You Must've Been a Beautiful Baby

Well, I survived today!!LOL Actually I was up before Alyssa this morning, I had to give her a hard time about that!LOL We got things done though, now I have a bazillion loads of laundry to do!! They had fun trying on clothes and seeing what fit and what was ready to pass down. There are pics in the Flickr!
It was a productive day, although not so much in my usual Saturday cleaning, but that's OK, it will all be there later. Alyssa made a yummy fruit salad for everyone tonight for dessert, and then we made some banana muffins for breakfast tomorrow..YUM!!
Then we spent the evening digging through some old pics, some I had from before and some I uploaded tonight, too cute! so, here for your viewing pleasure is some pics of the kiddo's as babies and a couple of my sister tossed in for fun. When my mom brings my baby book next time, I will snap a couple of mine.
Have a blessed Palm Sunday tomorrow!
~Penny
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~My sister at about 18mos old~



~My sister at about 4mos~



~Alex at about 2.5mos~



~Alyssa about 3mos old~



~Robbie 4mos old~



~Kayla 11mos old~



~Mariah 6mos old~



~Matthew 4.5mos old~



~Alex, Alyssa, Robbie, and Kayla Fall 2003~

One of Those Days

However, this is on the good side!! It was one of those days that you really feel good about afterwards. We got all our school work done nice and early today (not too much out of norm) then we did some tidying and I got a bag of clothes that I don't wear off to Freecycle. Alex went outside this afternoon and did some yardwork clean-up. We have decided that we are going to change our normal Saturday movie/pizza night to Friday. I do most of my big cleaning on Saturdays and although it was nice to sit and relax afterwards, the kids always seemed to be so pooped, they were either falling asleep with the movie or being grumpy. Now that we have it on Fridays, it seems to go much better. Tonight we had yummy pizza and fresh veggies (LOVE my produce box I got!!!) and some fries and of course dip. I made the kids 'fizzy juice' with sparking water and Orange juice. We ordered Open Season as a special treat (this is only usually a once a month thing, but it's worth it) not a bad movie. After we watched our movie and ate, we cleaned up and then moved onto dessert. Yummy cut up fruit and of course more 'fizzy juice'!!!LOL Then we played some games, a new version of Charades that the kids made up and then a few rounds of the traditional version. Then everyone finished getting into jammies and brushing teeth and we sat and read some funny poetry. It was just an all around nice day. Alyssa helped the littles get teeth brushed and jammies(while daddy helped supervise the teeth brushing...Mariah loves to squirt it all over the place!!LOL), while Alex and Robbie washed dishes and organized the rest of the dishes for me to do (I get to do the gunky ones!!LOL) while I fed Matthew and got him settled into bed

Tomorrow is the big clean out day, Alyssa is so pumped about it. She got her shelves all cleaned today and got the bins out of storage, made sure the washer and dryer were all ready....LOL!!! She makes me giggle!!LOL I can just see things in the morning, I am sure I will greet an already dressed and fed 8yo girls in the morning, rearing to go!!!LOL

If I could come and do all your cleaning and organizing I would..guys!!!!Yum, that Starbucks caramel mocha-mucka whipped thingamajig is a really tempting ploy, Kerri!!!
I'll send Alyssa over!!LOL She's my right hand gal, menu planning, organizing, cleaning, sewing....goodness! I'll be out of a job soon!!!LOL

Have a blessed weekend and I am sure I will have pics to post from tomorrow...they all love to do the before and after pics on these types of jobs!!
~Penny

