4:30 am

Hello!
Its 4:30 a.m and I'm wide awake!......why you ask?

This dear sweet baby of ours must be really packing on the pounds because I woke up from a nice warm deep sleep to "Starving, hunger pang - famished mode" , you know that type of hunger where you need something in your stomach ASAP!!! I debated for a few minutes to wait until a decent hour in the morning, but my body gave in. I jumped out of our nice cozy bed, and out of the arms of dear hubby to search the kitchen for an immediate snack.

Now here I am, inhaling granola cereal, Peanut butter toast, a honey toast and some nice cold refreshing Orange juice, (with lots of pulp i might add!)

ahhh....much better! Now I hope I can get back to bed and get some sleep....

Good Night!!



I

Children love these...

I tend to do baking at night, after baths and when children are having their wind down time before bed as they are busy reading, or drawing. I often choose 2 children to be "special" helpers each time. Tonight Lidiyah and Elijah were so happy to sit up on the stools and help me measure, pour and mix. I think they're favorite part though is when I let them lick the batter off the mixers! -what child doesn't love that!

The recipe we chose tonight was called Apple Cinnamon Muffins. They are chock-full of apples and spices and topped with a sweet streusel type topping...and they smell so delicious as they are baking!

The children are enjoying these muffins for a snack before bed and I will be putting them in their lunches for school in the morning.  I usually triple the recipe so that we always have leftover baking for quick snacks and to fill hungry bellies between meals, and with children I find healthy snacks are the best. It is much more economical to buy cooking/baking items in bulk and to make large batches at a time. Plus, alot of baking can be frozen too!

Career Night....

So at the children's AWANA program, they have fun activity nights. This week happened to be "career night" where the children had the oppurtunity to dress up as something they possibly would like to be when they grow up!
I thought it was fun to watch them figure it out and find stuff on their own to wear.

Isaac came home beaming and announced that he was picked as one of the best costumes and got a prize! Bless his heart, he was sooo incredibly happy that he was picked and that his prize was a Coffee Crisp chocolate bar! (his absolute favorite)
I think Moriyah looked pretty cute too and I liked what she chose, although this is my girl that is with me in the kitchen pretty much all the time working alongside me... so naturally, I wasn't surprised!

Happy Homemaker

Hello !

Spring is here!...officially. Outside does not look like spring as it is currently snowing!!  I refuse to let that dampen my spirit  though, as I know pretty soon warmer weather is coming and soon all the lovely things about spring will be.
Today I've got alot of energy and feel so great as I woke up early and have been able to accomplish alot of the usual Monday chores. Monday is usually my day that I devote to getting the house back in order from the weekend and I tackle the "big" jobs.

I love the smell of a freshly scrubbed kitchen and shiny appliances bring me joy. I grew up with the smell of "Pine-Sol" as that is the one cleaner my mother and grandmother both used and I have fond memories of a clean house with that scent.  It's no surprise that I use the same now when scrubbing toilets, floors and walls. It just feels good to have a clean home at the start of a new week.

I feel so blessed to be able to stay at home and take pride in my role as wife, mother and Homemaker!  I enjoy managing our home and adding that special touch to everything that happens in our home. Even with the duties of the day I can bless my husband and children. 
I find these extra touches make a home feel cozy. I am a lover of candles and flowers, and these are easy pick-me-ups for any atmosphere. I have enjoyed classical music and now sometimes the children request it and its so relaxing in the background as we spend time together as a family.
Keeping our home organized, clean and fresh is something I continue to strive for and perfect and it is a fun journey!

Sometimes I get the usual "roll of the eyes" when asked what my proffession is and I happily say "Helpmeet, Mother and Homemaker". The response is usually negative and sarcastic. I have been called "old-fashioned" or "nuts" and I find it odd that a society of people could see that looking after my family with enthusiasm is dull , boring, and meaningless.  On the other hand I have encountered some wonderful ladies and other women who understand and have encouraged me in this high calling. To have an eternal perspective makes the difference between just going through the motions versus using the oppurtunity to invest in our families and especially our children to raise them up to impact their generation!

Well i hear the washing machine is finished its cycle so that means I'm up to go and fold baskets of clothes, and cloth diapers!  hope you are all having a Blessed Monday!!

classes

Dear hubby and I have a Doula friend who is putting on Natural Childbirth classes and we've started her sessions the last few sundays. We have been really enjoying them, as it gives us the oppurtunity to meet with other like-minded couples, learn some great relaxation techniques and chat about our pregnancies, and upcoming births!  It also gives us that time to bond as husband and wife as we focus on our little one and plan out our birth goals.
One thing we practiced this week were birth positions on a birthing ball, while we leaned on our husbands or our husbands used tennis balls to massage our backs.  After practicing various options I couldn't believe how amazing the idea of a birthing ball really is! Having as many children as we have had, this is one thing I have not even tried during my labors.
That is about to change!

We are going out this week to buy one. It is truly functional and I can totally see myself relaxing on one of these and leaning on dear hubby during labor. Our instructor taught us various moves to use with the ball to help baby's descend into the birth canal and it totally makes sense. Can't wait for next week to see what else we're going to practice in our class....
I am also getting excited as our SweetPea's arrival is just around the corner! I still have so much to do to get ready. I started sorting through old bins of baby clothes and its amazing how tiny the outfits are.
I still need to make an appointment to get my belly cast done with a gift certificate I won at the Baby Show a few weeks back.

I've sewn up a few blankets for baby, so i just need to wash those to give them the extra fluff and have them ready for our SweetPea. I am really trying to savor this stage, as baby is very strong in movement and I can already detect SweetPea's sleeping/waking patterns. It's so amazing to watch as baby responds to voices already too.
I have been enjoying listening to this pregnancy relaxation cd and have ordered the birthing visualization cd as well. They both come from a company that I really like called "Earth Mama Angel Baby" .  Here is their Linky: http://www.earthmamaangelbaby.com/  I highly recommend their products for any woman who is expecting! They have wonderful teas, books, cds and natural organic skin care products for pregnancy and beyond, and they package their items so that it arrives in the mail so beautifully decorated!  I have ordered so many products from them over the years and I've never been dissappointed...

 I am so blessed to be carrying Life and every day I wake up in amazement and awe at this gift we've been given! It's truly a miracle and we are soo thankful!

sacred calling....

 The woman who makes a sweet, beautiful home, filling it with love and prayer and purity, is doing something better than anything else her hands could find to do beneath the skies. A true mother is one of the holiest secrets of home happiness. God sends many beautiful things to this world, many noble gifts; but no blessing is richer than that which He bestows in a mother who has learned love's lessons well, and has realized something of the meaning of her sacred calling.

~J.R. Miller
Secrets of Happy Home Life, 1894.