Rub A Dub Dub!

Rub a Dub Dub, 3 Kiddos in the tub!!
Just feeling a little nostalgic and was wanting to have an entry showing my 3 babies in the tub! Who can resist that sweet baby skin in the water with little hands splashing!

Sweet Little Buddy

Missy Mary Macaroni

Tessy Boo, our little Monkey

I have to admit, I am certainly going to miss the bath time with a baby! They are just so sweet and cute! The other day Tessy had us cracking up trying to sample her bath water. She was on a mission and was dipping her hand in her cup in the tub and drinking it off her fingers....Gross, I know. But oh so sweet!

All Credit to Naomi Liester

This past week my friend Naomi took these amazing pictures of our family. I asked her because she is just so good at capturing personalities in her pictures. And, being a mother of 3, I went knowing I would get what I got. And that's what we did. Naomi caught some wonderfully beautiful moments! My goal of a family picture was a lofty one and we did get some family pictures.....and they are that. Pictures of this family, in all of it's chaos! In each one someone is pouting, others smiling, some not even looking! That is no surprise, that is my life. So, thank you to a good friend for being so patient. For tolerating the chaos. And managing to capture some great pictures within all that!!!

Yes, we do have another little girl with curly hair. Where is her picture, well, it's coming. That little girl needed a retake, with the bribe of M&Ms for each time she looked at the camera. So, that's what we did. Naomi, thank you, I can't wait to see Missy Mary's pictures! M&Ms work wonders, never underestimate the value of chocolate and bribery!

Counting My Blessings

~This was written 4 days ago~

Just recently my neighbor loaned me a book. I had told her I was out of reading material (if you know me, you know I LOVE to read). Seriously, I had read every book in our household, with the exception of my husband's business text books! So, just as I was going to leave her home after visiting she remembered some books she had on loan from her church library. Me, skeptical. If you know me, reading some religious literature usually is not by choice. So, I borrowed one of my neighbor's books. I love it. It has helped me to re-evaluate this life. This book, is so much more than a book. She's Gonna Blow! is the title. Yes, I have Blown it. In fact, the husband saw it and said so much to me. Actually, he said "Don't they mean She's Blown?". If you read this and know me, you know I am candid, do not mince words, and am honest. With myself, and with others. I have to admit. The last year has been a struggle. New baby, new adjustments. New schedule. New pressures. I admit, I have blown it. I also know that I am not the only mother to have done this. My point. That's what you are thinking. Me too. What is my point. My point is I wanted to share this book. Write down how I felt after reading it, so I am able to look back and remember maybe to read it again. And again. And again. It's a good reminder to stop and cherish, love, and appreciate all that I am blessed with in this life. And now, a little count of my blessings:

• Chris
• Cale
• Mary
• Tessy
• My Parents
• My Sister
• My wonderful husband's family
• Our pets
• My "Dream" Job (seriously I did wish to do this as a little girl!)
• My great friends
• Fall
• Leaves in the street that crunch!
• A home
• A borrowed cabin
• Coffee

Okay, I guess I could go on and on. This is a pretty blessed life if you ask me! It would be great if I could remember that more often in the heat of the parenting moments. Sometimes this whole parenting thing really cramps my style. I said I was honest! There are days I just want to let it go. Ignore the absolute hideous behaviors because since the first 100 times I disciplined for said behavior it obviously didn't work. So, why bother is what I think. Then the next moment I think, "because I will not accept this behavior, did not the last 100 times and will not again." Although, it would be easier to just let it go. Oh, how I wish. So, I must need to add another blessing or two. Thank you to the dear Lord that blessed me with 3 children that possess such vibrantly strong and determined personalities! I have been told by the pediatrician that these personalities will serve them well, I just need to wait until they are 10 or so. Just fabuous! So, I have 3 years for Cale, 7 for Mare, and 10 for Tess. Well, each day is closer! Until then, I will continue to discipline, continue to try to remember to count the blessing for there are many, and enjoy these precious years of childhood!