Friday 5

Goodness, I cannot believe it is already time for this again!! My hubby called a little while ago to let me know that he did in fact get me a table for the Used Toy and Clothing sale!!WHOOHOO!! Particularly, the one I wanted!! I can't believe it's time for this again either...I'm beginning to think I may live under a rock...ah well, not too worried about it. This weekend will be spent in a closet or two or three.....time to pull everything out and put it all back in again. The kids love doing this, and actually, I don't mind either. I actually LOVE spring cleaning.*ducking* Anyways, here's my Friday 5!!
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What specific advice would you give to someone moving into your neighborhood?
Well, here in my cul-de-sac, it would be don't expect anyone to shovel your sidewalk and mow your lawn or weird man next door will phone people on you if your grass is over the 'allowed' height!!LOL
What specific advice would you give to someone beginning a job at your workplace (or attending school where you study, or, if you’re neither a student nor employed, doing whatever it is you do with your days)?
LOL!! Lot's of coffee and watch where you sit, and don't question what may be stuck to the bottom of your foot. Most importantly, watch and enjoy because the rewards with THIS job are unsurpassed!!!
What specific advice would you give to someone who wants to begin an online journal or blog?
keep it real and share what you want, you'll attract the best audience by being true to yourself...and don't listen to critics!!
What specific advice would you give to someone who wants to take up a hobby you’re really into?
hmmm, a hobby you say?!?!?!see above, my hobby is my job and my online blog!!LOL
What specific advice would you give to someone who wants to marry your closest, unmarried friend?
hmmmm, an unmarried friend??? I don't think I have any...unmarried that is!!ROFL
I guess it would have to be my sister..........Oy, what do I say about that?!?!?!LOL!!!She's my sister.......!!!LOL
(oh Kerri and Shellie, I see you both shaking your heads!!!LOL!!!)
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Well, we're down to the last few days before Spring break, we'll be wrapping things up next Thursday and then a week off.......ahhhhhhhhhh!!!
Then I can focus on my room by room cleaning and getting things Freecycled and OUT!!
I also have some sewing projects I want to get at as does Alyssa. I also think after the clothing sale, I'll be moving Matthew into his own room (WHHAAAAAAAAA!!!!) but I think it's time, he basically sleeps through the night and I think he could do with the peace and quiet. Mariah is sleeping better the last couple of nights, but she can sometimes be up and down every hour through the night (I heard that Kerri!!!) and when she come into our room at night....let's just say, she does not whisper!!LOL
I tried him with a bit of rice pablum last night and the other night, he LOVED it, he devoured it without a face or any mess!!LOL!! I never push this phase, he is still pretty content with the breastmilk, and obviously it is meeting his nutritional needs!!LOL

Well, I'm going to try and get some pics uploaded, check out the Flickr!! I will also upload all our Clean sweep pics too!!

Have a wonderfully blessed Friday!!
~Penny

A Time of it....

Everytime I have sat down to type an email or even check out my fellow bloggers in blogland, some crisis has taken place in this house. Some urgent necessity requiring my attention RIGHT NOW. Some fight over a simple thing, some toy mysteriously disappearing and needing my help to locate it's whereabouts immediately. Some child unable to cope for just a millisecond, without my undue attention. A certain baby needing to be fed, even though I had made sure he had a full tummy before I sat down. Some certain husband who absolutely, positively, urgently needed the use of the computer. Things have fallen completely apart in the spilt second that I have have typed in www., children scream, things crash, the TV mysteriously has a mind of it's own and begins switching channels and turning it's volume up in a direct attempt to frighten the littlest of littles. Suddenly from out of nowhere, the fridge is opened and litres of apple juice spring from it's carton and milk is dumped, cereal is crunched into fine crumbs resembling dust into the carpet.

This is the very reason I have given up ever talking on the phone to anyone who needs an engaging conversation or at the very least would like to hear more out of my mouth bedsides, "PUT THAT DOWN!", "LEAVE YOUR SISTER ALONE!", "Please wait until I'm done" "No you may not jump on the furniture" "No you may not have a snack simply because I'm on the phone" lest it be known that you cannot hear my glares at the children, you know the ones I'm talking about....the eyebrows raised, you're trying to look as serious as possible whilst waving a hand at them while they giggle and scurry around you. It's even worse if you try to hide in a closet or a nearby room, they then begin to kick and bang on the door (the little ones at least) how dare mother want to have a conversation, and to the person on the other end, you sound as though you have locked your CHILDREN in a room and not yourself. So, if you never receive a phone call from me again or if I never answer the phone again, try again in, oh I dunno, 20 years!!! Seriously, I have thought about throwing the phone out the window or at the very least shutting the ringer off.

