Growing.

We are growing.  All of us.  Else physically or spiritually.  Or both.

I'll start with the smallest little addition.  "Zoey", our almost one week old puppy.  She's growing.  She does nothing but sleep, eat, sleep and eat.  Ginger is being a very good mother to her!  It's a blessing to watch them bond.  It's a neat lesson for our kids to see how animals care for their young just like us humans love and cherish our babies and children!  Zoey's eyes are still closed so our holding and touching as been to a minimum!  It will be fun to see the kids holding her and spoiling her!  Waiting for that.

Ashlyn is the next in line with growing.  She's 20 months old now and talking a lot.  We just love to hear her try to put words together.  She's our delight!  She's our challenge too.  Those attitudes and fits are in need a some good training.  Trying!  :)  Her blue eyes and growing blond hair are still way too cute for words! 

This morning, all three children were sitting in the kitchen eating their breakfast.  I just had to stop and look.  I sometimes can't believe that we have three growing children and I am the mom!  A good thing!!!  I marveled at their differences.  Hadassah ordered a grapefruit with chocolate milk for breakfast.  Matthew wanted pancakes with syrup.  He also swallowed his oil pills he started taking again because every time the air gets cold and dry, he starts with his nasty Eczema on his legs.  Ashlyn had a left over pancake and a 1/2 piece of gum.  Yes, it's becoming a problem or addiction to need gum if it's around.  :/  When the two oldest were off to school, she joined me with my breakfast.  She claimed my grafefruit and chowed on oatmeal.

Matthew is growing in length and in discipline.  He's working hard at not complaining when told to do chores.  He's also working hard at listening (right away) when told to get dressed, get his shoes on, brush his teeth, and to be ready for the bus on time!  He's still the biggest tease to Ashlyn but they love each other through the tears and laughs!

Hadassah is growing into a young lady.  She's really becoming more and more helpful around the house and especially with Ashlyn.  She can entertain her so well.  Bath time has become a fun time for her and Ashlyn.  She loves to draw and listening to music with her ear buds is fun!  She works hard with her school work and is playing us Christmas songs on the keyboard!  Love that!!!

Mike and I are growing too.  Not so much physically (I would consider that a good thing!!! :) ).  We are growing more spiritually.  We are also still growing more in love!  Here are some thoughts from last Sunday's message: We just came through the "Thanksgiving Season".  If we seemed so busy with getting food prepared or watching a football game or getting together with extended family ... it's OK.  (Or like us trying to squeeze in a run and shower and make a layer salad all in record time!!!  :) )We should be thankful every day, however, it is a good reminder to have one day set aside to really get us thanking our Lord for our blessings!  Thanksgiving is recognizing the things God is doing in our own lives.  Look.  Sometimes it takes us to look and notice God's activeness in our lives.  (Health.  Co-workers.  Employees.  Employer.  Family.)  If we need to, take a look back at the good God has done in the past and know that He will be there in our future as well!  Look at the God stories in our lives and be thankful for all He is doing!  We are not thankful naturally.  It is awesome that we still have a holiday for Thankfulness!  Look for the evidence of God in every day!  

We were also reminded to be aware that the upcoming Christmas Season is the one holiday that Christianity is the main story.  We need to take our moments to talk and minister to people throughout the busy holiday that normally would not be willing to talk about Christ and his birth story!  We were challenged to be prepared to share our "stories" to others around us this Christmas!

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Mentioning the upcoming Christmas Season ... it's upon us.  Just this morning, I made a list of foods for events that I will be taking part of the next few weeks.  Soup to make for a family banquet.  Peppermint Meltaways to bake for our church holly trail.  Cupcakes for a baby shower.  Filo Cups filled with fruit dip and fruit.  Cookies for a cookies exchange!!! 

All so much fun, if I'm not pushed for time and all stressed out!  I am purposing in my mind and heart to enjoy all the festivities of the upcoming season.  If we are busy, it means we have people that love us and want a bit of each of us in the most wonderful time of the year!!!  I am thankful for that! 

