How we spent a very cold Saturday morning...

Will (orange shirt)...being quite aggressive
speedy
E. showin us fancy moves
Molly looks strange in this pic...here she is with Mrs. M

Brrrr!! Baby, it's cold outside. I like cold. We get along very well, thank you! But it is nasty cold.

We got to get up bright and early to be at a 9 a.m. soccer game...thank the Lord for the indoor sports facility that we are playing at! ( we lost today but our team fought hard and most importantly, HAD FUN!!)

These pics just aren't very clear...my camera tries but just can't cut it on some of the things that I want it to. (Kara, I need your camera..) o well. I will post them anyway!

Indoor soccer is much more aggressive and intense...the boys really, really dig it and if you are related to us, or not, you should come. Calm, laid back Will gets out there and runs into people with his rear end...I tried to get some pix of that but yeah. not happenin'.

We have some friends whose son plays on the boys team, and she has two very cute boys...so she gets her baby girl fill with Molly! Thanks for holding the squirmy girl, Michelle. You are a peach! (she has the cutest southern accent as well!!).

ok, time to take a shower for our Bible study tonight...maybe I will take some pix there...hmmm. good night!!

Grandma's annual winter clearance event

My parents are so kind and generous! Mom and I went clearance shopping last night...Target and Kohl's. Kohl's has 70-80% off sales about this time of year. Target had 4 shirts Mel liked, a black hoodie, and sweat pants for about 15 bucks. You can't beat that!! Mel, Will and E. all needed some clothing badly...I can't seem to keep these growing people clothed...they are all at "in-between" stages in clothes as well so it can be extremely frustrating! Thank you, Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa, for helping us out!! We are so grateful to you!

This bottom pic was taken per Levi's request...he washed his hair by himself last night and he wanted me to take a picture so he could show Pa (my dad). Isn't he such a big kid?

I will post some not very good pix from the boys' indoor soccer game this morning, a bit later on, maybe. I feel a nap coming on. See ya!!

do you need some trusty painters?

what skills
E. looks foreign and his outfit is challenging...
look at that concentration...
Yes, he's still in his pj's at noon...
the painting adventure is well under way. in fact, we are just about done and ready to put our junk back in order, after a good "dusting" of course. These kids have been most helpful!!
side note: just lookin' at my kids' clothing is making me nervous...they have some weird outfits on and we need some serious new clothing!!

Around the house...

tiny pink kicks
yeah, kid, you nasty
ewwww, gross.


Hello folks. How are you?
Here you will find some completely random photos from Wednesday. Levi informed me that he had taken Molly's shoes off. I went to get them and he had placed them so nicely by the door...quite pathetic, really, that I felt a need for a pic. But I'm used to big boy shoes, man shoes, etc and these were just so cute and irresistible!
I'm not sure how David noticed the nasty piece of cheese under the arm of our couch but he has an eagle eye for dirties around the house and is always quick to point them out to me, and how gross our kids (me as well) can really be. This is Levi's cheese. He even asked for it the other day but I guess he only wanted it to see how well it would stick to wood. ick. kids really are quite gross and if you don't stay right on top of 'em, the nasty things they can do.
The bottom pic is precious because it shows how hands-on Molly is...she won't shake hands when she gets older, she will touch your face. I kinda hope she does, it's so endearing!
We are painting in my room today...I will have to blog that later on...it's so fun to paint with Davey boy. He has already told me I need to dust more and that I have too much junk.
onward ho!!!

A blast from the OCA past...

My "daughters" and I...velvet on the right!
nice shot of David E and I...cuz Scott on the way right
do you see yourself, velvet?
Mrs. W on the left, Mrs Y (me) middle, Deb, right Mrs. W in the center, I'm on the right
This one's for you, Velvet and Mrs. W. The pictures i have been searching for! I found a slew of old Christian school photo's so I will have to go thru them to see who I can embarrass and all that fun stuff.
~~In the first two pix, you will find me with some schoolmates (and fellow blogger Velvet, lovely girl)...we were in a play and she was one of my kids...ha ha!! go to your room! you're grounded. Velvet is the lovely in the yellow...you look so precious in the big bow...there's a 'do you forgot about! #2, do you see your bro?...he is coming out of the top of David E's skull...I forgot how cute J was!! and this pic on my post doesn't do him any justice...but it is definitely him!!

~~Pic #3...lemme know if you can find yourself...my cuz Scott is in the center...you are somewhere nearby.

