A Home

A house is made with walls and beams, but a home is made with love and dreams.

Scripture Sunday

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

Quotes

We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do. -- Mother Theresa

Frugal Fridays

This is my first Frugal Friday Posting! Yippee! I know this one may seem very, very silly but it is concerning air freshening. Especially in a home with a mechanic, six children, a Blue Heeler, kitten and bunny, I have a very, very strong sense of smell so I'm a little pranoid about this one. To stretch your freshener sprays, oils or whatever you use I simply spray them into the cold air return of the air conditioner or furnace or place a fabric softener sheet on the filter. Instead of squirting it throughout the entire house just one little squirt and it is all over, done!

Our Summer Zoo Trip

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

In July, Kevin, A, Ki and myself ventured to the zoo! We arrived and within ten minutes the most wicked storm imaginable rolled in! Oh my! We sought shelter with the otters in a very, very stinky covering. Lightning unbelievable! Everywhere! And I am NOT exaggerating! Everywhere! We

were very, very nervous! We waited for about 40 minutes for it to slack off and decided we really HAD to make a break for it and get out of the danger zone. NOT SMART! Ki and I ran in the direction of the main gate followed by Daddy and A. Then it happened! We heard a sizzle, sizzle, crack and my hair stood on end then lightning struck the goat’s roof about 15 feet away! YIKES!!! Kevin and A (completely hysterical) ran back into the small otter covering while I tried to scoop up Ki fighting her umbrella, she was just so shocked! Finally we got back to the covering. MY OH MY!

We hung out there again while the lightning continued popping everywhere on the metal roof coverings of the animal shelters. Finally we again made a break for the entrance. It only took about one minute to reach it, but wow. The zoo staff was VERY happy to see us. I wonder if they will ever want to return??

Weekly Freebie

Click here: to get a free full sized Secret Clinical Strength Sport deodorant.

Love Coffee? Click here for a sample of your choice of flavors of Starbucks coffee.

Gustav!

Well, Maybe it can miss us??

Wordless Wednesday

Tackle it Tuesday

It's been rather hectic this week but I did manage to do a lot of work in both the girls' room and the boys' room. I even did the dreaded sorting out of toyboxes in the girls' room. It is really amazing how much stuff six children accumulate! I did make tremendous progress! I got rid of five garbage bags cram packed! Hopefully they don't miss too much. We did have a birthday last week so I was following my rule one in.....twenty out! Hee hee! Well anyhow, all of the toys now fit into the toy box.

I also cleaned up in the boys' room and managed to get all of their clothes in their drawers! YAY!!! Now I can walk through their room to the back door without breaking my neck! Well, it WAS clean. At least for four days!

My Favorite Things

Comet! Comet my dears is definitely high up there on my faves. No matter what kind of cleaning products they come up with they never seen to be able to top dear old fashioned comet! I even use it on my skillets after the kids make eggs! Ewwww! It works absolute WONDERS on the grimy tub!

To hear other peoples faves click here.

Menu Planning Monday

Monday: Meatloaf & Cabbage
Tuesday: Spaghetti
Wednesday: Leftovers
Thursday: Mexican Casserole
Friday: Chili & Crackers
Saturday: Burgers, Beans & Coleslaw
Sunday: Grilled BBQ Chicken, rice

Click here for more menu ideas!

Scripture Sunday

2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4

A True Friend

A true friend never gets in your way -- unless you are on your way down.

Wish Book

Want to Order a Sears Christmas Wish Book? http://www.sears.com/shc/s/ordercatalog_10153_12605_Wish%20Book?adCell=A3

Dear Dad

A father passing by his son's bedroom, was astonished to see the bed was nicely made, and that everything was picked up and tidy. Then, he saw an envelope, propped up prominently on the pillow. It was addressed, 'Dad.' With the worst premonition, he opened the envelope and read the letter, with trembling hands.

Dear Dad,
It is with great regret and sorrow that I'm writing to you. I had to elope with my new girlfriend, because I wanted to avoid a scene with Mum and you. I've been finding real passion with Stacy, and she is so nice, but I knew you would not approve of her, because of all her piercings', tattoos, her tight Motorcycle clothes, and because she is so much older than I am.

