Allan petting the sharks

Newport Aquarium

We were able to attend the Homeschool Days at the Newport Aquarium and the boys LOVED it! Gramme Brown went along and that made it particularly enjoyable. Daniel's favorite part was hugging the stuffed penguin....because it was so soft and Allan's was petting the sharks.

Catching up

When my hard drive crashed I got a much needed respite from the burdens of technology. But now I need to do some catching up so the next few posts might be a bit sketchy.

Here are some random cakes I worked on in the past month. This one was for a "Bird's Nest" themed baby shower. The poor little blue bird shows that I'm not sculptor! She weighed so much (I made her out of fondant) that she smashed her next overnight! It actually was one of those cakes that I had such high hopes for but fell short of my expectations. I learned some valuable lessons though that I hope will prove beneficial in the future.


This was a pirate ship birthday cake for a young man in our church. For whatever reason the front half started splitting and I was afraid it was going to look like the Titanic before we got it delivered but with a little patching it turned out okay. Fun cake!


And it looks like I neglected to take pictures of the GBS homecoming cakes and the one I did today. In there too I made petit fours. They were almond with almond filling. Those little buggers took forever to make, they turned out looking horrid and the one I tried tasted awful. But it seems the recipient was more impressed than I was so that's what counts I guess. So that's the update on cakes.

Walking where others fear to tread

Leave it to Daniel to go charging into President Avery's office (to see if he has any jelly-beans!) ...thankfully Dr. Avery wasn't there but his secretary snapped this picture.

Politics and Healthcare and UPDATE

UPDATE: If you care to read the 1,990 pages (can we say 'bigger government'?) of the House version of the bill you can do so at http://docs.house.gov/rules/health/111_ahcaa.pdf It does look as though the pro-life democrats will be able to offer an amendment today that would exclude 'most' abortion coverage. It looks like people could pay for a rider out of their own pocket if they wish to have an abortion option.

At times I chaff at my inability to be more involved in the current political climate. It's not possible for me to travel to rallies, set up meetings with my representatives, etc. The responsibilities of being a wife and mother keep me more than busy. But in light of the absolute insanity that's being propagated by our elected officials and knowing that it's not only going to directly impact my immediate family but also generations to come I dare not just sit back with my mouth shut. That's exactly what too many people have done on too many occasions and hence the downward spiral we find ourselves in as a nation.

So I do what I can. I've called my senators, representatives, and the White House more times in the past six months than all previous years combined. At times I still feel helpless because the people who are supposed to be speaking on my behalf don't seem to be listening to me at all. But somehow I still believe there are enough people in the United States who possess enough common sense that if we'd all speak up we would be heard. This insanity has to stop!

So here's where I'm at today. The healthcare bill could be voted on as soon as Saturday night. From bits and pieces that I've heard (it's insane that they won't release the plan for people to read...smells like a rat to me!) it alarms me the control our government would have in overseeing every aspect of our healthcare. Maybe I'm so concerned because I have a bad feeling for what it would mean to the scores of people like my mother who depend on the healthcare profession.

I recommend you go here: http://www.capwiz.com/afanet/callalert/index.tt?alertid=14295801 and watch the video clip by Rep. Mike Pence (about 1/2 way down the page) and then contact your representative immediately.

I don't blog about politics here because that was never the purpose of this blog. But I will say that as I watch our government there is a gnawing fear that tries to grip my gut. History really does repeat itself doesn't it? It's just a different time, a different country, a different group of people but account is still the same. You would think we would learn a lesson.

Computers and Reflections

My computer has decided that life is no longer worth living and would like desperately to die. But I have to much of my brain saved on the thing so once Philip has a break it's going to get some work done. Short of reformatting the hard drive he's done everything that can be done.

That would be the reason I've not posted. There are lots of pictures and even some video but it's all on the dying machine and isn't accessible. So..... I decided to post a post from my Parenting on Purpose Blog where I address my sons from the heart. This is a post that I did back in March.

Seasons
This evening was spent going through all of the clothes that I have for you boys size 0-3 months. Tomorrow there is a consignment sale that I've decided to sell all of your clothes that are still in good condition...which is actually quite a bit of stuff. You boys didn't spit up very much at this stage and so very few of the things had to be put aside because of stains.