~~Pic #4...some cheerleading memories for you, Mrs. W...those were definitely the days! Deb is in here with us as well...whatta squad!! We are the Warriors, the mighty, mighty Warriors. we're A-W-E-S-O-M-E, totally awesome!! ya gotta love the formation pose...back in the day when I could get on someone's shoulders. (hee hee, poor Becky S)...Mrs. W is on the tippy top...tiny girl!! and what is super funny about this? We are posing in the church sanctuary/auditorium. I guess if one is going to get hurt, that is the place to do it!!

Pic #5 is just sheer cheese. but i love my red/white Nike cheerleading shoes. I felt soooooo cool in those kicks, as well as in that swell culotte cheer "skort"...yikes. what was I thinking, honestly, to be a cheerleader? sweaters in hot places?? what?? I would never think to do that now...that is nuts!

Ok, well I feel so much better now that I have located this top pic. So glad to be in contact with some "old" friends!! lovely girls, both of ya!! thanks for letting me walk down memory lane again!

a very melanie post...

see below....autumn 2000
Love the make-up girl...spring 2000
Michigan, 2004

Modest and fun-loving.


I am not sure where this girl came from, well, yes, I'm sure but she is just a rare breed! I'm high strung, mouthy, impatient, grouchy, and I'm pretty sure I've been this way my whole life (way to focus on my positive points, huh?). But Mel? She isn't and I don't see it happening. Unless I scar her with my "wicked" ways, which I pray daily that the Lord protects her from. She is very helpful, always sweet, kind-hearted and genuinely one of the nicest young ladies you could want for your daughter's friend. On top of all of these wonderful traits, not enough, you say?? She is beautiful on the outside as well! She is the real deal! She is a blessing to raise and I learn from her daily.
The first and second pix were put on here because when Molly fell off the bed on Sunday, I thought of these pix. We were building our house and we came down to see the progress. It had been raining and oops, there she went (that is another one of her traits, clumsy)...but being the evil beep I can be, I ran for the camera and David held her hair back so I could freeze that memory in time!! We are great parents.
ok, I just wanted to post these lovelies, since I was having a Mel moment. Love you, Mel...you are a gem! your dad and I praise the Lord for putting you in our lives because you sure have made raising your brothers a lot easier!

Triple C (aka creamy crockpot chicken)

Healthfood in a bowl...(I guess it would be healthy if you didn't add the sour cream, cream of chicken soup, or real butter but everything in moderation, right??)

Recipe is as follows:

keep in mind, you will need to double this batch if you are feeding anymore than 4 peeps as well as eating it for leftovers...this is the small family size version...I always double.

1-8 oz. container of sour cream

2-4 tbsp. butter

1-can of cream of chicken soup

1-packet of Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing mix (not the dip mix)

4-chicken breasts, cut up, already cooked.

put first four ingredients in your crocky, and it will seem rather icky to you but just wait. once all the stuff mushes together, and the aroma fills your house, you will see what I mean. Unless you don't like that kind of thing...I let it cook, on low, for 2-3 hours...you can add your diced chicky whenever you are ready. We eat it over whole grain rice (which you prepare according to box directions), but I've heard you can eat it with stuffing, or noodles...whatever. experiment. I add the rice about an hour before we eat it, unless we are really hungry and the whole deal, from start to finish, is about 2 hours. If you let it simmer on high, it seems to get crusty faster (again, matter of taste)...

It really is good. When Beck and Scott had Nora, I made it for them, thinking that my rather picky, yet cute, sister wouldn't like it. ha. I think she has made it 4 times since September...

Give this recipe a try, and let me know how your's turns out or what you ate it with but if you hate it, I don't wanna hear about it. K?

Monday, Monday...

Proof that I do read...

Melanie's collage
her little mini-me...bedonk-a-donk smattering of beads...another hobby of mine

Let me just start out by saying HELLO to you!! And to those of you that have requested the recipe for the Creamy crockpot delight, I will post that recipe as soon as I get around to it today or tomorrow. It is really quite simple...5 simple ingredients and then your choice of carbo...(eg noodles, white rice, whole grain rice, stuffing etc)...It is a true delight! and fat free on Sat and Sun. I wish.

We are plugging right along this morning, doing our "lists", working out, laundry, bread, but I needed a down moment to blog.

~I am sure you are wondering what today's pics are all about. Lemme explain quickly...David's lovely cousin, Kara, (and of course my cousin too) challenged me to take 12 pix on the 12th of each month, just to be artsy and at the end of the year, make an album (or I guess one could scrap as they go) that depicts the goings-on in your household, life whatever. I am taking that challenge, Kara dear, but forgot to do it on the 12th...so I did it today! got my 14 pix (I'll go back to 12 next month though...afraid I will run out of things to take pix of...as if)...just a bit of those...