Gotta get going here.  My toddler just walked out of the bathroom with five panie liners stuck on her legs.  Why would these be so attracting?  :)
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I am thankful that when my days are filled to the brim, that I can sit down and enjoy some very yummy sand tarts that I purchased from a near by bakery!  Goodness, they are so good!  Thanks, Geneva!  Wish I had the recipe!!!  :)

Hunting weekend = ladies hangout together!!!

It's tradition that when the men leave for the cabin to go hunting, the ladies at home gather together!!!

Usually, we give mom the rush by hosting all of us Sunday afternoon and overnight.  This time sister Jody volunteered to have the crowd. 

Also, this year, my husband decided to stay home and work instead of going out in the woods.  He's done so much hunting when he was younger and really loved it.  It seems that with every year passing by, he seems to lose more and more interest in hunting.  I'm great with that!  Would much rather prefer beef meat anyway!!!  :)

The kids and I still stuck to our tradition however and left Mike home for a very quit evening alone at home (well, of course Ginger and the newborn puppy were here too)!  The kids were all excited about being together!  They played and us ladies sat and chatted!  (That's fun too!  We always work when we get together, so it was fun just relaxing together!)  The kids stayed overnight, but Ashlyn and I came home to sleep.  It just was too close to home to not come and sleep in my own bed (especially, if Mike was home!)!

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Monday morning, I was up early and got my laundry done and Ashlyn and I refreshed before heading up to Jody's house again.  When we arrived, the kids had just gotten up and Jody made everyone homemade waffles! 

We always do the same thing ... on these days together.  We start off with doing a bunch of chocolate covered crackers.  Sandwich two Ritz crackers with peanut butter and dip in melted milk chocolate!  So easy and VERY tasty!

Melting the peppermint patties and waiting to be dipped.

Then we did some with mint.  Melt a small, thin peppermint patty on a Ritz cracker and sandwich with another cracker.  Dip in melted chocolate.

Jody wanted to do some mocha truffles.  She mixed the go and mom and I helped dip in them in chocolate.

Finally, we did our delicious Carmel's.  You start with a can of sweetened condensed milk and boil it in water for three hours.  Be sure the can is always completely covered with water!  The milk turns into a yummy Carmel!  Cool.  Pipe a small amount of melted chocolate into tiny paper cups.  Dab on top a small amount of caramel and then top with more melted chocolate.  Cool completely!

Between all our dipping and melting chocolate, we served lunch to our hungry, aggressive kids!  They did their own creations by making little gingerbread houses.

 

Our helpers ... :) .

 

 

After cleanup, and believe me it needed a cleanin up, we headed off for our trip to buy poinsettias.  I used to go crazy when I would walk into a greenhouse loaded with poinsettias!  They all seemed to be yelling, "Buy me ... buy me!"  This year, we went to a local greenhouse with just a small display.  That seemed to control my impulsive buying a bit!

We left the greenhouse hungry and ate out!  The restaurant gave us a table in the way back of the room.  We must have looked like quite a crowd with three adults and nine children!!!  :)

The day went fast but we were all exhausted by 6:30.  We said good-bye to our cousins and returned back home to daddy!

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The kids were back to school today.  Another tradition is for us ladies (mom and sisters), to go out Christmas shopping.  That happened today ... but only with Mom, Jody and I.  The other ladies backed out last minute because of spending another day at the mountains and of not feeling well. 

I filled the crock pot before walking out the door, knowing that I would be gone till supper time. 

We shopped at our local stores and we had a blast!!!  We got a lot crossed off our lists!

The evening here at home unwinding is great therapy!  Hanging out as a family is still the best kind of love and togetherness!  Hearing the sound of Hadassah practicing piano or when things are extra quit, seeing Matthew play games on Mike's phone.  Watching Ashlyn turn page after page with books is just a another reminder that she is growing up so fast.  Then, snuggling with Mike on the couch as he reads another business book!  Yep, family is wonderful!

