he was almost a new year's baby

He turned 7 yesterday...two days from the new year.

Toys from the family.

Getting ready for pizza, his choice of supper.

Enjoying a root beer float.

The birthday cake with the usual decorations - toy animals (his favorite animal is the tiger).

Goodies from ma-maw.

Overall it was a good birthday. :)

Until next time...

JenT

gifts they love

You can see what Mamaw got the kids for Christmas this year...

...they were all excited...

...and couldn't wait to pose on them...

...or push them...

...or try to avoid a picture...

...or just freely ride them...

...or inspect them...

...or help a sibling enjoy theirs...

...in other words they all had a fabulous, grand time with their gifts.

Until next time...

JenT

White Christmas

Well "they" said we would have a white Christmas...

...I guess for once "they" were right.

Until next time...

JenT

Birthday number 13

Our oldest turned 13 today. Last night we had her party so that her ma-maw could be there.

She decided to not have a traditional cake and instead wanted Key Lime Pie. She also likes to make her own, so she made two pies.

Lighting the candles.

She served it up.

And everyone enjoyed.

Some a little more than others.

It's hard to realize that my oldest is 13. It seems like yesterday we were bringing her home from the hospital. They grow up so fast and the time seems to fly by. Before we know it she will be grown up completely and maybe even a world away. (She wants to go to Australia).

One thing I am thankful for is that she isn't in any hurry to grow up. She still likes to play with her siblings and her toys. She is not interested in boys or any of the trappings that go with being a "typical" teenager in today's world. I say, let her take her time. There will be plenty of time for that later when she is mature enough to deal with it.

For now, I am happy to buy her toy horses and let her play.



Until next time...


JenT

"hair" today, gone tomorrow

Unfortunately, I forgot to take before pictures. So just imagine that her hair is a foot longer than what is shown here.

Her hair was about the same.

The hair that will be sent to Wigs For Kids.

Both girls decided to donate 12 inches of their hair to Wigs For Kids. Wigs For Kids is a non-profit organization that takes donated hair and makes wigs for children suffering from cancer and other illnesses that cause them to lose their own hair. The difference in Wigs For Kids and Locks of Love, is that Wigs For Kids makes the wigs available to the children for free.

Until next time...

JenT

for the birds

My daughter felt sorry for the birds and decided to fix them some food. She had her brothers find her some pine cones, put some string on them, spread on the peanut butter, and rolled them in birdseed.

She did have a little help.

Hanging them on the trees.

Until next time...


JenT

conglomeration or masterpiece?

bunched up ornaments




empty spaces

homemade

whimsical




traditionally round balls

elegantly shaped ornaments

everything in between

a tree decorated by 9 children ages 12 to 2

conglomeration or masterpiece?

I vote...

...masterpiece

Until next time...

JenT

siblings

One thing I really love to see is my other children loving a new baby brother/sister.









Until next time...




JenT

Chocolate Friday - Double Chocolate Nut Clusters

Lisa at Stop and Smell the Chocolates is bidding farewell to Chocolate Friday. She is also not blogging anymore so you must go say good-bye. When I first read that she was leaving the blogging world I knew that I, for one, would sorely miss her (and her chocolate). But, then I noticed that she would keep her blog up, just not add to it anymore. Isn't she sweet? (Pun intended).

And now my final contribution to Lisa's Chocolate Fridays:

Double Chocolate Nut Clusters

Ingredients:

2 lbs white chocolate almond bark, broken into small pieces

1 lbs dark chocolate almond bark, broken into small pieces

1 4-ounce bar German chocolate

1 12-ounce package semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 32-ounce container dry roasted peanuts, lightly salted

1 16-ounce container whole almonds

1 teaspoon almond flavoring

Directions:

Turn slow cooker on high and add the first 6 ingredients. Cook for 45 minutes (don't peek or stir). Reduce heat to low and cook one hour, stirring until all chocolate is melted. Add almond flavoring.

Put into miniature Christmas muffin liners. Store in an airtight container or place on trays for holiday gifts. Yields appoximately 75 pieces.

There you have it, folks. Yummy chocolate-y treats. And now please, please, please go over to Lisa's and check out her delicious site. And if you have a chocolate-y recipe to share, post about it, and link up to her Chocolate Friday post.

Until next time...



JenT

cowboys

Just for fun, I thought I'd share a picture of my three oldest boys. Several months ago, my husband was building display cabinets and other things for a store in Pigeon Forge. The 3 oldest boys were with him one day and the lady that runs the old-time photo wanted to use them as models. Here's one of the pictures:

Oh and they informed me that those are root beer bottles in their hands. :)

Until next time...

JenT

Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

What are you thankful for this year?

Me?

I'm thankful for a God that is bigger than my circumstances.

I'm thankful for friends and family that will help when we are in need.

I'm thankful for healthy children.

I'm thankful for a new healthy baby.

I'm thankful for so many things that I couldn't name them all. These are just a few.

So - what are you thankful for?




Until next time...





JenT

BABY! BABY! BABY! BABY! BABY! BABY!

Yes! The baby has finally made an appearance. And what an appearance it was!

He. Is. A. Big. Boy.

I am not joking.

11 lbs 8 oz

23.5 inches long

Yeow.

He was 9 days overdue however.

I feel better. He feels better.

We're both healthy. Pray for a safe and healthy recovery.

BTW: first successful VBAC!

Until next time...

JenT

placemats

Chaotic craftiness

Concentration

Covering up :)


Completed project

My mom had the idea of the kids, well actually all of us, making placemats for Christmas dinner. We used card stock, old Christmas cards, markers, ribbon, glue, and her handy-dandy laminating machine to create "masterpieces".

Everyone got to design their own placemat and when they were finished Ma-maw laminated them. They are now awaiting Christmas dinner.

Does anyone else have craft they will do with their children for Christmas or even Thanksgiving?

What's that? Is the baby here? Don't ask.

Until next time...

JenT

I had to do it...

...even though I didn't want to.

Too many times this boy has been mistaken for a girl. Never mind the fact that we put our girls in dresses and our boys in pants. I loved his hair and while I usually give the boys their first haircut on their first birthday, I just couldn't clip those blond curls. But enough was enough.

So...before...


and after...


I must say he did an excellent job for a 2 year old. He didn't move around AT ALL and it was so easy. He even flushed the hair down the toilet for me. :)


Until next time...

JenT

while I'm waiting

So while I'm waiting the arrival of our latest blessing, I'm trying to catch up on some sewing that I've put off for a while. The girls need some dresses, so I'm working on those. One of my aunts blessed me with a lot of material. Very large pieces that are enough for a couple of the girls to have matching dresses.

Some things I finished...

The little girls needed nightgowns. The pink material was with the material my aunt gave me. I found the blue at Wal-Mart for only $1.50 a yard (another blessing with our financially tight situation).

Some bibs that I have been needing to make for several months now. :)



And some skirts that I'll need after the baby is born.

I also made some skirt and vest combos for the older girls, but I don't have a picture of them. A lady in NM gave me a whole bolt of lightweight denim right before we left. :) So even in the midst of hard times we've been blessed.


Until next time...