Better yet though, while I' on the topic of being on the phone....how about those voice automated things, you know, the ones that want you to SAY your 15 digit account number....ugh...you people make me CRAZY!!! "We're sorry, the numbers you gave us are not in our system, please try again" BLAAAAAHHHHHHH Then, they will tell you "please say HELP for help regarding your account" I say help, but for some reason your flipping automated service friendly piece of dung hears that I would like service in SPANISH or MANDARIN!!! I'm sorry but I don't speak either of those languages, so then I am trapped in your system!!! I yell for help and may or may not have said some expletives and still your cheesy automated voice is rambling on in the foreign language. So, I will hang up and decide to send you every piece of junkmail I have....have a nice day and thankyou for calling!HA!
PS, I also posted a new entry in my food/homekeeping blog, the link is at the right...Yummies for tummies

well, now that I have vented, have a blessed day!! :o)
~Penny

Friday 5

Since I've been MIA on these the last two weeks, here's one good and early!!

How’s your car running?
So far so good, I better not have jinxed ourselves though!!!
How’s your blood pressure?
Great!!!, always on the low side!
How’s work (or school)?
Well, I don't 'work' and I'm not in school, so I'll go with: Homeschooling is going GREAT!!
How’s 2007 so far?
Not too bad, could be worse, but could be better!
How’s your hair?
Umm, in need of a thinning, but at least it has a fresh color in it now, thanks to a box of Garnier #100 and a wicked coupon for it!

Um, where'd the week go??

I can't believe it's already Thursday today!! What a busy last couple of days!! I went grocery shopping with my Mom on Tuesday, it took us forever!!LOL Matthew did not like being in his carseat. My mom was going to buy me a carrier that you can use forward facing (his favourite position to held) but there was no way we could do it up around him, even when we un did it to it's farthest point! The weight was good for up to 26lbs!!LOL I'm not sure what type of 26lb baby they thought would be in there, but definitely not my guy!!LOL At least we got through it though!!LOL

Then last night I went out with Kerri and we had such a good time, although Matthew was not happy about the carseat thing again!!LOL This time though, I put blankets and my jacket in the small upper part of the cart (Superstore has weird carts) and he was much happier laying down and being able to kick. Kerri brought pics from their trip to Disneyland in Feb...what awesome pics!!! The weather cooperated for them and they had a great time.

Today, I have to say I am happy to be staying at home!!!LOL I had what felt like a ton of housework to get caught up on and the kids are in very foul moods. So, it will be early to bed tonight for them!

This weekend will be spent cleaning out closets and sorting through everything, thank goodness for Rubbermaid containers and of course for my dear friends who hand me down things to use!!(I love you!!!) you have no idea how very much I appreciate it!!! Alyssa is totally pumped about bringing out the spring and summer stuff...Kayla is still trying to figure out how it can be spring when it still has been snowing off and on!!!LOL I was going to start some spring cleaning this weekend too, but a peek at the weather channel told me that the first week of April has snow in the forecast....now in this city predicting the weather 2 weeks ahead can mean nothing, I mean even day to day is dangerous!!LOL Just the last couple of days we've woken up to blowing snow, then turned to rain by lunch and sunny and pleasant by dinner!!!ROFL!!Go figure!!! So, I think I'll hold off until near the end of April, so I can clean the window sills really good and hang the comforters outside to dry.

Have a blessed Thursday!!!
~Penny

A 'clean sweep' with 'shots' of laundry

Interesting subject, no?!?!? Well it just sums up the last couple of days around here!!
The weekend was spent doing laundry. I decided I would try something new, and instead of doing a load or two everyday, I would do ALL my laundry over the course of the weekend. I know a couple people who have large families and do this, so I thought what the hey. Okay, so maybe I am just a creature of habit, or just a weirdo, but I was so stressed out over the whole thing!!! Maybe I just separate my laundry too much (I have pinks, reds, blues, whites, lights, jeans, greys, dark blues, blacks, purples, bleach load, diapers, sheets, towels and I think that is it, all in separate loads) So, although the idea of only doing laundry two days a week appealed to me, I think I will have to stick with my original routine.

