Good morning ladies, hope your finding yourself well rested after some sleep and maybe some coffee:)  I myself went to bed later and then got woken up by a four year old whose legs were hurting.  Awww, so hard when they go through that growing phase and their legs hurt.  So I was awake at 3, stayed in bed for a bit and then just decided to get up.  But coffee is good this morning.

Yesterday, we had a busy, long day. I called Tammy and we went shopping.  We got out the door by 9 am and headed to our library to pick up our weekly book orders.  I then dropped off some eggs to our old neighbors and we then stopped at our favorite Salvation Army store.  I found a big package of miscellaneous scrapbooking paper for the girls, some floral decoration picks for my house, a print for a wall that is empty and a recliner chair.  Love going and finding good deals.  Then off to Walmart to pick up things for our cookie exchange party and Aldis for some food.  We had all the seats in the van and a van full of children but we still managed to put a large sized garbage can—the black kind and fit the recliner chair and all the things we bought.  It was a good day.  We got home and put things all away and I then had each of the children that could, help with chores to prepare before Grandma came.

We cleaned the van, steam cleaned the chair, folded 4 baskets full of laundry, and windex the windows that had children’s finger prints on.   Tammy brought Christmas decorations for my mantle and decorated that—-Thank you! We threw in the oven chicken nuggets, BBQ chip fries, and some bagel pizzas—go me!!  My mom arrived around 6 and it was a joyous reunion.

Children don’t hold grudges, they don’t know bitterness, they just have love.  If all of us could lay aside all of our differences and become like little children, the world would be a better place.  It was nice seeing my children be so happy and say “I love you grandma, and your the bestest grandma ever!”  That right there will melt even the coldest of hearts.

They had a long drive here, 12 hours and so at 9, I said, “Okay your going to bed!”  Otherwise we would have stayed up and talked all night.  We gave them the downstairs part of the house for personal space and to have some quiet.  Living in a house full of 9 children can be a little overwhelming at times, I want to make sure that they get a chance to rest and enjoy their time here.

I noticed my older brother, out already walking my yard this morning.  He likes the mountains and the woods, it is good to see him explore a bit.  It is a little chilly this morning, I am debating on walking.  I know, I know, excuses—but I might jump start on making some food for today.  A friend recommended some sausage balls and blueberry scones, so I am thinking of making that for like a brunch. I’ll do a food post later.  I also had the materials for gwumpkies—–my husband’s families food.  It is cabbage rolls with sauerkraut and sausage. Really yummy, again I will do a post for that too.  He is working so hard right now to get stools made for customers, I know he will enjoy coming home and eating however much he wants of that.

Today will be an at home day.  We will just enjoying visiting and playing around here.  This weekend we have much going on—-the city parade, christmas tree decorating at our home, our community tree lighting service, a live nativity at a local church, and the children’s Christmas drama.  It will be busy, but a good busy.  Good, fun family making memories.  It is what makes life good.  Having those traditions that everyone looks forward to you doing.  I like change and I like to do things different but I have realized that my family likes traditions and the same.  So it is good to keep those and make memories year after year with them.  They will always get to look back on them as adults.

Okay I am keeping this a little shorter, going to get the gas fire place lit, just to warm up the house a bit and do some things in the kitchen.  I love you ladies, and pray you have a peaceful day today.  When things start to look rough—-like your child accidentally dumps out the craft box full of beads, they make a mess of toothpaste in the sink, they spill their milk for the tenth time, or they track mud in across the floor—-all real situations in my life the past couple of days—just smile, take a breath and help clean it up.  We all make mistakes and they are so much smaller than you or I.  We need to teach patience with them and that is a HUGE way to do it in our response.  Have a blessed day!

Good morning ladies, hope your all up and awake and ready to start your day!  I just woke up to my husband’s alarm clock–thank goodness.  Mine was off:)  I took a shower and threw in a load of laundry. I walked out to the kitchen and noticed a pair of jeans on the floor—-do guys just leave them wherever they want?!?!?!  I don’t understand that.  I picked them up and realized they aren’t very dirty, so why do more laundry?  I sprayed them with some Febreeze and hung them up.  Never thought I would do that, but they won’t know any different.  Unless of course they read this:) Then as I was emptying my hamper, I noticed that the bottom was yucky in the corners.  Things you think of when guests are coming to visit.   I brought it out to the kitchen and sprayed it off.  Turned on the coffee pot and here I sit at my laptop:)  Isn’t it great how we can do ten different tasks before just coming out and getting coffee?

