Full Speed Ahead

School is in full swing already. The girls are doing very well and are very excited about school. There have been tons of distractions and side roads already, especially with family things. My husband just moved into a new office space, and then immediately got very sick with what they think is lyme disease (though they are not saying that definitely). He is finally back to work but still has lots of pain. He is on a very strong antibiotic. Natasha just missed a couple of days due to sickness but is up and running. Yay! Not much school missed there, thankfully.

Unfortunately we have had other sad family news already this semester. My husband's grandmother passed away and that was a hard way to start the semester. It was right before school started. His mom also found out she has cancer the very same week. My heart is very heavy for her and lots of prayers are sent up around here daily for her. Not only has her husband recently passed away (almost 2 yrs ago), but her mom died and she found out she has cancer in the same week. She is very optimistic and has a good outlook, and that is very good.

All that happened before my husband got sick. He missed a whole week of work when he was feeling so bad. Those of you who know my husband know that for him not to go to work is a big deal. I also knew how serious it was when he headed to the doctor just a few days after he started feeling bad.

We also just found out that my husband's other grandmother, Nana, fell down in her yard not long ago, and bruised herself up pretty bad.

My mom is doing much better though she is still recovering and doing physical therapy. Needless to say, I am very glad we are homeschooling and school is portable. The children were very happy recently when we packed up our school books and had school at Grandma and Grandpa's for 2 days.

As far as crocheting, I am still working on small, easy to finish projects like potholders. I found patterns for little sweaters for the girls that will be very pretty to wear to church this winter, but I have not started that yet. I have been trying a couple of patterns for a fall sweater for Talon, but have not settled on one yet.

Just wanted to stop by here for a sec, have tons to do....you know how it is when people have been sick at your house, everything seems to pile up while you are busy taking care of everyone. I am very thankful everyone is feeling better already. I am very thankful for loving parents and grandparents. I am thankful for a joyful, loving, hard working husband. I am thankful for my happy helpful children. What are you thankful for today?

"It's My Birthday!"

Note: This is a guest post by my daughter Natasha :)

Pirate Cuteness

Perennial Surprises

Let no feeling of discouragement prey
upon you, and in the end you
are sure to succeed."
- Abraham Lincoln



lots of these surprise lilies are blooming in my yard
unfortunately there are very few black eyed susans (got mowed over)
and zero hibiscus this year (again, lawn mower tragedy)

I guess that's what happens when you let other people mow your yard.....
oh, well, they will grow back next year :)
that's what I love about perennials

Ta-Dah!!!

I finally got the hexagon baby afghan finished this afternoon (just in time for the baby shower this evening). Here are some pics....my blanket testers gave this one a 2 thumbs up :)

Summer Creations

Here are some of the things I have been crocheting this summer. The pattern for the market bag is here. It is a printable from Lily Sugar 'n Cream cotton yarn. I used cotton yarn from Wal-Mart for all the kitchen things. The blue/white set has 4 washcloths/dishcloths, 2 square potholders, and 1 round potholder. I made up a simple pattern for the washcloths and square potholders (which are 2 pieces single crocheted together). I just looked through my pattern books and found a round potholder pattern and made 2 and crocheted them together. The rainbow one is a smaller potholder made with some leftover cotton yarn.

The yellow, blue, green, and white hexagons are for a baby afghan I am working on. The yellow/white zig zag is something I made up for a friend for a baby shower.
For the girls I have been making squiggly hair ties. Natasha is beautifully modelling all of them at once :). If you look closely you can see the patriotic red, white, and blue ones I just made :)

The blue/white kitchen set is available for sale, as well as the market bag, and the multi-colored potholder. If you are interested please make an offer. Almost forgot....the blue/white kitchen set also has a matching swiffer cover I made (forgot to take a pic of it, the girls were testing it out for me) :).

Almost the 4th of July

been busy around here...summer is flying by
it is almost the 4th of July

kids have been to Quilt Camp and Basketball Camp
they are going to the local Summer Reading Program

I am busy getting the house and school room ready for the fall semester. I am busy making lesson plans, too.....

will be swimming and grilling at grandma and grandpa's next week
be blessed and don't forget those who have sacrificed for the Independence and Freedom of our country

Race Car Birthday Star

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We had a blast at Talon's 2nd birthday party. Beach balls, race cars, train table, ice cream, race car cake. What more could you want?

April Showers Bring May Flowers

Got Milk?

Our homeschool group went on a field trip to a local dairy farm. The kids had a lot of fun learning about Holstein and Jersey cows and feeding the calves.