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Thanks Mom and Jody for the great past few days!  It's a blast being together!  Thanks for hosting us Jody and thanks for being our driver Mom!  Love you ladies!   

Thanksgiving 2012

We came through the Thanksgiving Holiday grateful!  After breakfast, we sat together with our kids and had a family meeting.  This doesn't happen near as often as we would like, but once a year is better than none.  :)  We talked about our past year and the things we improved in.  We talked about some of the things we would like for our family to do this coming year.  Goals.  Attitudes.  Family rules.  We also each wrote down some things we were thankful for.  (I will give details on this meeting at a later post.)

Mike and I went for a quick two mile run!  He's been my inspiration with running!  I am too quick to say, "I don't feel like it" ... or ... "I don't have the time."  We ran fast and hard.  The last part of the run, we ran all out!  I was puffed!  Tired!  But refreshed!

We quickly got showered and made a salad before heading off to Mike's family gathering!  We spent our Thanksgiving day with Mike's family.  Mom made a scrumptious meal!!!  Turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, roast, veggies and yummy desserts!!! 

As we sat around the dinner table, we all took a turn to say some of the things we are most thankful for!  Many mentioned family.  Health.  Food.  Friends.  Jesus!!!

After lunch, the kids played outside.  It was so gorgeous!  Four square, basketball, sidewalk chalk, scooters, etc..  The men went out to the field and shot clay birds and sited in their rifles.  The ladies relaxed and chatted.  We also went to see Ervin's 9 lab puppies.  So cute!

The evening hours were spent with the adults playing 'fist'.  Men vs Ladies.  Always the best competition!!!

The turkey mom cooked!!!  Oh yeah!!!  So moist and yummy!

Mike ... carved the turkey for us!!!

Here are some of the kids!  They had a good time ... once again!

Hadassah and I went out shopping Thursday night.  We left at 9 PM and shopped till 1 AM.  The stores were crazy busy, but we sure had a wonderful time!  I treasure this outing with Hadassah.  We are making great memories!!!  Love you girl!!!  Thanks for being my shopping buddy!  Here's are our deals ...

Sophia doing side walk chalk.

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Our sunrises are unbelievable gorgeous lately!!!  Here's one Mike and I gazed at in all!!!  Sitting on the couch reading devotions and watching these gorgeous sun rises come up through the horizon is more than perfect!!!  Thanks Lord for your beauty!

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I am so thankful for my health.  My family!  My wonderful husband and beautiful kids!  

My personal Lord and Saviour!  Our house and food and heat!  My Bible!  My friends! 

I hope your Thanksgiving Holiday was filled with good times!

Blessings!!!

"One" Puppy!!!

We are so proud to say that our puppy has arrived.  Safe and doing well!

 

Our 'Morkie' house dog, Ginger, gave birth to her first litter of only one puppy yesterday at 1 PM.  The past few weeks we kept playing the game of 'is she pregnant or not?'  Two weeks ago we could finally tell that she was expecting and we were excited and anxious about this new adventure.  I was the one feeling nervous because I have never dealt with any animal birthing babies, especially not in my house!!!  (However, we did have a stray cat birth kitties in our basement one weekend.  A long story, short, Mike was working on remodeling our basement a few years back and while the basement door was propped open a stray cat snuck in and we didn't notice till a few days later.  She had her litter and we were sure to let her know ... she wasn't welcome in our basement!) 

 

Anyway, I did some online research about some signs to watch for before dogs give birth and I also talked to family about their dog experiences.  (Thanks Fannie Lynn and Thelma!)

