The start of many fun times outside....
It is so wonderful that the nice weather has arrived. The kids have been so stir crazy and ready to get outside and have some fun. We bought a big new bubble blower and the kids also each have a new ball. Anna really wants a bike, but we will have to see what we can come up with.

My "New" Job Title !!

A woman, renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk's office,
was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation.

She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.

'What I mean is, ' explained the recorder, 'do you have a job or are you just a ...?'

'Of course I have a job,' snapped the woman.

'I'm a Mom.'

'We don't list 'Mom' as an occupation, 'housewife' covers it,' Said the recorder emphatically.

I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself

in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall.

The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised,

efficient, and possessed of a high sounding title like,

'Official Interrogator' or 'Town Registrar.'

'What is your occupation?' she probed.

What made me say it? I do not know.

The words simply popped out.

'I'm a Research Associate in the field of

Child Development and Human Relations.'

The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair and

looked up as though she had not heard right.

I repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words.

Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written,

in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.

'Might I ask,' said the clerk with new interest,

'just what you do in your field?'

Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice,

I heard myself reply,

'I have a continuing program of research,

(what mother doesn't)

In the laboratory and in the field,

(normally I would have said indoors and out).

I'm working for my Masters, (first the Lord and then the whole family)

and already have four credits (all daughters).

Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities,

(any mother care to disagree?)

and I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it).

But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers

and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money.'

There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she

completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door.

As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career,

I was greeted by my lab assistants -- ages 13, 7, and 3.

Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model,

(a 6 month old baby) in the child development program,

testing out a new vocal pattern.

I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy!

And I had gone on the official records as someone more

distinguished and indispensable to mankind than 'just another Mom.'

Motherhood!

What a glorious career!

Especially when there's a title on the door.

Does this make grandmothers
Senior Research associates in the field of Child Development and Human Relations

And great grandmothers

'Executive Senior Research Associates?'

I think so!!!

I also think it makes Aunts '
Associate Research Assistants.'

So be encouraged as mothers:)

This story was sent to me by a friend and I just had to post it. Enjoy:)

THE MUSTARD STORY
I Love Mustard. (This is a true story. If you have children you will probably relate to this father.) As ham sandwiches go, it was perfection: a thick slab of ham on a fresh bun with crisp lettuce and plenty of expensive, light brown, gourmet mustard. The corners of my jaw aching in anticipation, I carried it to the table in our backyard, picked it up with both hands but was stopped by my wife suddenly at my side. 'Here, hold Johnny (our six-week-old son) while I get my sandwich,' she said. I had him balanced between my left elbow and shoulder and was reaching again for the ham sandwich when I noticed a streak of mustard on my fingers. I love mustard. I had no napkin. I licked it off. It was not mustard. No man ever put a baby down faster. It was the first and only time I have sprinted with my tongue protruding out. With a washcloth in each hand, I did the sort of routine shoeshine boys do; only I did it on my tongue. Later, after she stopped crying from laughing so hard, my wife said, 'Now you know why they call that fancy mustard 'Poupon'.

Pictures from the last few days.......

Noah gets lots of love from his brother and sister.....

And the dog:)


It has been so nice to have some warmer weather. The kids have had a chance to get outside several times this week, which has been nice for me too. I am so looking forward to spring when I can leave the door open and let the kids go in and out. They seem to play so much better outside.

Pictures from the last couple of weeks.......



What a cute little smile.....

Renee's Kitchen

Gabriel and I really like granola in our vanilla yogurt, but it is expensive to buy, but so easy to make that I have started making it. So hear is the recipe that I used....



Granola

1 1/2 cups brown sugar( could also replace half of the sugar with honey)
1/2 cup water
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. salt
8 cups rolled oats
2 cups chopped nuts(pecans, walnuts and slivered almonds)
You could also add dried cranberries, raisins or any other fruit you would like.

Combine brown sugar and water and cook on stove till sugar is desolved then add the vanilla and salt. Combine the dry ingredients and then pour the went ingredients over. Spread on a baking sheet and bake for 45 mins to 1 hour stirring occasionally until golden and crunchy. Store cooled granola in an airtight container.

Enjoy:)

New Sewing Area....

In one of the rooms in the basement we have a nice work bench, which goes a long one wall. Well for so long it has been cluttered with so much stuff that we have never been able to use it the way we should. So after buying some new shelving units we now have enough space to stack stuff without having to stack it on the work bench.

I then gave the work bench a nice new coat of paint and one end of the work bench is lower so I am able to use it as a sewing table or scrapbooking nook. I am hoping now I will be able to work on a few projects that I would like to do like make some throw pillow covers, make Anna a few summer dresses and start Gabriel's scrapbook and hopefully be able to check up, so Noah's scrapbook is done by the time he is one. I know it wishful thinking.