As I sorted there were so many memories that flooded my mind. Sights, sounds and feelings just kept washing over me. The little green, yellow and orange outfits that Allan wore so much because we didn't know you were going to be a boy so most people gave us neutral items. Some of the outfits all three of you wore and then there were special outfits that had special memories to just one of you. Daniel used to look so cute in the little blue sleeper with airplanes on it. Stephen's sleeper that had little green frogs on it that said, "So happy". And the little green sleeper with yellow ducks that Allan was wearing when we took some pictures after he came home from the hospital. As I lay in bed tonight the tears just flowed down my cheeks (and into my ears which is so annoying!) You little guys are growing up so fast.

Never again will I have need for 0-3 month outfits. There will not be another little boy to wear these clothes. They're now lovingly packed in a box and will be delivered to the sale site tomorrow morning. And I feel as though I've packed away part of my life. I'm not sorry that it will only be the three of you. I'm just sorry that these days have gone so quickly and we'll never return to this season again.

Every section of life is a season. The season of childbearing is over for me. It has taught me so much and made me a better person. I've been stretched beyond what I thought I was capable of stretching. Yes, this evening I'm a little sad. I'll miss the innocence of those days, the willing smiles in the morning, the constant drooling and putting everything into your mouth, the peaceful nights, the smells of a clean baby, the fuzzy hairless heads, the giggles, the snuggles.

This season is coming to a close and I will miss it. There's excitement with the new chapter that's about to begin. An almost 5 year old, a two year old and a little boy who will be 1 this year. It's fun when we can talk with you! watch you run and play. But for tonight, the tears will gently make their way down my cheeks as I remember your baby days....and wish they hadn't gone with such swiftness.

Driver's License Saga

Several weeks ago I took all three boys with me to Urgent Care for a Dr. to take a look at Stephen. At that visit they asked to see my driver's license and Stephen's Insurance Card. Three boys in a germy waiting room need a considerable amount of supervision (Stephen wanted to get down and crawl so he's doing a turning routine on my lap, Daniel's checking under the chairs for chewing gum, Allan is staring at the girl next to him making her very uncomfortable). When they handed me my cards I pushed them somewhere into my diaper bag and resumed organizing the three ring circus.

Fast forward one week: a nurse comes to our home to do some blood work and needs to see my driver's license. They are not to be found anywhere in the recesses of that diaper bag. Three days later: I have called to make sure the Urgent Care hasn't found them, I've checked at the store's I've shopped but no sign of either the license or the insurance card. I begin to look in earnest and remember that I had library books in my diaper bag that fateful day that I've already returned to the library. Could it be that in pushing the license into the diaper bag they went in a book that has been reshelved at the library? A call to the library tells me that their system keeps no record of past books checked out unless there is a fine due on that book. We went to the library and tried to scour as many books as we could remember that we'd checked out with no success. So I decide it's time to replace my license. Easier said than done.

Fast forward two days to a Monday: I'm getting ready to go to P&G for a study, they need to see my license as identification and I remembered that Philip had a scanned copy of my license for insurance purposes. I print it off before I go and as I am putting it in my diaper bag I notice (since it printed full page) that the license expired on my birthday! So it's really a good thing that I lost them or who knows how long it would have taken me to notice that piece of information.

Tuesday morning we packed up and made a trip downtown to get the license replaced. We drove around the block 15-20 minutes before a parking spot opened up, I unloaded all the guys and we walked into the office. The first thing I see is a sign saying they do not accept credit cards: cash or check only. So I turn the brood around and we walk to an ATM machine to withdraw the $24 that I need (of course you have to withdraw $40 because of only doing denominations of $20). We walk back to the office and get in line again (I'm beginning to wonder if I've put enough money in the parking meter). When I reach the teller she says that because I've lost the license I have to have my Social Security card (I did) and my birth certificate (I don't usually carry that around with me!). So writing down everything I need we come home to search the house for that piece of paper that verifies I was born....no success. So I placed an order the next afternoon to get a copy. In the meantime, I'm carrying around a photocopy of my old, expired driver's license and the order confirmation for my birth certificate. Some policeman I know would want to hear that story should it be necessary!

I received the birth certificate last Saturday so Monday morning I packed everybody into the van and we trekked to downtown again. Allan prayed on the way that we'd be able to quickly get a parking place that was close. His prayers were answered and we parked directly in front of the building....actually there were quite a few open slots. Everyone piled out of the van and we walked to the office to find it locked with a sign on the door saying, "Closed for Columbus Day". We went home.