 

I noticed yesterday morning that Ginger hadn't eatin her dog food.  (A clue!)  Normally, as soon as I put out some canned dog food, she was right there devouring it.  After lunch, I left her outside to pee and when she came inside she went right back to Matthew's room and didn't even eat her treat.  (Another clue!)  Ashlyn was sleeping in there so I told Ginger to get out.  She then went to Hadassah's room.  I thought she was acting a bit strange and so a few minutes later, I checked on her again.  This time, she was laying on Hadassah's bed with a puppy!  WHAT???  I immediately grabbed the comforter and carried Ginger and the puppy out to the little child's swimming pool we got for her.  We were hoping that she would birth her puppies in the pool.  (I read this online and it sounded easy to clean and a good place for Ginger to give birth.  We were trying the past week to get Ginger to sit and relax in the pool hoping that that would be her sign of nesting and to make the pool her spot to give birth.)  I grabbed some newspaper and laid it in the pool.  I plopped Ginger and the puppy on the newspaper and waited and watched to see if she would have more.  She licked and licked and cared for the one puppy so well.  We waited a few hours before knowing that her first litter just consists of "one puppy".  This will be one spoiled little puppy around our house for the next 8 weeks.

 

Every puppy needs a cute name ... even if it's a few days old and maybe even moving on to live with another family in a few months.  We are pretty certain that the puppy is a girl.  (We haven't touched the puppy a whole lot yet.  It's kinda hard to tell the gender yet.  We are new to this experience!  :) )  Hadassah wrote down some girl name options on a paper and we took a family vote.  "Zoey" was the top choice.

 

Meet "Zoey".

 

 

The mothering dog!!! 

Ginger is doing well.  She's so far being a very good momma!  She trusts us completely and we enjoy watching the little puppy bond with her mommy!  We help keep Ginger and the puppy warm with a heat lamp.  They are both doing great!

Pumpkin dip & cupcakes ...

Things have been a bit crazy around here!  I started this post three times now and each time, I had to stop and go or do something else.  I am hoping I can actually get something published here!  :)

It's been so busy, busy!!!  Good days!  Fun days! Parties!  Sweets!  Thankful thoughts and gestures.

It doesn't ever happen though ... by just happening.  It takes lots of preparation to plan school parties and treats and family meals!  So, I was in the kitchen again.  (I do enjoy this!  Really!)

Hadassah and Matthew both had school parties that I helped with.  I made a pumpkin dessert dip for Matthews class.

PUMPKIN DESSERT DIP:
1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
1 7 oz. jar of marshmallow creme
1/2 cup pumpkin
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg

Mix all ingredients until well blended; cover.  Refrigerate for several hours or until chilled.  Serve with cup-up assorted fresh fruit and ginger snaps!!!

Matthew's class did a craft.  We took a pine cone and glued a head, eyes, and a beak on it.  They traced their hands and wrote their thankfulness on each finger.  We glued that on for the tail.

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I also baked cupcakes for Hadassah's class.  I went with "PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE' CUPCAKES"!!!  (Many thanks for the recipe from a blog called "Annies Eats"!  Love her food inspirations!)  I love the icing on these cupcakes! 

For the cupcakes:
2 2/3 cups flour
3 Tb. instant coffee
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
1/8 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. salt
2 cups pumpkin
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup oil
4 eggs

 For the frosting:
2 1/4 cups heavy cream, chilled
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Mix the flour, instant coffee, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and salt in a bowl.  In a separate bowl, beat the pumpkin, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and oil.  Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.  With the mixture on low speed, ad the flour mixture, mixing just until incorporated.

Fill the cupcake papers and bake for 20 minutes, or until done.  Let cool 10 minutes before removing them from the pans.  Cool completely.

To make the frosting, place the heavy cream in the bowl of an electric mixer.  Whip on medium-low speed at first, gradually increasing to high speed.  Blend in the 10 X sugar gradually.  Whip until stiff peaks form.  Frost the cupcakes!  If any left-overs, refridgerate cupcakes.

Hadassah's class also made little turkeys out of oreos and candies.  Cute.  They also put together soup in a jar.  The dry ingredients were measured and then the instructions came along with it, telling how much liquid to add when you cook the soup.

School left out at 11:30 AM.  Vacation didn't start for me though ... not yet.  My house was dirty.  Laundry was waiting on me.  The kids were on a sugar high from all their party treats!  I really had to stop and ponder the thought of the real meaning of this Thanksgiving Holiday!