But it's not only the passion, Dad. She's pregnant. Stacy said that we will be very happy. She owns a trailer in the woods, and has a stack of firewood for the whole winter. We share a dream of having many more children. Stacy has opened my eyes to the fact that marijuana doesn't, really hurt anyone. We'll be growing it for ourselves, and trading it with the other people in the commune, for all the cocaine and ecstasy we want.

In the meantime, we'll pray that science will find a cure for AIDS, so Stacy can get better. She sure deserves it! Don't worry Dad, I'm 15, and I know how to take care of myself. Someday, I'm sure we'll be back to visit, so you can get to know your many grandchildren.

Love, your son, Joshua.

P.S. Dad, none of the above is true. I'm over at Jason's house. I just wanted to remind you that there are worse things in life than the School report that's on the kitchen table.

http://www.avolites.org.uk/jokes/dear-dad.htm

Feeling a Little Down???

If you are feeling a little down today? Click HERE! Even if you're aren't, do it anyhow!

Birthday Celebration Photos

M had a nice birthday. Her little sister attempted to take it over several times, terrible twos!!!! LOL. My dear friend Rachel found me the perfect dollhouse and shipped it to me. THANKS RACHEL!!!! LOVE YOU!!!! And so does M (and Ki)!

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Happy 8th Birthday Miranda!

Fay Damage

My sister is under water from Fay, check out her blog over at Rescue Riders.

"When I went out to feed the horses, he was waiting at the door to come in. The dock was almost underwater soon you won't see the dock. It is still there but you can't see it."

Photo: Debbie Philips

The Leaders of the Munchkinheads

Wordless Wednesday

Giggles

Favorite Things Tuesday!

My favorite thing for this week is my new Fly Lady Calendar my good friend LaDonna sent to me. It is WONDERFUL. Just got it yesterday so still putting things into it but I know I'm gonna LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!

Tackle it Tuesday

Here we go! I'm getting all my ducks in a row! A wonderful friend of mine surprised me with a Fly Lady Calendar yesterday when I received the mail. WOW. What a thoughtful buddy! With a family of eight sometimes it is a bit difficult to keep track of everything going on and those cheesy little calendars just DON'T cut it. So.....I am FINALLY getting my bootie in gear! Everything is going onto this calendar! Bills due, appointments, special events, no more missing WIC appointments, doctor appointments, school functions....need I go on and on and on and on....

I have created a new home for this little miracle, life saver and have made a commitment to USE IT!!! My life should definitely run a little smoother with this in place. YAY!!!!

THANK YOU LADONNA!!!!!

Grandma's Casserole

1 Package of egg noodles, cooked
1 1/2 lbs. ground beef, cooked & drained
2 cans condensed tomato soup
1 soup can milk
1 1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. pepper
1/2 t. sugar (yes!)
1 c. shredded cheese (whatever you like)
Optional mix ins: corn, olives, onions, green peppers
1 c. shredded cheese for top

Mix together, place in casserole, Bake at 350F til cheese is bubbly. My kids and brother like honey on it! Eww! Great with corn bread. Major comfort food!!!!!

And yes this was really my Grandma's Casserole, she made it for us all of the time!! ;)


For more great tried and true recipes visit What's Cooking Wednesday

Menu Planning Monday

Monday: Grilled BBQ Chicken Wraps

Tuesday: Grandma's Casserole

Wednesday: Cincinnati Chili

Thursday: Spaghetti, salad

Friday: Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas

Saturday: Smothered Hamgurger Steak, Rice, Gravy

Sunday: Grilled Chicken, Rice, Corn

For more menu ideas visit: I'm an Organizing Junkie

6 Quirky Things About Me

Christy at Shake the Salt tagged me!

Here are the rules for “6 Quirky Things”:

1. Link back to the person who tagged you
2. Mention the rules on your blog
3. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours
4. Tag 6 following bloggers by linking them
5. Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger’s blogs letting them know they’ve been tagged.

