Sunday, December 23, 2007

Am I Really Rich?


How rich are you? >>


I'm loaded.
It's official.
I'm the 53,205,017 richest person on earth!



RICHER THAN YOU THINK?

$8 could buy you 15 organic apples OR 25 fruit trees for farmers in Honduras to grow and sell fruit at their local market.

$30 could buy you an ER DVD Boxset OR a First Aid kit for a village in Haiti.

$73 could buy you a new mobile phone OR a new mobile health clinic to care for AIDS orphans in Uganda.

$2400 could buy you a second generation High Definition TV OR schooling for an entire generation of school children in an Angolan village.

Think about what is really important this Christmas!

Friday, December 21, 2007

Happy Birthday, Jer



Today would have been Jeremy's birthday. Hard to believe we have no new memories of him for the past 7 years. But I can still hear his deep "hey, sis". This picture is from the Summer of 1998.

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Left Out Gift

This evening we are visiting with some friends for a "holiday get-together". We all have kids the same age and it's just a fun time. However, the other day one of the gals mentions a Christmas present that she has for us and that she'll just bring it tonight. And it wasn't something little!

Shoot! I wasn't planning on any gift for them...just a Christmas card in January. So now what?

After tormenting myself for quite a while, I just decided to make a meal. Cornbread and Chili and package it up cute. Hopefully, that will show that we care without breaking the bank!

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Music Day

Yesterday was music day. Three programs...9am. 1pm,& 2pm. It was a long day, but the big kids did a great job! And the little kids ate enough chocolate to last for a week! Jarrett
Judson
Mikalah & Jesse's duet
Jazzy Mikalah



Sunday, December 16, 2007

I Went To The Market...

When we have periods of time where the kids have to sit still, we play "thinking" games. Like "I spy with my little my little eye, something that is...blue". Another one we play is, "I went to the market and bought something...white".

Well, that game has morphed a bit. My kids don't really know what a "market" is. So it became "I went to the grocery store"...then "I went to Costco"...then "I went to Mall of America."

Mind you one can not buy tires (something black) at Mall of America, but for my children it seems that when you can't buy something at Costco the only next logical place to look for it is at the Mall of America.

So, yesterday we were sitting in the car, and being tired of the bickering, I started "I went to the market and bought something blue". Thinking I could trick the big kids, my item was a milk chocolate Lindt ball...they come wrapped in a blue wrapper. Are you beginning to catch on to how warped our little game can get?

After a few minutes, everyone gave up, and it was Judson's turn. We used to play that if you guessed it was your turn, but now we just take turns being "it".

So Judson starts, "I went to the market and bought something brown." After guessing chocolate, peanut butter, pop, a brown paper bag, a piece of wood painted brown..., Meredith asks if it is something you eat. Judson responds, "sometimes".

Sometimes? How can you eat something sometimes? It's either food or it's not!

Then, from the back of the van, Jeffrey guesses, "I know, I know...squirrel!"

Now I do not even remember what Judson's something brown was. I was too flabbergasted that my 2 year old thinks squirrel is something you buy at the market and eat sometimes. We've never had squirrel...I never intend on serving squirrel, much less killing and cooking it.

Well, maybe if we lived in Kentucky.

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Graduation

I know it's a little early to be thinking about graduation...I'm not even done with Christmas shopping yet. However, Mikalah heard something about the class of...and we figured out what year she would graduate. and the rest of the kids.

Mikalah: class of 2015
Judson: class of 2017
Jarrett: class of 2019
Meredith: class of 2021
Jeffrey: class of 2023
Morgan: class of 2024

That means I'll be 50 when Morgan graduates. Mikalah says that's old.

Sunday, December 9, 2007

Walking Lesson

It's never too early to learn to walk in heels. Just nevermind that Daddy decided to frame the "picture" forgetting that he was taking video.

She's a natural!

Saturday, December 8, 2007

Photo Meme

Okay, I don't usually join this stuff, but this looked like a lot of fun. Deanne and Chris did it and I'm just following the crowd.

I love Google Images (unless you google "Jenn"). So, just type in the answers to the questions on Google Images and pick on of the first pictures that comes up (unless it's "Jenn", then go to the 32nd page!) Then post the pictures!
If you choose to participate, tell me in your comments!

1. Age at my next birthday:



2. Place I'd like to travel:



3. My favorite place:



4. One of my favorite objects:



5. My favorite food:



6. My favorite color:



7. My nickname:



8. Place I was born:

This was really quite a bit of fun. I also found a friend, Becca, with her son on Goggle Images when I was googling Mommy. I'm still not sure if that was good or bad, but it was fun to see someone I knew. She's famous!