I was thankful for my warm house.  For my energy to clean it.  For dirty laundry ... for were it not for our children, the laundry pile would be too small.  For my hyper kids, because they are healthy and energetic and full of life!

Thanksgiving Week!!!

Oh, boy!!!  Thanksgiving week is upon us!  We have lots going on around our home this week! 
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Saturday evening, we spent together with some friends!  (Thanks Jonathon and Marilyn for the invite!)  The guys enjoyed a game of Acquire while us ladies chatted.  I made a Pumpkin Cheesecake to take along!  I've been waiting for a chance to make this yummy dessert!  I was delighted to see the outcome!

PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE:

Mix 2 cups graham crumbs with 1 stick of melted butter. 
Press on the bottom of a 10" spring foam cheesecake pan.

Beat: 3 - 8oz. cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

Add and beat:  5 eggs

Add and beat: 3 cup pumpkin
1/4 cup flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg

Bake at 350 for 50 minutes or until set.  Chill and enjoy!

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We, of course, want to start this holiday with the real reason of it's celebration!  THANKFULNESS!  Remembering all our blessings and giving God thanks for them all!  Yesterday, I had a good reminder!  We had a great time sharing at Sunday School.  The lesson was in Proverbs.  We got on the topic of how it's "more blessed to give than to receive".  Mike handed out a $20 bill to one of the guys in the class and asked what he would do with it to bless someone else?  We passed the $20 bucks around and the last person to have it was challenged to actually use it this week to bless someone else.  Blessings ... they are all around us! 

I gave an example of how once there was someone in front of me at the car wash.  They paid for their wash and after pulling into the bay, they texted me and wrote they had paid for my wash too!  What a blessing!  If they would have just given me the $8 ... it would have probably meant very little.  I might have never remembered what I actually used it for.  But the thought of paying for my car wash is something I never forgot!  I wanted to do that for someone else too!  Sometimes it takes our thoughts to turn into actions to actually bless others!  Thanks again Amey & Marty!  It still ministers to me!  :)

Sunday afternoon was spent relaxing with Mike and the kids.  My nap also felt wonderful!!!  Mike and I went out for a 2 mile run.  I wasn't too sure how it was going to go?.  I haven't been running much lately.  (Really should get into my groove again!  Why is it so hard to start?)  The run went great!  My lungs got a fresh dose of the autumn air and my muscles are telling me today that the run was worth it!  We then spent the evening with our grandparents and playing 'golf'!!!

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The start of our Thanksgiving week for me was getting the kids off to school and my laundry pile decreased today!  I also had 8 pumpkin pies on my 'to make' list for our food pantry at church.  I started with the crust.  Then the mixing.  Then the baking.  I love making these pies and now they are ready for delivery!

 

 

Tomorrow will consist of more baking for the kids school parties coming up.  I am thinking about a cupcake display and then some pumpkin dip with ginger snaps!  (Will post them later.)

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Throughout the busy next couple of days and weeks, we are also preparing our home for little puppies!  Our Morkie house dog is pregnant and will be birthing puppies hopefully soon!  I am a bit nervous about the whole thing, but am really hoping all goes well!!!  We should have a few cute puppies to sell after Christmas!

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And, because it is Autumn and the leaves are all falling off the trees, here's a picture of the kids helping Lena with her big piles.

 Matthew would push a big pile of leaves into the trash can! Filled it up in no time!

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Because this post is becoming of random thoughts, here's another funny picture from last week.  Mike crawled into bed and said, "Hon, you have to get up and go look at Matthew over in his bed!"  I was too tired and already sleeping, so I waited to look in the morning. 

Mike took a picture with his phone because he thought it was so unique.  I know now why he thought I should have gotten up and taken a peak ... :) .  In the morning, the yard stick was down and Matthew sound asleep.

Before going to bed, Matthew asked me for a sturdy yard stick.  I tucked him in and kissed him goodnight.  I guess he must have adjusted his covers just a tad!!!  :)  Boys will be boys!!!  And I am so glad!

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It's now time for me to get some sleep!  I'll let the tepee style for the boys!  A good pillow and mattress is all I need!  (Well, a good night kiss from hubby too!  :) )

Blessings as you count your blessings this week!

Lost and FOUND!!!

Tuesday night, we packed up the kids and headed for Small Groups.  When we arrived, Mike asked if I had his Bible?  "No."

I could tell that wasn't what he was hoping I would say.  When he strapped Ashlyn in her car seat before leaving home, he placed his Bible on the roof of the van.  He forgot to get it before pulling the van out of our garage and down the road.

We strained our eyes the whole way home to see if we can see it lying along the road somewhere.  Nothing.  Mike even went out again and looked that night.  Still nothing.

As we tucked the kids into bed we prayed that someone would find his Bible and else return it or read it!!!  Then we waited.

I knew he had a church bulletin tucked in his Bible pages, so I hoped that if anything someone would return it to church on Sunday.

I took a walk up and down our street and looked the next afternoon.  Nothing.  I drove our route too and still didn't see it anywhere.

Yesterday morning, Mike and I read from another Bible for our devotions.  It just didn't seem the same, but I knew Bibles can be replaced.  Then yesterday afternoon, I saw a car pull into our driveway and sat at the end of the lane.  I got off my recliner, (because I was doing a lesson from our Bible Study!  Yes!!!) and went to the front door.  Ashlyn was sleeping and I knew that if Ginger would notice the car, her bark could wake Ashlyn up.  Nobody got out of the car, so I assumed they were just turning around.  Soon, a young girl came knocking on the door.  I noticed a book in her hand and thought, "Oh, my word!  She's got Mike's Bible!"  Then just that fast I thought, "Oh, no.  She's just a Jehovah's Witness."  I hoped and then doubted.

I grabbed Ginger to stop her from barking and went to the door.  My eyes got huge!  It was truly Mike's Bible she had in her hand!  She said that they found this Bible along the road and had to look us up to return it to us.  (I had our names inside of his Bible.  Thank goodness!)  I was so HAPPY!  I thanked her and she left.  A minute later, I was like ... what?  I didn't even ask her 'where' she found it.  I hadn't offered her a gift for returning it.  I just said thank you and returned Mike's Bible on the end table where it belongs!  I was ashamed but yet, so very happy to have it returned!

I did stop and praise God for answering our prayers.  I texted all the people that knew his Bible went missing and is now found!  I felt like I was living out the Bible story of the widow lady who lost her one small coin and when she found it, she told all her friends about it!

I couldn't wait to tell the kids when they got home from school!  I knew they would be just a happy too!

I texted Mike this:  "A lady just dropped off your Bible!!!  I was so happy I forgot to ask her where she found it.  I know!  I am praising the Lord that there are still people around looking out for others!  For us!!!"

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It felt great reading from Mike's Bible this morning!  Another thing I read was, "Be content to be a simple sheep, listening for My voice and following Me."  Love that!

Have a blessed day and rejoice with our family today that God looks out for us!  He answers our prayers!  Maybe not always immediately.  Maybe not even just two days later.  But He hears our prayers and answers them ALL in His perfect timing!

A sweet treat!!!

This is usually something we do when Mike is out hunting.  We get together with my mom and sister and make lots of these!!!

Yesterday, I got this urge to do an early batch of these wonderful treats!!!  CHOCOLATE COVERED PEANUT BUTTER CRACKERS is the name for these totally awesome crackers!  I knew I would get HUGE smiles from my kids when they realize whats inside the Tupperware container!

Go ahead and try them yourself!  They are so easy and so rewarding!  It won't take you long to make a few dozen!  Indulge the holiday treats ... just a bit early this year with us!

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Spread peanut butter on a Ritz cracker and then top with another cracker.  Melt some chocolate wafers.  Toss gently your crackers, one by one, into the warm, melted chocolate.  With a fork, carefully lift your cracker and tap off the excess chocolate by tapping your fork on the side of your pan.  Place the crackers on a sheet of wax paper until dry.  Store in a air tight container and ENJOY!!!

We are thinking "holiday season" around our home!  We are arranging our Thanksgiving plans and parties!  Oh, for there truly is so much to be "THANKFUL" for!!!

Here's a promise I wish to leave with you today that encouraged me this morning ...

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.  In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of

good cheer; I have overcome the world."

John 16:33

We call it "MACSA Weekend"!

We are back to good health!!!  I am so thankful for God's touch on us and for His healing power! 

We are also back from spending the weekend at the cabin with my extended family!  Last week, was a short week for school.  The kids only had school on Monday and Tuesday.  Our teachers had MACSA and so the kids had off. 

It's been a tradition the past few years to take this time 'off of school' to spend at the mountains with my family.  Everyone packed up Thursday night and headed for the three hour drive to the tiny cabin in the woods!  We decided to wait till Friday morning to head to the cabin.  (I don't ever mind missing out on the cold cabin and bug clean up!  It's always necessary when the first people arrive! :) )  No joke ... that first night, my sister woke up during the middle of the night with a mouse scratching on her head.  It totally freaked her out and the bedroom got a cleaning out the next day!  Two mouse nests were in one of the bedroom drawers!  Not anymore!  We are all dreaming of a nice, big, new cabin ... someday!  :)

Hadassah woke up Friday morning feeling better.  She seriously was laying on the couch all week long with a nasty cold and flu symptoms.  One huge problem with the flu is that it usually spreads like wild fire to the rest of the family.  I woke up feeling achy and the feeling of a major cold coming on!  Mike and I packed everything in our red van and after dropping Ginger off at Sadie's (Thanks lady!!!  You are the best!!!), we were off to the cabin too!

The kids were so excited to get there!  Spending the whole weekend with their cousins is a 'dream come true'!

Breakfast ... a huge breakfast every morning is the start of a good day!!!  The early birds started with cereal and then the cooked foods were served at 10 AM.

If the girls think that maybe I will put a picture of them on my blog, they smile big!  Don't you love Megan's milk mustache?  Shakia makes the funniest faces!!!  She can 'wink'!  For real!  It's so cute!  Here though she's giving me a funny camera face!

 Here are the younger girls lined up with their toys!  The farm was the toy, that if it was laid down and someone else grabbed it ... too bad for you.  The blue animal noise toy only worked when it felt like it.  Shakia was entertained with a empty water bottle and cap. :)

 Morgan and Hadassah never got dressed out of the pj's.  For ... it is the cabin in the hills right?  Why get dressed in normal clothes?  (Then again, pj's are normal for some of us!  :) )

Here's my sweetie ... She loved the outdoors and seeing the deer!!!  Time with Daddy is important to her and she got lots of it all weekend!

The boys spent some time on the iPad!  We played lots of games all weekend long though.  "Golf", "Rummio" and "Scum"!!!

 

My brother, LaVern, has a looooonnngg story about this buck he finally got dead!  He shot the deer on Saturday afternoon but it never actually fell over and died till Sunday afternoon.  He knew he hit the deer and later that night, all the guys helped look for him.  Sunday morning, Mike and Ashlyn went for a walk and kicked up this same, injured five point.  All the guys went out to track it down but every time they got close enough for another arrow shot ... they missed or didn't get a good enough shot to put it down.  They worked hard climbing the steep mountains after the deer.  They finally came in for breakfast and then back out in the woods at lunch to find this buck.  LaVern finally was able to tag him late Sunday afternoon!  Not the biggest rack ... but the biggest buck story ever to be told!  It grand totalled 14 arrows (some hit and some missed) to get this deer to the cart!  Good job, LaVern (and all those who helped kill this deer!)! :)

 

Matthew taking a camera moment with the deer for fun!

 

 Riding the golf cart is a huge highlight! 

Only one deer got hung this weekend!  Way to go LaVern!

 

Now, I have the usual tons of laundry and suitcases to unpack from the weekend!

 

It was fun!  It was relaxing. 

 

I am so thankful for my healthy body and family today!!!