1. I'm a cinnamon toast girl, always have been. With a tall glass of iced coffee, my fave night-time snack.

2. I don't sleep! Even on a no-caffeine diet. If I do sleep it after 7 am. Weird, yes, I know.

3. I'm a oral hygene freak. Not super rigid with the flossing thing but I have never, ever had a cavity!

4. I HATE mispronounciations! Like: x-scape, escape already!

5. I am an avid thrifter and clearancer. If theres a deal to be had...I'm there!

6. I LOVE COFFEE! Even when I was out cleaning pools for a living, sweating my BUTT OFF, I would come home and make a pot of coffee! Yeah, I know!

Now… to get 6 unsuspecting bloggers… I am tagging:

Mommee23

Our Fun House of God

Ginrich News

Rescue Riders

Punky Monkeys

Northern gal living in the South

Cheaper Than Gas

School Supplies

Yikes! Cram The Van lost our application! I had a feeling that was going to happen. The man at the Chamber of Commerce faxed it in and I told him I didn't trust it but he reassured me it was fine. I'll go with my gut in the future. Anyhow they didn’t have any extras even though I had a copy of my application. I was in tears! Literally! I was so embarrassed! It is really tough when you cannot provide for your own children. Humiliating actually! I just trust it won’t always be like this!

Anyhow, one of the volunteers offered to drive to the next town and get some extras they had since I couldn't afford the gas. VERY, VERY NICE! So they gave each of the kids them some supplies. Don’t get me wrong, I am extremely grateful! It is bad enough to have to need these services in the first place but to be counting on them and they fall through was just a bit much for me. They didn't give out backpack this year. But I only need one now. We did find one at a consignment store for N this morning. YAY!!! Just M to go!

Then we went to a Back to School bash at a church. WOW! The church gave us MORE school supplies than Cram The Van did! WOW......I was so, so very impressed. There was also a very, very large turn out. The kids were able to look at military vehicle, a biplane, fire trucks, helicopters, ambulances, antique and muscle cars. They also got to look at Swat team vehicles and weapons. G loved that! They were able to shoot an empty paint ball gun. Watched trained dog exercises. Free hot dogs and drinks! M and Ki got to ride horses!!! Two churches and various sponsors put all this on absolutely FREE! This woman was very, very impressed. One blessed little girl won the grand prize of a limo ride to and from school on the first day! G won a drawing for 3 free rounds of miniature Golf, 2 free bowling games and 2 free skate admissions!!!! YAY G!!

All in all it was a very, very good day. Rough start but it improved very quickly!

School Starts Monday

We just returned from all the children's school open houses. They are all pleased with the teacher selections they were given. N has the same teacher G had last year...what a hoot. I was just saying to a friend that that has never happened before, even though we have six children...and it does! Go figure! So, school starts Monday and we are all gearing up! The poor elementary kids catch the bus at 6:18 am J, softmore, doesn't catch the bus until 8:35! Lucky kid! Too bad he has band practice at 7:00 am huh?

Leave me a comment, tell me what you do to get ready for school or how you make the first week special!

Quote

Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around in awareness.

Ki & the Girls at the Beach

Giggles!

Weekly Freebie

Fill out this form to receive a FREE 10 sheet 4" x 6" sample of Post-it® Super Sticky Recycled Notes.

Click here: http://www3.3m.com/qfrm/ShowSurvey?surveyid=JOFOCMH8

Four States in One Day
We ate breakfast in Texas. We ate lunch in Louisiana. We ate supper in Alabama. We'll have our bed time snack in our house in Florida. What a day. We watched several DVD's during the 10 hour car trip. We also played card games Mrs. Nedra gave us. Grandma and Grandpa had to drive in a lot of rain. We made a rest stop in Camping World and got to look at a lot of neat stuff. The dogs rode in the shopping cart and Glee pooped in the cart. Grandma had to clean it up. Our little sister was really excited to see us. We think Mom was glad too. Grandma and grandpa will leave tomorrow. We'll miss them. We hope they'll miss us. We're turning this blog back over to our grandparents.

Do it Yourself Haircut!

So! Friday I took Ki in for her first real haircut! Well I guess she didn’t like it cuz she just WHACKED off her bangs!!!!!!!! Well hey, I guess I should be grateful that the scissors got stuck in her hair and she came for help. I found a nice pile of hair on the dining room floor!