I still have some organizing to do and containers to put away, but soon it will be nice and organized.

It has been a while since I last posted. We were home visiting with family and friends in Iowa for about 6 days. We then got home this last Tuesday just in time to get sick. It sure is not fun when we are both sick and have three kids to take care of. I will hopefully be able to post some pictures sometime in the next few days when I am feeling better.

Noah Ray is now 7 weeks old...
It is hard to believe how the time flies. The honeymoon weeks are over where they sleep all the time. I now have days when he takes some good long naps, which helps me to be able to get some laundry, dishes, and house cleaning done. Then there are the days like yesterday where I had so much that needed to be done, but I didn't get anything done. Oh well I will have those days and I just have to ask the Lord for patience.

What has Anna been up to......
*sitting in Noah's bouncy seat

*helping mommy & daddy organize downstairs

*holding her brother Noah

*sleeping on the couch
*wearing pretty dresses & tights everyday

What has Gabe been up to.....
*giving us cheesy grins

*playing with mom & dad's coffee cups or anything else that has a lid that can be taken on and off

*holding Noah or giving him kisses on his head

*trying to be a good boy and eat my meals

*enjoying my brothers swing

*trying to water my mom's plants with my snow boots on

* building tall block towers and watching them fall over

* and anything else that I can get my hands on that I am not suppose to.......but that's what boys do?????

Snow Snow Go Away.....

Renee's Kitchen:

These cookies are crisp and loaded with goodies. If you like those pecan sandie cookies in the store you will love these and it makes a huge batch, which is so nice to be able to freeze extra cookies or dough for later. So Enjoy and let me know if you try them out.

Pecan Almond Sandies

Ingredients:
1 cup butter(no substitutes) softened
1 cup sugar
1 cup confectioner's sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 tsp. almond extract
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cream of tartar
1 tsp. salt
1 cup chopped almonds
1 cup chopped pecans

Directions:
In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars. Add oil, eggs and extract; mix well. Combine flours, baking soda, cream of tarter and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture. Stir in almonds and pecans. Shape into 1 inch balls; roll in sugar. Place on ungreased baking sheets and flatten with a fork. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-14 minutes or until lightly browned. Yields about 12 dozen.

Today Noah is 1 month old .....

I was e-mailed this little story and decided I had to post it.....Enjoy!!!!!

A 3-year-old's Tea Party!!
One day my mother was out and my dad was in charge of me and my brother who is four years older than I am. I was maybe 1 and a half years old and had just recovered from an accident in which my arm had been broken among other injuries. Someone had given me a little 'tea set' as a get-well gift and it was one of my favorite toys. Daddy was in the living room engrossed in the evening news and my brother was playing nearby in the living room when I brought Daddy a little cup of 'tea', which was just water. After several cups of tea and lots of praise for such yummy tea, my Mom came home. My Dad made her wait in the living room to watch me bring him a cup of tea, because it was 'just the cutest thing!!' My Mom waited, and sure enough, here I come down the hall with a cup of tea for Daddy and she watches him drink it up, then says, 'Did it ever occur to you that the only place that baby can reach to get water is the toilet??'

Cuties.......
Here's Anna in her cute little pig tails and Blue's Clues dress that Grandma Kara got for her. She just loves to wear dresses and tights.


Anna asleep on the couch one afternoon.

Here are the brothers bonding already. They're going to have so much fun when they get older. I don't even want to think about the mischief they're going to get into.

Renee's Kitchen

Here's a new cookie recipe that I came across in my Taste of Home Simple & Delicious magazine. These cookies are very tasty and as you will notice they don't use any flour. I used all natural peanut butter that does not have any sugar added to it, which helps reduce the amount of sugar in these cookies. They turned out great. The recipe also makes a big batch, so either bake them all up and freeze a few bags for later or freeze half of the batter for later.


Peanut Butter Jumbos

1 1/2 cups peanut butter
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
4 1/2 cups quick cooking oats
2 tsp. baking soda
1 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup M&M's miniature baking bits

In a large mixing bowl, cream peanut butter, butter and sugars. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine oats and baking soda; gradually add to creamed mixture. Stir in chocolate chips and baking bits. Note: I only used half the amount of the chocolate chips and baking bits. I find most recipes put to many chips in, but for those chocolate lovers out there feel free to use the full amount.

Drop by heaping tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto baking sheets. Press down with palm or glass. Bake 350 degrees for 12-14 mins or until edges are browned. Yields: 9 dozen

Sleeping Noah....which he has been doing a lot of in the last week and a half. It's also hard to believe how small they are and so sweet.