We also decided that we would do a 'clean sweep' (like the show Clean Sweep in the girls room, so emptied their entire room except for the beds and dressers, then we made three piles and re organized their room! I took pics of the process, so I will post those later. I still need to find somewhere, maybe Freecycle, a shelf. The one I was going to use, will not fit in the space I needed it too. The girls loved this project and had so much fun organizing their toy bins. We washed walls and vacuumed every corner!!What had inspired them was that Auntie Shellie sent over a huge bag of toys, and in it was a big container of lego's!! You should have seen my guy's faces!!!(they absolutely LOVE lego!!) And there was also some Ello and barbie stuff for the girls!!

Over the next few days it will be time to clean out closets and switch out winter stuff with the spring stuff. I will have to take not of who needs what, and get things ready for the Used Toy and Clothing sale!! I know that Matthew needs everything and Mariah and Robbie will need some stuff as well. I'm hoping that Alyssa and Kayla and Alex will be alright.

Today we had to leave the house by 7:45am to get to our appointment for Alex, Kayla and Matthew's vaccinations. We ended up with a super nice nurse, thank you Lord!! Alex needed his second dose of Hep B, Kayla needed her preschool booster and Matthew needed his first set of shots. Everyone got weighed and measured, so here's the stats:
Alex: 68.5 lbs and 55 1/4 in tall
Matthew: 15.6 lbs (I think the drs scale was wonky the last time we had him weighed, I find the public health nurses are much more accurate, which is where we were today) and he is 25 1/4 in long.
Kayla:35 1/4 lbs 40 in tall

They did so good and the nurse was so amazed at how well behaved and patient they were. She was supportive of a large family AND supportive of homeschooling AND supportive of my choice to not vaccinate against the chicken pox and to delay some shots!! Like I said, it was so nice to have an awesome nurse this time around.

Tomorrow, I get to go and get groceries!!!!WOOT!! Mind you, I'm not sure the gas company will be happy, but I'm not overly concerned about that. My mom is coming and taking me. Then, I do believe Wednesday will be girls night out with Kerri!!!, have to wait for confirmation about that though.

Last but not least, I do have to share a wonderful praise report on my mom!!! In the next couple of weeks, she will be celebrating ONE YEAR of SOBRIETY!!!!WOOOOOT!!! I am soooo happy and proud of her, this is a HUGE accomplishment. This is the first time in over 16 years she has been sober longer than 6 mos!! She's keeping strong and I really think she's gonna make it this time, she's been going to counselling and keeping active when stress hits. I'm just so happy for her!!!

OK, now I really need to get some kids off to bed and I do believe Matthew is requesting some snuggle time!! Have a blessed day!!
~Penny

Four Months Old

Wow!! I can't believe how quickly time has gone!! You are such a sweet baby it's no wonder the time seems to be flying by. You are always so happy and content, simply enjoying watching your siblings run around you.





You love your floor time and get even more enjoyment when you are practically naked and can suck on your toes. Although reaching your toes is getting more difficult for you!!LOL You haven't quite figured out how to roll either way yet, but who needs to when you have five doting siblings at your beck and call??





You are so lucky to have inherited your Mama's ability to raise just one eyebrow, and you do this at the most perfect times. It's great because it drives your Daddy crazy! Isn't that fun?!?!?





I think you're a thinker, you watch and absorb everything around you. You pay close attention yo your siblings...perhaps a little to closely!! You also seem to be quite the listener, as you watch me closely while I am explaining how to wash the dishes to you or how to prepare lasagna....I'd imagine that will wear off as soon as you hit about 18-24 mos old!!





You awake each morning and give the biggest grin as I peer over your bed at you, even though I am still half asleep and most likely have breath that would knock most people out. You are almost sleeping through the night and make your midnight snacks quick, as you appear to love your sleep. Perhaps maybe you could have a chat with your Mariah, apparently she doesn't need sleep and figures it's party time when the sun goes down! I love it when you try to smile at me while I am nursing you and you drool milk, I love it when you say Mama when you are whimpering. I love how your eyelashes are so long and frame your sweet little eyes when you smile. I love how the top of your head smells so beautiful and has a sprinkling of downy soft hair. Your siblings love the fact that no matter what they do, you smile at them. Your brothers love your ability to break wind almost as good as they do and that you can even clear a room at your age. daddy loves that you could very well turn out to be a pretty decent football player or a hockey player.
You are so precious and sweet and brighten my day, you always seem to have a smirk or a grin to fit the mood. You rarely cry, except when you need your bum change or a feeding or if your sister has shoved your pooh bear a little too close to your eyes.
I can see we're heading into a new growth, we'll be experiencing new things over the next few months, first tooth, first baby food, rolling over, sitting up.....whew! Feel free to take your time, because if I've learned anything in the last 10 years of parenting it's that this time goes by so quickly and I am in no hurry!!
I love you so very much my little Matt-man!!