Visit with the Grandparents (Contd)

This morning we posed for a group photo and then took Aunt Debbie to the airport. Traffic wasn’t bad so we made a stop at Hobby Lobby to let Aunt Debbie look around. Grandma bought her some yarn and some Red Hot Candy for Uncle David’s snack package she sends to him in Iraq every few weeks. We left Aunt Debbie’s plane actually left a little early. Our grandparents didn’t know they ever left early. That got her to Memphis early enough to get on a flight to Atlanta without waiting. She had to spend a lot of time in Atlanta because she just missed the earlier flight to Melbourne. At least there was more to do at the Atlanta airport than at the Memphis one. On the way back to our grandparents house we stopped at Lubby’s cafeteria and ate lunch. We played when we got home then went swimming. After dinner we “worked” on our computers. Tonight we have to get cleaned-up for church tomorrow. Tomorrow night Grandma preaches at the vesper service. We get to go to the ice cream party after vespers. This is the last of our blogging. We leave Monday for our home. It sure has been fun here but we are starting to miss mommie, brothers, sister and Kevin.

Summer Recap!

J has just finished band camp but continues to have evening practices until school begins as well as car wash and various fundraisers for band as well. I promise you J has grown about a foot since Christmas! He was the same height as me at 5’7” now he is taller that Kevin who is 6’ and skinny! Handsome young man!

G has enjoyed his summer and especially Royal Rangers. He is still extremely interested in all things military. He is our reliable one. If you are ever in need, he will be there for you. When I got the new sectional last week G helped me move EVERYTHING. Kevin was at work and J at all day band camp. G is indeed a trooper!

N is spending time with Grandma and Grandpa this summer, almost three weeks! Earlier this summer on a tubing excursion N discovered carnivorous plants along the banks of the Blackwater River. Needless to say, the cooler became muddy very quickly transporting these very interesting living things home. We planted them in an aquarium and many are still alive. They aren’t allowed inside. Pewee! Oh my! Really!

M is the sweet little mother hen. She help out with her little sister so much it is unbelievable. She too is visiting with her grandparents this summer in Texas. She is getting very into art. Loves to make books and draw. Her goal is to be like her mom (me!) she says. I haven’t drawn in YEARS. They always go through my stuff and find drawings and drill me relentlessly!

A had a wonderful seven weeks here. She is an outdoor person 100%. She went camping for the first time, horseback riding, tubing, sea shell collecting, to the zoo, Chuck E. Cheese, visiting in Panama City, swimming in our pool almost each and every day, bonded with her baby sister, learned how to change a diaper(she was very proud of that!), re-learned how to ride her bike, drove our battery powered jeep, learned how to drive our pocket rocket, and countless other things! Whew!

Ki is growing up a storm. Her looks are changing from baby to little girl! (sigh) She is currently potty training; mom is a little slack on this one, hey she’s my last! She LOVES to write, color and draw! She is finally beginning to increase her vocabulary (Praise God) in leaps and bounds.

Kevin is trooping on. He is obviously very, very sad our time with A has ended! he is hoping for a new job desperately! These people just don’t pay him what they owe him! What a horrible way to run a business, exploiting others!

I am doing fairly well. My health is stable. I’m sure you read my earlier postings on my new allergy…to cold! What a royal pain in the bootie! I made hamburger patties the other night and my hands welted up like you wouldn’t believe. I cannot drink anything, eat anything, touch anything or have anything cooler than my body temperature touch me or I break out in huge welting blisters. I’m still praying that this is just temporary. I can’t even play in the rain! Bummer! But hey…still cancer free two years now! AMEN!

Visit with Grandparents (Contd)

What a day. We drove 1.5 hours to Fry’s Electronics. In the car Aunt Debbie taught us how to crochet some more. Nathan is doing multiple rows already. We both think it is a lot of fun. At Fry’s Aunt Debbie found the camera she wanted. From there we went to Panera’s to eat and then to Barnes and Noble. We looked at some magazines and then left Grandpa there looking at magazines while we went into this really big mall and went to the children’s museum. We had such a good time. Highlights were the “critter room” and the obstacle course. Pictures are on the picture blog. When we got home we went swimming, then supper and more crocheting. We sure are enjoying Aunt Debbie.