Tuesday everyone piled in again and we made another trip downtown. This time after the third time around the block the gentleman who had washed my windows the day before (I gave him my extra parking meter money) helped me to get a parking place. The boys knew their way to the office by heart and we got in line. As the teller is helping me get a new license it comes up on her computer screen that as of Oct 1st there was a new policy instituted that if your license has been expired for more than 7 days then you have to pay a $20 fine. I had the $40 withdrawn two weeks before and now the $24 license fee takes me $4 over that limit. So....back to the ATM machine we walk to withdraw another $20! Side note: I carry NO cash downtown because when I get stopped by a panhandler I can honestly say that I have no cash on me.

We walked back to the office with the money, the camera took my picture and we waited for the finished product. When Allan saw it he said, "Mommy you don't look very pretty...you should have smiled." For some reason I wasn't really feeling like smiling.....someday I'll look back on this experience and laugh ....but right now I'm going to program google calender to send me a week's notice in four years that there is a very important item I need to pay attention to.

Happy Birthday Stephen!

One year old! He celebrated this past Monday (even though his birthday was last week) by doing the typical cake and ice cream at Gramme and Pop-pop's and also getting his first tooth. That was exciting. The first few always cause them to be fussy but after the first ones get through it seems like it's no big deal. It looks like we could have another four or five within the next month.

He loved his train cake and after taking a few finger swipes at it decided to bite off the "smoke". He doesn't know how to bite yet so he just gummed it...it was very funny and his brothers thought it was hilarious. He also received a puppy from my folks which his brothers promptly named "Snuff". Don't ask where the name came from! They've never heard the word before except that.....I just remembered....that's the name of the Bernstein Bear's dog....so that's where they got it!






This week was filled with cakes, school, D-groups (sometime I'll have to share about "my girls". They are three young ladies from Korea and we've been having a blast!), getting ready for homecoming, putting cuffs in pants for a guy in the dorm (my first time to do this from start to finish on my own) and preparing for an absolutely horrendous week coming up!

The week has been pretty normal except my washer is on the blink so I've not had to do laundry! Yeah!!!!! I know I'm going to pay for it next week but the break has been nice. Daniel had a little mishap this week and received a pretty bad burn on his stomach. It happened right before bed so I bunked with him in the spare room so we could keep ice on it since it bothered him so much. I couldn't believe how much he talks in his sleep. One of the times he woke me up talking he said, "I'm so very tired." I thought, me too buddy....how 'bout you be quiet and we'll both get some sleep! Most of the burned area has opened and scabbed over so we're working on keeping it from getting infected.

As I said, next week is going to be really busy. I have some cake orders and some other orders (won't say what in case the person who is supposed to be surprised is reading this!), Philip is going to be in revival next week in Dayton, the Newport Aquarium is having their Homeschool days and it's our church fall picnic and pastor appreciation next Saturday, Oh, and the huge consignment sale that I'm a seller at is taking place next Saturday also. Sometime between now and then I need to get my stuff together and labeled. If anyone is interested here's the info:

Once and Again Kid's Sale
Saturday October 17, 2009
8am-12pm (hint, if you want anywhere near the front of the line you need to be there no later than 7:20)
Mason United Methodist Church
3615 S Mason-Montgomery Rd.
398-4741

So that's the news from Lake Wobegone for this week! Where the man is tired, the woman is tired, and the children are very average! Good-night.

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Kentucky Wool Festival

The boys, Gramme and I went to the Kentucky Wool Festival in Falmouth this morning/early afternoon. It rained really hard last night and this morning so the grounds were very muddy but by noon the sun was out and it turned out to be a wonderful day. The boys enjoyed petting/feeding all the different animals, seeing a sheep shearing (Allan and Daniel thought the sheep looked horrible after they were finished), petting more animals, riding horses, seeing an enclosed bee hive, cotton candy, and popper guns.




There is so much to see but with little children who don't have much knowledge to rely on there's plenty of things that we didn't linger to look at. Blacksmithing, soap and candle making, basket weaving, making sorghum, crafts and knick knacks, goat milking, wool spinning, etc. The prices on the food weren't as bad as I had thought they might be....but my boys still wanted hot dogs and cotton candy! Stephen enjoyed himself but was wearing of riding in the stroller. Now that he's more mobile he's not content to be in one place very long. If it had been nice I could have let him crawl/walk around but the mud hindered that.