Wednesday Already?!?!

I always have disliked the week after the time change, I feel like I am forever behind, even more so than I usually am. The weather has been just wonky as well, but that is not entirely out of the norm here.I've decided I need to live somewhere where there is no time change, and the weather is constant, never higher than 24 degrees Celsius and never lower than -10 degrees Celsius. Of course to boot, somebody somewhere decided that we need to do this time change thing earlier this year and make it last longer....HUH??? I realize that it's an energy saver idea, but still!!! I wish I had the authority to just change time, I think I would add an extra few hours during the day and perhaps an extra day or two in the week! HA! Not gonna happen, yeah, I know.

Have a blessed Wednesday everyone!!
~Penny

Don't Forget Your 'Ornament'

Words spoken to me from my 4 yo as I was getting dressed this morning. I said, "what do you mean?" she replies with, "you know mommy, your ornament so you don't haffa stink" "You mean my deodorant?" I ask giggling, "yup, that is what I said to you" she says and away she went. ROFL!! I love it when they come up with this stuff!!

I am doing much better now. Although I don't quite understand dissolving stitches. I have had them numerous times in my mouth and I have yet to have then mysteriously vanish and dissolve into my gums or lips. I have always been left with a dangler or a very annoying knot that my tongue inevitably cannot resist skimming....CONSTANTLY!
So, finally last night, my last stitch came out and I proudly showed it off to the kids, because these are very cool things ya know! I don't know, maybe I'm too inpatient for the whole dissolving stitch thing!

Have a blessed Monday!!
~Penny

I'm Baaaaaack!!

What an ordeal! So I went to see the dentist on Monday to learn that I had a severely infected tooth.(which I already knew!!LOL) So bad that she figured that since the infection surpassed what she could see on the xray, that it was up past my sinus cavity and moving up towards my brain. Nice huh?!?! So she recommended an emergency extraction for the following day and I was put on antibiotics and pain meds. I had to go back on Tuesday and have it pulled. Because the infection was so severe, the flippin' freezing wouldn't take and I realized this as she started to pull...OUCH! She kept trying to add more and it would be good for a second or two and then I would feel it again. She then decided to just do a block, praise the Lord that worked! Then it turned out that my molar was overly huge and just wasn't coming as easily as we hoped, so she had to file and remove some bone. Finally it came out. She stitched me up and sent me home! I'm feeling much better now, still in a bit of pain and still a bit swollen. It's a good thing I didn't leave it any longer otherwise I would've been in serious trouble, most likely a trip to the hospital for IV antibiotics.

The kids thought it was hilarious when I came home and was all frozen, and drooling my water!!LOL

So now I will spend the weekend catching up on laundry, yet again!!

Here is, as promised the answers from my last post!!
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1.-->A
Yup, I'm washing all our dishes by hand. With help from the kids of course! I learned that our dishwasher was a part of a recall and it had to stop being used. I discovered that washing dishes with the kids is fun and gives me an opportunity to 'visit' with them. It also gives them an opportunity to work with each other.

2.-->A
Haha!! Yes, once upon a time my head was shaved all along the sides and underneath and I had pierced my own belly button and nose, long before they were as popular as they are now!! I ditched the belly ring and nose ring before I met Bill, but my head was still shaved when we met.

3.-->B
I began babysitting for his sister the summer I was 14 and met Bill for the first time shortly after that. We remained friends until the following summer when we began dating.

4.-->A
Bill and I were engaged three months after we began dating and I was living with him shortly after. A few months later, I began work full time at a daycare.

5.-->B
I don't really associate with her, but I do have an older half sister, she is 7 years older than me. She was from a relationship my father had before he married my mom. I have not spoken with her since 1995.