Indian Summer

I just love fall. It is by far my favorite season of all. I always get giddy with the sense of newness, renewal, and starting over that comes with the transition from hot, humid days into shorter, cooler and comfortable ones. I have to admit, things seem to look better, colors are more vibrant and I just feel that much better! I love to start cooking again, take time with my kids, and just start fresh. I don't think I will ever lose the back to school excitement or change that comes with fall. Don't get me wrong, it is not lost on me that this is weird. Spring should say renewal, but is doesn't for me. So should new changes and fresh starts come in January. I guess I will leave all those up to other people. For me, all that comes in fall. I love fall. I love it, I love it, and I love it!!!

And, just look at these pictures. I love her. All 16 1/2 lbs of her!

I love this family that I am blessed with. All 5 of us!

I love him. The love of my life and my best friend.

And I just love these 3. Love them.

Love them.

Love them.

This life is not perfect. So far from perfect it makes me laugh. And cry. And have tantrums occasionally just like my 3 year old. (Just had a good one last night!) But I do love it. I love the ups and downs. I love the rollercoaster we are on. This is a journey. Not every moment is perfect, nor should they be. Without the imperfections I would never notice the perfection that peeks out just once and a while.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today was that once in a while. 80 degree weather on October 8th!! Perfect. Bliss. Wonderful. Loved every moment of being outside. So warm out we wore shorts and T-shirts. But then there were the colors of the leaves and the smells of fall! What a perfect night for our annual trip to the Pumpkin Patch. We go every year to this one and I love it each time. I love that it's so cute. I love that I am a little crazy/crabby/stressed every year in hopes of capturing the perfect pictures of my little loves! I laugh every time we drive away at myself. Seriously. I can be too much sometimes. For real. I don't deny that. And I love it about me. I love that I want just the perfect picture that captures my kids' spirits and ages and the feel of fall. So, once again I got just the pictures I wanted. Perfect weather, perfect pictures, perfect end of year ice cream treat with the kids! Indian Summer......I love it!

What's Cooking!?!

So, I have found myself in possession of some great recipes this summer/fall and have been required to try them out. Compulsively trying them out is more like it! There is just something so fun about finding a new recipe and then whipping it up and loving it! I have also found myself wanting to document these feats with photos. So, here is a small selection of what's been cooking! Puff Pancake

Recipe ala Heidi

(Fabulous with fresh fruit and powdered sugar!)

Singapore Street Noodles

recipe ala internet

(These are a new favorite of mine. Better than the restaurant's!)

"Kristen Bread"

recipe ala Kristen

(My children and I give many thanks to the greatest neighbor for this special treat!)

Alas, those are the only photos I have taken. Some other great treats have been the search for the perfect French Breakfast Muffins! (We all must have ingested 2 lbs of butter each in this quest) No lie, I have made about 3 or 4 different recipes in search for one we made in junior high. I found one close.

This fall we have been making apple sauce. Yum, homemade apple sauce. Never had it until this year and am now a bit irked that I have been paying for Musselman's to make it all these years. It is so simple to make and tastes "light years better" than that which you can purchase according to the huband. Must admit, the kids and he eat it up faster than I can make it! Have managed to sneak a few quarts into the freezer too.

We have had Lake Eleven fried fish 3 times this summer! That is a record. A meal of sunnies, a meal of bass, and then the best meal of Northern. Delish!

Other new recipes and innovations are homemade manicotti, chicken enchiladas (my personal fave, thanks Lori!), crock pot chicken recipes, some really great apple muffins, monkey bread and a whole bunch of others that aren't coming to mind!

I do say, I hate the dishes. HATE THEM! But, I do love home cooked meals from scratch. So, every few weeks I find myself on a bender and whip up a few recipes all at once. Today I made 2 types of homemade bread; white which tastes great but looks ugly (this recipe needs some work), and Kristen bread. I also made applesauce and then dinner. Loved all of it. Loved that the girls let me get this all done! Now I don't need to cook for a week! Especially since that great picture (featured above) of Noodles still sits calling my name in the fridge. Yum. I love food! Always have and always will!