or "up cycled" means less waste, pollution, etc.  Two-you are buying from online manufacturers in most cases.  This means less driving/shipping/pollution, etc. as well.  It also helps people who MAKE stuff.  You get the idea.  There really is no downside with this site.  And by the way, I'm not getting anything to say any of this...it's just so great that I have to spread the word.

My favorites (wants) list is so long on this site, it's shocking.  A few of my favorite things:

END of discussion, right???? RIGHT???

Why Can't I Own a Canadian?


October 2002

Dr. Laura Schlessinger is a radio personality who dispenses advice to people who call in to her radio show. Recently, she said that, as an observant Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22 and cannot be condoned under any circumstance. The following is an open letter to Dr. Laura penned by a east coast resident, which was posted on the Internet. It's funny, as well as informative:



Dear Dr. Laura:



Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate. I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the other specific laws and how to follow them:



When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?



I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?



I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness - Lev.15:19- 24. The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.



Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?



I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?



A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this?



Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?



Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?



I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?



My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? - Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)



I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.



Your devoted fan,

Jim

Most Expensive Baby Items

This stroller is almost $1,500! I just cannot imagine that a stroller could possibly cost this much! That is so much money for a stroller.  I have to admit though, it does make me swoon a little.  Avaiable at Amazon

 

Gucci Diaper Bag...$990!!  You can get one at Saks

How about some storage for the little one's nursery?  This beautiful armoire is a steal!  You can find it HERE for $14,700!

Bring your baby home in style in this little footie outfit by Burberry
$145 at Saks

If you have to let everyone know that your baby is a hunk, this is the set for you...but it'll cost you $68 also  at Saks

IKEA Banned Commercial

Not Sure If Our Pups Are Beachy

But the girls and I had fun.  We lost our flip flops in the tide, but it was an anventure driving home barefoot. 

2 Little Dairy Queen Lovers

There is not a lot in their little lives that makes them happier eating Dairy Queen Blizzards and knowing how proud their Grandparents are of them! Thanks Gram and Gramp! Love, Munch and Em.

Thank God They Don't Like Miniature Golf

Of couse it probably would have been cheaper for all four of us (we had kidnapped Monster for 3 days) to play a round of golf and then go inside to the arcade, but oh Well.  I HATE mini golf.  Almost as much as the dentist.  Yeah, really that much.  Praise Jesus; these girls were fine with bumper boats, bumper cars (or as Emmers put it "bumper walls") and 100 coins to share in the arcade.  Plus a little popcorn, sodas, and pretzel (because I needed cash back for the Coins!! NOT because I have to sample the food everywhere I go).

Exhaustion and Excitment

We've been busy around here. 

Garage Sale, Beach (alot), Walks to the park, Drives to the City to visit friends, Drives to outer Ethiopia to meet newborn family members, Playdates, Back to school shopping, and of course the regular errands: market, dentist, doctor, pharmacy, gas, post office, petsmart, dog groomers, haircuts, etc.etc.etc....

And I have been WORN out.  Seriously I could nap twice during the day and then go to sleep at 8pm like a toddler.  But it's go, go, go around this place.  And here's some proof:

They LOVE Mail and So Do I

Thanks MOM and DAD!!! Thanks Gram and Gramp!

Isn't she lovely...

Our "new" Faith.  My 6 week old Neice.

Report cards coming...

I'm totally going to brag and insert a scan of both my girls' report cards here:

--------->  PERFECT REPORT CARDS  <--------

But I have to fix my scanner/printer first.  Munchie knocked if off the desk and it's a tad bit broken un-use-able... at the moment.  As soon as I put back the 6 plastic peices that crumbled and flew out of it, I think that puppy will be back and up to running just fiiiiinnne.  At least that's what I told the Munch!

Ojai, CA

Ok, so I know my daughter has great taste, but does her taste have to be THIS expensive????

So Munchie sees THIS place on our trip to this CUTE little town and decides that she wants to come back and stay here for the night of her 10th birthday.  I said, I would look into it.  Well I did look into it, and I figured out that I will not be taking out a loan for my daughter's 10th birthday, so no...  We will NOT be staying here for almost $700 PER NIGHT.  What is so great about this place, anyway???

The Teepee was cute.  Inside it had little benches made from tree stumps and a fire pit in the middle.  I didn't let the girls go in.  I was afraid someone would come running toward us demanding $100 a minute to go inside or something. 

The leaves on the trees behind the main drag were super soft and HUGE.  They had bronze leaves on the ground, in the tile.  Very interesting and cool, we thought. 

Of course Emmers had to put on some Music and dance at the Ojai Pizza.  It's a fun (if not a bit noisy) place with something called a pizzadillo.  Try it if you are ever in Ojai! 

Best part of the trip for me was driving the back roads and exploring.  I think Mr. liked the scenic views from the tops of the amazing mountains.  I didn't see much, my eyes were on the road!  What a perfect day.  What a great life!

Signs...by M Night Shyamalan

Mr. decided we needed a little help while we watched the movie...from these hats that would protect our minds from the Aliens who might try to read them.

A little something for the littlest member of our family: the New Faith...this amazing headband from THIS SHOP on Etsy.







And aren't the photos beautiful?  LOOK at all her other beautiful work.... 

#2 Nephew is ONE!

I sent a little something for him, the girls helped me choose THIS, it's one of their favorite CDs. Sandra Boynton is great!


I couldn't resist getting something for R, so I ordered her this from THIS SHOP on Etsy:



I hope they like their little treats from their Auntie, Uncle and cousins on the West Coast.

Carseat Winner:

AND the winning carseat is:




You don't think I'd give away a $10 gift card, did you??

Carseats

Wow.  They actually make girly carseats now.  WHY did it take them so long?  Darn "them"!  Why couldn't Munch or Emmers have a pink carseat????  Well, at least the newest member of our family can have one...now I just have to decide which one...this is gonna be hard!  I've already narrowed it down to ones with really good ratings, now here are the choices in our price range:

Here is the one I really love:

Here is one that's really affordable and cute but not as girlie as I'd like (no pink):

Here is another affordable cute one, but I don't like this color of pink as much. (See, now I'm getting greedy with my pink!)

And lastly, the one that is ~pink~ and comes with a $10 gift card: