Be MINE, Little Buggies!

Momma gave the Bugletts bandanna's. And there are roughly enough children to make...

...a rainbow!

























Now, if only I could get Carolina to smile for group photos. Hmmm...

















We wanted to make a special occasion today so we tried
a few new things.

We tried Honey Sticks.
Consensus was good on this one: everybody enjoyed them.








we tried Sweets & Beets By TERRA. These are crinkle cut Sweet Potato and Beet chips.

Consensus on these were not so favorable. Even the Bugs who like to taste-test unusual and exotic foods were less than impressed. In the words of Sue: "DisGUSting!"
Goofs!
They were generous to let me have the rest of the bag, though I do feel a little embarrassed about liking them when the peer pressure is so great. I'm definitely outnumbered these days!


We tried Knudesons Coconut Pineapple juice.
Consensus: good, but not surprising since Knudsen is located in my hometown!
Alas I found remains in the bottom of several cups. Too bad because I really liked it. But then, that's good news for next time - more for me!

Clay and I made a Greek candy called Pasteli. It's made of Honey and Sesame seeds, and if you want an excuse to try it, here's two:
It's a quick healthy energy boost, AND it's Olympic time. Make it and you can call it School along with a little Google search for the Greek origins of the Olympic games ;-)

..........................................................................

Recipe:

• 1 and 1/3 cups honey
• 3 cups off hulled white sesame seeds

In a saucepan bring honey to a boil. Add sesame seeds stirring constantly and continue to cook wile stirring to mix completely and thoroughly. When the seeds are fully mixed in and the mixture has boiled again, remove from heat. Spread onto a piece of baking parchment or a buttered cookie sheet or 9x13 pan. (Spread about 1/4 inch high) When Pasteli cools to room temperature, refrigerate as is (doesn't need to be covered). Chill for 2 or 3 hours then cut into squares. If you used parchment, you can cut into squares with kitchen shears, then peel off paper.

............................................................................

It was a restful day, and a pleasure to enjoy the children.
Seems one can't do that nearly enough!

And here's my littlest Valentine, reading his. :-)

Happy Valentines Day!!

P.S.
To my One and Only,

Wish you were here.
Thanks for 6 of the BEST Valentines ever!!!

I love you :-)

Another Gummy Smile

Bryce on his first Valentines Day, wearing his new Do-rag.
I (momma) gave all my little Valentines bandanna's this morning :-)

"There's No Rest For The... [insert *WEARY*]"

Promised pictures coming your way soon!

Some of us got sick.

"Some" of us (namely Carolina) kept "others" of us (that would be me) awake two full nights in a row.

While my Rescuer is out of town.

That = a seriously low tank where time, CrEAtiVity, two hands, and fully open eyelids are concerned!

Thank you Lord, that Carolina's fever broke tonight.

I see
sleep * *
in
*
my
* * *
near
*
*
*
*
*
future . . . . . .


ZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z

Eczema Update

I can't thank you all enough for your helpful thoughts and encouragement.
It was wonderful just to know that Eczema isn't uncommon (although I don't wish it on any of you!).

I have stripped Bryce's clothes, and I tried the oatmeal/milk bath, but he really struggled in the bath, making it hard for me to contain his wayward fingernails.

I picked up Aveeno and Eucerin, but want to see if eliminating the fragrances from the laundry detergent makes a difference and use the goo as a last resort.

I had hoped to see something better today, but the poor guy woke with red cheeks. He had pulled back the blanket he slept on, exposing his face to the bare port-a-crib pad.
It may be a wild guess, but I suspect that pad to be the cause of those red cheeks.
I'm sure it's been treated for flame resistance.
Just a guess.

Seems like everything is guesswork at this point.

It does appear that dairy is often the culprit for Eczema sufferers, but then there is my friends' baby...

When attempting to cure her own baby of Eczema , my friend was a true martyr.
She suffered through an elimination diet: no wheat, no dairy, and no something else (what was the other thing Jana?), and after keeping to it faithfully for an eternity of time and seeing no difference in Baby's rash, she had her muscle tested.
The doc figured out that eggs and chicken were Baby's problem, and upon leaving the doctors office, Friend promptly went and bought herself a hamburger and milkshake, cut out all eggs and chicken, and Baby cleared right up!

I love that story!
It gives me hope:-)

We had Bryce muscle tested, and that's where the diagnosis of a chemical sensitivity came in.
In fact we had him tested once again a month later just to be sure, and he tested the same.
So far I haven''t hit on the solution, but I am faithfully taking the oils, giving Bryce the oils, and even avoiding Dairy, refined sugar, and coffee, along with highly processed foods.