Mother's Day Surprise

My sweet husband and babies surprised me last night. He had taken them all to the grocery store to get some "milk" and this is what they came back with (well, and milk and chocolates and a 17 pound bag of fruit loops, ha ha)

I love my sweet babies! This is us assuming our usual position on the couch. Are you feeling the love yet?

Here is Talon working really hard to open my chocolate covered pretzels. I also got a huge Hershey's bar, raisinets, mounds bars, and mint 3 musketeers :). Sorry this is the only pic of the chocolate we managed to get :)

Not sure how my husband can watch the basketball game with all those fingerprints, ha ha

Pink Roses! My favorite. You know they made me cry :)
Thank God for my Family. Happy Mother's Day especially to my Mommy and all the other mommies out there.

Almost 2

Well, in less than a month my baby boy will be 2. I am sitting here thinking about how fast the years have gone by since each child was born. It is funny how differently your mind perceives things with each child. With my first daughter, we celebrated her independence when she turned 2. With my 3rd baby, well, he's still mostly a baby to us, even though he's almost 2. Don't worry, there's no holding this one back. He is in a hurry to be like his big sisters. We even look at baby girl number 2 (Little One) and still see lots of baby traits, even though she's 5 now (the pic is a Jungle Cake she decorated herself for her party).

Our children bring so much joy to our lives. Being parents is easily the most important job we have ever done. I am so thankful to God for the chance to be a Mommy. I pray that I live up to that beautiful name.





in other news:

• contemplating a Truck/Car Birthday Party


• surprised that we are not really behind in finishing our curriculum, despite much sickness this year and the delays due to the ice storm


• I am finding that you can't hold a child back when they want to learn, but that there is a delicate balance between joyful motivation and the point of frustration.


• I finally figured out that if your child wants to go take a nap, just let them. There's usually a good reason, and everything else always gets done better when they are well rested.


• I love love love being outside in the yard in springtime :), so you might see less of me on here.

Pretty Rosey Blog

Rose Cottage

those who know me well, know that is sooo me

tea

cottage garden

pink roses

One Person at a Time

"Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you." - Mother Teresa

Man, this is a good quote, and quite clearly shows why I really like Mother Teresa. Anyone can make a difference in another person's life. You never know what one small act of kindness or love will do for another person or family.

We are the hands and feet of God, showing the world His hope and love.

Mom in Hospital

My mom, Motherkitty, has been in the hospital all of last week. Thank you for your prayers. She had a bad cold that turned into bronchitis, then pneumonia. She is doing better, but will be there til at least Monday.

Hop on over to Motherkitty's blog and let her know you are thinking of her :)

Get well, soon Mom. Love you!!!!

praying you find something to laugh and smile about today, because a merry heart really does do good like medicine.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Hey, Mom! Happy Birthday!!!! Wish I could be with you today!
Hurray that you don't have to go to work! Too bad it is because you are sick :(
Praying that your doctor visit goes well, and that you feel better soon. I love you, Mom!

Party Time

I keep coming over here thinking, I really should post something. I kept leaving Ana's pic and birthday post up because, well, her birthday is not over yet. We ended up having to cancel her original birthday party because some of us were sick, and that was such a bummer. So, anyway, the rescheduled party is this weekend. I have a lot to do to get ready. Brainstorming time. Thank God that I had gotten each of the kids a helium balloon from the grocery store a few days before her birthday. They were all sick and miserable and I had to run out to get milk and something else. Boy were they surprised to see balloons too! They are always begging me to get them a balloon at the store :).

I love the store near my house, by the way. It is just a grocery store with a deli. No supercenter, no clothes, no pharmacy, etc. etc. Usually when it is nice, we load the baby in the stroller and get to walk up there. Not long now til we can do that again. Maybe this week

Anyway, I felt so bad because I knew they were too sick, and I was going to have to cancel the party, so I kind of looked the other way when they got into the bag that was full of the goody bags supplies. In the past couple of weeks, we have gone through a whole bag of tootsie rolls and a bag of suckers. Thank God I was able to save the pixie sticks and another bag of candy for the goody bags, ha ha. They may have even opened up the stickers. (they were really sick, you would have let them, too)

So starting today should have been our spring break from school, but I am debating. We have missed so much school because of the ice storm and sickness. Part of me thinks that we cannot afford to miss an entire week. I am hoping for a lightweight, easygoing compromise. The girls have a friend coming over Tuesday and Wednesday, so I thought Tasha could do some school today but take off for a couple of days. Who knows about Thursday and Friday? Only God, I suppose. :)

I am just glad we are all well now. I am really looking forward to some spring cleaning and decluttering. I am hoping it is not raining today. I really want to go take pics of some of my spring flowers while they are still blooming.

So Happy Birthday to my Eliana! You are going to have a great birthday party!