~Can I just tell you that Petunia is rolling now? Yeah. she rolled right off of my rather high bed yesterday. I guess E. didn't get the memo that she can do that now...he felt so bad but I assured him that it was ok...but now we know that we can't "leave" her alone on our beds. What was entirely so sad though was that she fell off feet first and ended up on the floor, bent in half so to speak and she was trying in vain, flailing, to get out of that position...poor little thing...just a shrieking...she is a-ok...not even a bump that I can tell. Kids are scary. that brings to mind another blog opportunity...for a later date. Remember Will and Mel in the mud (@ different times), Beck? Up in Kokomo and down here at our house? o man. needless to say, we felt her safety was more important than a photo op. I can be mature when needed.

~ok, well, hope y'all are having a lovely Monday. It's rather gloomy here. kinda tired of gray. I think I have S.A.D. peace out

groundbreaking really & then some

My sister doesn't drink coffee. It's not her "thing"! (notice the Uppercase Living
catalog, Gummi Bear Queen?)
And can it be?
3 of my favorite things...cup o' joe, triple c and fresh salsa
with a big honkin' onion that my processor missed.
I've got my utensils in there and they are ready to go!!

creamy crockpot delight! I love you. I do. I honestly luuuuuv you.
Gma. with 7 of her grandkiddies..they all slobbered on her cake with her

Can I just say, whoa??

We had my dear momma's b-day party tonight, our place, 5 p.m....dear sister, Beck, came early to begin food prep...tacos and creamy crockpot chicken (a.k.a. triple c). I always have such a good time hanging with her, even when we are grumpy, even when we are poor, even when we don't both drink coffee. That is all about to change. As I was getting my food, B. asked if she could taste my coffee...granted, it's in there somewhere, as it had creamer (yes, hydrogenated soybean oil, sugar, and other gunk)...and lite whip on top...tempting to even the non-coffee drinker. She proceeded to drink my whole mug o' joe...Way to go, Beck. You are really growing up or should I say going down hill? Anyways, that was definitely a highlight of my night, heck, probably even 2008. Now we can go to a coffee shop, sit and sip our cares away! thanks for a completely yummy and satisfying dinner, familio! lovin' thou!
Sorry for the completely insane post. I'm really very tired and must go sleep while my infant does..so g'night and peace out!

Salsa and rooftops

salsa deliciosis....sheer joy in a bowl. why is my 5 yr old on the roof?
woop, your mom caught us....
even my ruff and tumble E is scared to get up there...
Don't push him...he's not that disobedient...

Good Saturday afternoon!!

Just takin a break from house cleaning to drop a blog. hee hee.

I forgot to post these pix from Thursday...David cleaned out our gutters (remember having to do that, Velvet??) and the older kids ran in to tell me that Levi was up on the rooftop with his father...total blog opportunity!! (someone's a dork)...We really do watch our kids...if their dad is home, he is who they want to be with, even if he is doing dangerous work. We were all shocked at how bold Levi was!!

Ok, nuff of that...the very top picture?? mmmm mmmmaking my mouth water...I was introduced to this delectable treat by my friend and fellow bloggin' buddy, Sherry..who was introduced to it by another friend and new bloggin' buddy, Nicky...it's just a "taste" of what my lovely new food processor can give out and I am so darn thrilled. It's all fresh from the market goodness....whodathunk that I would ever willingly indulge in tomatoes AND peppers of all sorts by the bowlfulls?? It is ALL that I want to eat, EVER, but D. says the garlic (which I didn't add as much this time) was seeping from my pores. (not so attractive, huh? though the medicinal effects have got to be wonderfully amazing). Thanks for sharing the recipe girls. I love love LOVE this salsa!

Time to go finish cleaning for my momma's birthday party...and then I get to go out on a date (a date, I tell ya) with my dh. We aren't quite sure what to do...movies are so...well, I can sleep at home honestly. We haven't had a real date since June of 07, before I birthed Petunia. Chow lovelies.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!!!

circa 1971 circa 1969 1991...packed up and moved to IN
2006...with 8 of their 10 grandkids...

Mom, even though we weren't physically with you on your birthday, hope you know you are in our thoughts and prayers! Hope that your dinner out with Dad was nice and peaceful! unlike this pic immediately above.
You are a wonderful grandma...and an awesome mom! I thank the Lord for you! here's to the next 61 years!! God Bless you!
We will have a nice little party for momma dear this Sat. night...taco salad and homemade salsa! Yah!! sorry I didn't get this posted sooner...it was a hectic day! I love you! My kids love you too!