6.-->A
My mom is buddhist and my sister is atheist, what a combonation!?!?! I pray that they will come to the Lord as Christian, but for now, we just don't discuss religion. Although, I will not hesitate to tell them that I am praying for them!!

7.-->C
Believe it or not, I was in a very serious car accident in Sept.04. I was with Bill although both of us were sitting in the backseat and neither of us was wearing our seatbelts.(which was odd for me, because I always wear my seatbelt) we were rear ended and we spun quite a few times. There are two things that saved my life, one was the way we were sitting, Bill somehow held me in with his body and two from not wearing my seatbelt I avoided having a huge piece of metal being launched into my head and having my back broken because of the damage to the seats. However, I did smash my face into the back of Bill's head which resulted in a whole lot of bones being broken and the loss of my four front teeth.(I should post a picture of the car one day!!)

8.-->B
Yup, it's true!! I had a nose job!! Although it was a direct result of the above accident. The plastic surgen who was reconstructing my face asked if I wanted a particular nose, I thought an awful lot about it, but then decided to go with my own...just having the tip turned down slightly!!

9.-->A
Nope, never completed high school. The car accident happened the day before school was about to start and then I wasn't supposed to return to school for the first semester until I had healed. Well......during that time I got engaged to Bill and moved in with him and then began working...decided to put highschool on hold. I still haven't got my diploma, but I made a promise to my dad that I would and I will.
I may even join Alex in homeschooling highschool when he starts!!

10.-->C
I was dubbed quite a weirdo in Junior high, I wore the strangest things. This was one of my favourite outfits though. I wore my dads long underwear (or colorful tights) and colorful boxer shorts. Then I would where a homemade decorated t-shirt and a big flannel shirt over top. I was also known for wearing colorful toe socks. I also had 6 piercings in on ear and would put a different colored earring in each and finish it off with a different colored painted fingernail. I always made people smile!! I could never afford the Guess clothing that was so popular, so I made a lot of my own clothes and they were loud and bright!!hehe

So, there you have it!! Anyone shocked about anything?? I have changed a lot of things on the outside, but I am still the bubbly quirky person on the inside. I don't shave my head, nor do I even wear earrings any more and I certainly giggle when I think back to those times!!LOL

Well, time to take my meds and snuggle with my baby. Have a blessed weekend!!!

Going on Hiatus...

Not for long, but most likely a few days. My abscessed tooth is back and I'm in a whole lot of pain. I can't get into the dentist until Monday and I have a feeling they'll want to pull it, so I will most likely be out of commission for a few days.
Please pray that I don't run into trouble between now and Monday with this infection, I know it's pretty serious because I am very swollen up to my eye socket and the side of my nose. Can I also ask for prayer that Matthew will do OK with my sister while I'm at the dentist. He's only been without me twice and both times he has not taken the bottle at all for her and was quite upset. I got a new bottle to try (an Avent one), so I'm hoping it will work.

So, to keep you entertained while I'm gone, here's something fun. I did this when I was updating my first aid and it was a lot of fun, kind of like 'getting to know me' but with a twist! Here's the deal I will give you a sentence about me and TWO will be false and only ONE will be true, you have to guess which one is true!!! Leave me your answers in my comments or just think about them in your head. I will post the correct answers when I get back. Have fun!!
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1.a)I have decided to stop using my dishwasher and now do my dishes by hand.
b)I cannot live without my dishwasher, it saves my butt!!
c)I use paper plates because my dishwasher cannot hold all the dishes we use.

2.a)I used to have a partial shaved head, belly and nose rings.
b)I have a tattoo of a peace symbol on my ankle.
c)I paint my toenails black for something fun to do.

3.a)I met Bill when I was 14 through high school friend.
b)I met Bill when I was 14 because I babysat for his sister.
c)I met Bill when I was 15 at a foot ball game he was in.

4.a)I moved in with Bill when I was 16 and worked full time.
b)I moved in with Bill when I was 17 and went back to school for awhile.
c)I moved in with Bill when I was 18 and worked full time.

5.a)My sister is my only sister.
b)I have an older half sister.
c)I have an older half brother.

6.a)My Mom is practicing Buddhism and my sister is Atheist.
b)my Mom and sister are both Christian.
c)My Mom and sister are both Buddhists.