Bryce is no longer constipated so that's a praise, but it seems like his skin is getting worse.
I have been wondering if it's going through a healing crisis because his digestive tract is working better.
Maybe his body is getting rid of built-up toxins post haste?

As you can see, I'm very good at making surmises! ;-)

I don't prefer science experiments of this nature though, and would be thrilled to move on to other things.

If you'd be inclined to continue throwing me your thoughts and ideas, experiences and remedies, I would deeply appreciate it.

Thanks again All!

-Me


P.S.
I'll post something funner soon.
How 'bout a bazillion pictures of our ski trip with the little Bugs?
OK it's a deal!

Enlighten Me...

Bryce is the most amiable, kissable baby.
Like his siblings before him, he is just too hard to resist when casting that bright smile my way!

I began mister Bryce on his first solid food last week: Avocado, and Brown Cow Vanilla yogurt.
He is my first baby to slurp it down like he'd been waiting on me all this time :-)

One thing is throwing me for a loop these days; Bryce has been battling Eczema.
It is not merely dry skin, but an outbreak especially bad on legs and arms.
I am working with our dear Doctor Monk to determine the cause and eliminate the detestable rash, but so far I am not seeing the results I'd like.

Here is where I make a query of you mommas - please give me your Eczema 2 cents!

A couple clues:
We believe Bryce's Eczema to be caused by a chemical sensitivity, exacerbated by lack of the good oils his skin needs. I am trying to avoid eating anything with chemicals in it (those long unpronounceable ingredients on food labels), taking several kinds of oils including fish oils, and giving Bryce Cod Liver Oil, and Probiotics.

Here' my thought: if he is indeed chemical sensitive (he did not show up sensitive to wheat or dairy) I should probably make some outward adjustments.
What about laundry detergent?
Chemically treated clothing? Did you know that a lot of baby clothing is treated with Formaldehyde, or that those new tag-less labels inside the neck of baby clothing also has potent chemicals in the ink? (Think that's bad? [!])

Anyway, I have no idea where to start with this information.
I'm not prepared to make an overhaul on everyone's wardrobe, but I would do some drastic experiments for the littlest Bug if it might help.

Favorite laundry detergent? I'm thinking about trying Soap Nuts.
Would 100% cotton clothing help?
What natural ointments would help his skin? I'm going back and forth between Bag Balm and Coconut Oil.

I can't promise to try every favorite tip, but I'd be obliged if you'd bring it on!

My Eyes Have Been Opened

I have come to the conclusion that a weekend trip is no longer the quick, throw it together last minute affair that it was 10 years ago.

What really drove that home was a gob of orange silly putty and paper clips that came through the dryer in a pocket.
Today.
When I'm trying to wash, dry, fold, and pack.

...And do school.

...And make several dinners ahead of time.

...And cookies.

(Who doesn't keep a handful of paper clips with their silly putty?!)

Thankfully the dryer was o.k., though the pocket is a little worse for wear :-}
(Just you wait Kim - boys have nothing on sprightly little girls!)

And here's a little tip I've learned the hard way:

If you're going to pack a family of 8 for an over-nighter...

You may as well stay a week, because you will have packed enough.

Trust me on that!

For a Song

This is a little piece of artwork I whipped out the last two days.
Just because it was "whipped out" doesn't mean it was made without a great deal of thought and love. In fact, this one is particularly full of both love and thought - as well as a great deal of prayer.

I do love to draw and am learning to appreciate the paintbrush, but it's been a long journey to realize just WHY I create.

There are two reasons primarily.
The first is because it puts a song in my heart; the other is because I love to make other hearts sing.

I have been making stationary and drawing on commission for the last 10 years plus, but I have always been in turmoil about payment!
What to do - what to do?
How can I put a price on my baby?!

People don't understand (or like) the idea of paying for someone else's creativity, and it's awfully hard to charge by the hour on something like artwork.

Creative genius can well up and overflow from productivity to completion in a mere two hours, or it can take days.

Days and days.

You artist type know.

After several years of deliberation and some failed attempts at solving this dilemma, I finally gave myself permission to draw and create, and give it all away for nothing more than that song I spoke of earlier.

Sometimes I have the pleasure to see the smile that pays for all that thought and love, and other times my heart sings for the Lord alone.

The later is the case this time.
The painting above will travel to Arizona as a gift for one of AJ's co-workers.