My choice of coffee this morning is the Donut Shop brand from Walmart.  It is very good.  I make a whole pot and my husband and son will take a cup to work in the morning.  I used International Delight pumpkin spice coffee creamer.  It is good.  I prefer the coconut milk made ones, but they are much smaller and I will go through those really quickly. I save those for special occasions—like visitors:) I need something big and in bulk:)

Yesterday was a good day.  It rained….no it poured here.  I am so thankful for that rain.  I pray it affected the area of Gatlingburg.  Such a sad tragedy.  We had plans to visit the Ripleys aquarium next week, but I think we will just cancel those for now.

My girlfriend Tammy and our children loaded up in the van and went bargain shopping.  We stopped at a Goodwill and I found some toys for my boys.  Little boys destroy things.  Yes they do.  Not out of intentions, well maybe not ALL of the time, but they are creative.  They will take  cars outside and play in the sand and ruin the cars.  They will decide to use Dad’s wood paint and paint Batman!?!?!?!  and then ask for another one a week later–so fun! I was thankful to find a Batman and a Joker cave for them.  I figured I would buy the Imaginetix sets of people, I know, I know no discipline for painting their toys:)  Its the youngest, Stephen who is 4.  Last child, no judging:)  I also found a huge tub full of Legos.  I was so excited to find that set because my little boys love them and they are so so expensive.

We went to our favorite bargain stores and was able to get some deals.  I found tortillas for 25 cents a package.  They are the whole wheat ones. I will put them in my freezer and then use them for pizzas.  I was going to make homemade pizza this week and this will save me some work:)  Found these great pancake and sausage things.  Think pancake on a stick.  They are for breast cancer awareness, some company must have had them made and used them for something.  This store gets extras from warehouses and stuff.  The box was $2.39 and you get a full jelly roll pan of them to eat.  I like to make them with egg pizza–which I posted earlier.  Another easy dinner.   I left with a full cart of groceries and it cost me $34! It was odd and end things but the way I have learned to shop to get good deals:)

Then home to unload in the pouring rain.  We have our last bench seat in our 15 passenger van because we had needed it for our visitors last week and I decided to leave it in for when my mom and brother come this week. But that left us with no trunk space.  So we had to throw everything over the seats and get that out in the rain.  Thankfully Jadyn remembered that we had an umbrella.  I think we might just invest in some of those this year. It seems to rain a lot in our little area–not now, but normally it does. She was great to help get the little ones inside because rain does not feel good to a young child:)  We put it all away.

I hurriedly made beef stroganoff for dinner for everyone.  I made a pot of veggies and rice and sauteed some cabbage.  Serve it with soy sauce, sesame oil, and hot chili sauce for myself.  I need to detox a little from all of the wonderful food from Thanksgiving.  It is amazing how we as ladies can struggle with weight issues no matter what our size is. I lost a lot of weight over the years, you can read my story on here.  Even though I am not nearly as big as I was, I still feel fat.  I mean, normally I am happy with things, but I can still look at myself and see jiggly and not like it.  Before moving to this house, I threw away my scale.  I would step on it everyday and decide how I was going to eat based on what that number said.  I know, its wrong.  Do you know when I see one, I look longingly at it and think “I want to buy it.”  With all that said, I stopped.  I decided I can’t base my body perception on that twisted idea.  After  I post this blog, I will head outside and I will walk/run in my driveway.  Do I want to do that? No, I’d much rather surf the internet and drink coffee.  But in reality, I will walk for ten minutes and listen to my sermon message.  It gives me time with God and I am also getting exercise:)  I will come in and do some sit ups, crunchers, leg lifts, push ups, and planks.  That will take me another 10 minutes if I make it short.  Literally 20 minutes out of my day to make me feel 1000 times better!!!  The first few times I would do it, it would just make me sore and tired, but after my body adjusts it makes me feel great!  I make it part of my morning habits.  It is all about changing your habits and what you do.  I could be doing a million other things.  I’d love to sit and watch the news and drink my cup of coffee but I can also get that same news slimmed down by reading through my Twitter feed tonight. You pick and choose what you want to do.  What is going to benefit you the most?  What is it that God wants you to do for the day?  Ask yourself and Him that question when deciding what path you should embark on this morning.

For myself, I am off to walk and then get all the children up and we are headed out. Going to the library and do some local shopping.  I also need to drop some eggs off for our customers.  My poor chicken coop got blown to the edge of the mountain yesterday.  Thankfully none of them were injured, but any closer and that coop would have been down the embankment!  We picked it back up and moved it to an area less prone to the wind.  My mother and brother will be here around dinner time tonight.  I am looking forward to a reunion with them.

Remember to ask  what it is I am to do today?  When things go haywire, you are NOT alone.  Some other momma and nonmomma are experiencing the SAME thing today!  I love you ladies and pray your day is blessed!!