7.a)I have never been in a car accident before.
b)I was in a near fatal car accident where wearing a seat belt saved my life.
c)I was in a near fatal car accident wear not wearing a seat belt saved my life.

8.a)I have never had plastic surgery before.
b)I have had a nose job.
c)I have had an eye lift.

9.a)I never completed high school.
b)I never went to high school.
c)I was short graduating by 3 credits.

10.a)When I was 14 I wore flare legged pants and peasant tops for awhile.
b)When I was 14 I wore my jeans pinned at the ankle and big sweatshirts for awhile
c)When I was 14 I wore long johns and boxer shorts and flannel shirts for awhile.

So, do you think you know the answers???
Take a guess!!
If you do this on your blog, leave me a link or an email and I'll give it a try.
Keep me in your prayers and have a blessed next few days!!
~Penny

Being a Mama

You know, there are days that are so crazy and so hectic and I feel like I am doing a terrible job as a Mama. Then I have great days were I feel like I am doing a great job. I have noticed a common theme to these types of days and they are directly linked as to how I am feeling emotionally. If I am stressed, I feel like a horrible Mama. When I am feeling calm and on top of things, I feel like I am doing a good job.
Of course there are always going to be stressful days, you can't avoid them. However, how you respond to it can make a difference, whether you're a Mama to one or fifteen. I have learned in the past 10 years, that my emotional outlook has a huge impact on what type of days the entire house will have and while that may seem like a huge weight to carry around for one person, it's the truth. The hard thing is somedays you just feel moody, nobody can be chipper and perky 24/7. So, the big question is, on those days, how do you keep the peace and still manage to make it through?
When things are rough and the kids are sick, the laundry has piled up, the dishes have piled up, the kids are fighting, etc. I try very hard to take a step back and remember that this is just a season, whether it's a day or a week or month, it too shall pass. It always does, and sometimes it'll get worse before it get's better, but eventually, it will pass.

There are plenty of times that I don't shine as a Mama, I have yelled at kids and I have sat and cried when things are out of control. I have thrown things when I get very angry. Not the best ways to handle things, hind sight is always 20/20! However, we always have the opportunity to make the situation better. We can apologize when we have yelled or not handled a situation the best way we could've and vow to ourselves to handle things differently next time we're in a situation like that. If our children see that we too make mistakes, BUT, we also take the time to right the situation, we are teaching a valuable lesson. Anger, frustration, stress, these are all a part of human life, we just have to remember to handle them the best way we can. There are no books that can explain how to be a Mama, we have to swing it. It's such a short season in the long run of life and when I am 80 years old I want to look back on these days knowing that I did the best I could. I want to look back and remember doing science projects and laughing (yes even laughing about the things that stress me out right now!!LOL) I want to remember walks and talks and giggles.

Being a Mama is much harder than I ever anticipated and it's the most difficult task I have ever taken on, but it is also the most rewarding thing I could ever imagine. Never did I ever know such enormous love was possible towards another human being, never did I know that yes, I would in fact give my life to save my child's and not have to think twice about doing so. Never did I know that having children would open my eyes to so much more appreciation for the things we all take for granted everyday.

Being a Mama is the single most wonderful thing I could have ever been blessed with. On the days that are spun out of control, I know that at night, when they are all fast asleep. I will sit by each of them and look upon their sleeping faces lost in dreamland and wish that I could hold onto their childhood's for just a bit longer, because even though it may have been a rough day, it is one less day I have with them as children. Before I know it, they will be all grown and moved on and I will miss the messes and the disasters that were once such a stressor.

God Bless!
~Penny

Can't forget Friday 5!!!
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How do you feel about teeter-totters?
I don't like them, mostly because I was always lighter than everyone and always got stuck at the top!!
What is something you otter get done this weekend?
Get to the dentist...ow!!!
Who’s someone who seemed normal when you first met but got odder and odder as you got to know him or her?
I can't think of anyone, but I bet people say that about me a lot!!LOL
Thinking of your mother: What’s something that always awed her?
I can't think of anything other than maybe the fact that she is a lot stronger than she thought she was!! (almost 1 year of sobriety!!)
What is your favorite small, furry, non-domesticated animal?
otter's!!!They are furry aren't they?? :o)