He and his wife gave birth to a beautiful and tiny daughter last Friday, but sweet Gabriella was 22 weeks premature and did not live long after.
(Please pray for their family as the Lord prompts)

I've never met Gabriella's parents or siblings, and anyway what would I say to someone who has just lost their child - their very heart?
I am not one for words (believe me!), but sometimes the Lord allows me the privilege of sharing my heart another way - like in this instance.

If it's possible to wrap a Hug from the Heavenly Father and mail it to Arizona, and if He sees fit to make me His hands for that purpose...
Well?
What better payment could I ever ask for!


There is no higher joy than the delight of creating as an expression of belonging to The Creator.

...Unless it's creating something just to make HIS heart sing:-)

About 20 Years Ago

(me today)


















Twenty years ago I was ten years old.

At 10 years old
I was in 5th grade,
read voraciously,
and had 2 "best friends" who were arch rivals.

At 10 years old
I had my own bedroom,
a four poster bed with white eyelet canopy
pale pink walls and Rose colored carpet I chose myself.

At 10 years old
I loved Bunny Rabbits,
collected porcelain dolls,
and perfected the art of stacking clutter
(which is a skill I utilize almost daily 20 years later).

At 10 years old
I began to fall in love with creating art;
my mom and I took a college Water Color class together,
and I had my first really difficult and most helpful critique.

At 10 years old
my dad would take me to work with him,
my brother and I spent hours exploring the creek together,
my little sister would sit quiet as a mouse in my room,
and my mom would sit on my bed and listen to me talk.

At 10 years old
I knew I wanted to be a mom someday,
I practiced on my brother and sister,
and would pray for my future husband.

At 10 years old
I never imagined
that my husband would be so handsome,
so gracious, kind, firm, and full of integrity,
and that I would love him more than life.

At 10 years old
I never imagined
that 30 would find me in Idaho,
raising six children,
and sprouting gray hair.

At 10 years old
I never imagined
the children that would bless my life;
3 boys, 3 girls, and smiles times a million.

At 10 years old I was a young and innocent girl.
I loved life and was full of the stuff life is made of.
I played hard;
I learned to appreciate work;
and I knew how to dream.

At 10 I knew little about the world,
but thought the world of home.


At 10 I didn't know what the future would hold,
but was full of hope for the unknown.

At 10 I didn't know much doctrine or theology,
but I knew Jesus loved me.



In fact, as I look back 20 years ago and then come back to the present, I realize that many things have changed.
The girl is now a woman, a wife, and mother.
Some hobbies (such as collecting dolls) I have disposed of,
while other hobbies have blossomed into cherished creative outlet and even skill.
I don't have Rose colored carpet anymore, but I do still read.
I don't have a bunny rabbit, but I still stack my clutter.
I imagine, work, and dream, and love; I smile a lot, but could do to laugh more often.

Slowly I'm learning about doctrine and theology, but in my learning I have come realize that no matter whether 20 years pass, or 25; 40, 80, or 100, there is something I grasped at age 10 that is a timeless truth worth holding onto forever.

A snippet of glory that bathes me head to toe in the light of HIM from the time before there was time, to the day when time shall come to an end.
And that light casts its wondrous ray out into the After-time when all will be made perfect.

This thing I know for sure:



Jesus loves me.



Be HIS, beloved, for He loves you too.




Romans 5: 7-11

^"7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

⁸But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

⁹Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

¹⁰For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

¹¹And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement."

Bargains!!

Three girls in new snow bibs.
Carolina isn't too keen on wearing hers.

















The colors may be a little outlandish, but counting the pros:

*The girls won't get lost
*Baby brother can grow into them without shame
*The price was right

















We found them clearanced at Target for $3.24 apiece!

We can pretend they're pink with purple polka dots for THAT price :-)

















And speaking of screamin' deals, if you live near a Gander Mountain sporting goods store, we found a LOT of bargains there yesterday.
Amongst them was a $50 pair of Woolrich slippers for 10 dollars.
Slippers for the little Bugs next Fall, normally $15 but we bought them for $5.
Fleece's for the boys 25% off $6.49, and so on.
All their clearance clothing was 25% off lowest marked price, and clearance sandals were 75% off lowest marked price.

With a passel of little ones, it only makes sense to buy ahead when you find the deals, and in all honesty, clearance prices often surpass the cost of buying thrift these days!

What's YOUR latest bargain?

Still Growing... Just Look at That Sparkle in His Eye!