Friday, December 7, 2007

Merry-Go-Round

I work 14 hour days seven days a week. When do I get off this merry-go-round?

***********************************

Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread and pumpkin pie. — Jim Davis

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Kid Theology

Meredith: Mommy, Daddy is going to die before you.

Me: Oh really, why is that.

Meredith: Because he has an oval face and you have a round face.

Me: Sweetheart, God is the only one that knows when we are going to die.

Meredith: I think I should go to Heaven soon so I can see Aunt Joy.

Me: But if you went to Heaven Mommy would miss you.

Meredith: Don't worry, I'll come back.

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

2007 Honor Choir Christmas Concert

Last night was Mikalah's Girl's Honor Choir Christmas Concert. She did such a beautiful job. And she looked beautiful. They were to be in place at 6:45. The first 45 girls were given electric candles that they used for one song. Mikalah wanted to be there at 5:00! We compromised and arrived at 6:15. She was still one of the first girls there.

One of her good friends, Emily, is also in Honor Choir. We were able to sit with Emily's family. We were not able to visit, because I have two small children that need constant attention. Especially since the concert was at bedtime! Even though both Morgan and Jeffrey had really good naps yesterday, they were both ready for bed at 7:30 - concert time. Morgan made it through the first three songs. Jeffrey past "halftime".

In the end, it was a beautiful concert and we are so proud of Mikalah. However, for the Spring concert, I think we'll get a babysitter and just Mike and I go!


Emily and Mikalah. They are both growing into beautiful young ladies!

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Mixed-up Christmas

I ran across this today and must admit it's how I feel about Christmas sometimes. Or more what my house feels like at Christmas.



Don't forget Rudolph is on TV tonight...set the TiVo! (or DVR)

Evidence of My Crazy Life

Painting the preschool room at the church office?
(Mikalah and her friend Kailey)
My only Thanksgiving picture for 2007.
At least the nose is clear!

Cheesy grin from a sneaky computer thief!

Sweet pumpkin
He's so cute when he's asleep.
You can see his Christmas tree in the top right corner.
The thing is like a strobe light at night!

My fake Christmas tree. Great shape, but one section of lights that just won't come on. I ended up stringing extra lights!


5 pm is just a trying time for me.

Saturday, December 1, 2007

Jenny Leigh, Where Are Thee?

I have been duly reprimanded for disappearing and I could give you lots of excuses, like the fact that Webkinz has taken over every available computer in the house, but that would just be annoying. Instead, I will just tell you what I have been up to.

Thanksgiving was quiet, but enjoyable. Mike's parents headed to North Carolina to see Mike's brother, Andy. Andy and his wife and two kids are headed to Sudan with Wycliffe. While Sudan has been in the news a lot lately, and not all good (don't google it - it will keep you up at night!), Andy assures us that where they are they will be quite safe. Mom and Dad spent the night on both ends of there trip as cross-country flights to and from Billings require early mornings and late nights! The kids were thrilled to have some time with Grandma and Grandpa, though. As were we.

We had some friends that were also familyless over for dinner in the evening and the kids played wonderfully. I'd love to show you pictures, but I only have one that Muffy took and she was trying to take it of herself. Really it's just a picture of her nostril.

That picture is not really all that gross. Her nostrils are quite clear when you compare them to some of my other children.

Thursday I took Morgan back to the doctor for an ear check. She had an ear infection and I just did not think it had cleared up. Gooky nose, low grade fever, and pulling at the ear just said so. I took Jarrett along with, because his eczema seemed to be acting up. Lo and behold, turns out that Jarrett joins Judson and Jeffrey in having pneumonia and Morgan's ear infection could turn into that if we let it go.

Five down three to go. Let's hope and pray not. I thought for a moment I could blame Mike on some bad genes for the boys to all come down with pneumonia, but I was quickly reminded that I was the one that started it all.

However, while I was in bed feeling like death warmed over...wait, where did that saying come from? My mother says it, my grandmother used to say it, but really what does it mean? I felt like death, but I wasn't really dead cold yet? Dead cold, that's another morbid saying.

Anyway, my children, despite having pneumonia seems to maintain a decent level of energy. Really a two year old should sleep, but mine was hyper! Really the fever, cough and lack of appetite were our only indications. I didn't mind the lack of appetite...mine caused me to lose and entire dress size. However as I type I am enjoying hot apple cider and thin mints. If I don't close the package soon, I may eat the whole sleeve and then I'll be back in my original, post-two babies in 14 months weight.

Just in case you are wondering, 4 Thin Mint cookies = 150 calories. There are 18 per sleeve. That's math I'm not going to do!!!

But that's another thing we have been up to...delivering Girl Scout Cookies! But ours are out and done and now my freezer is stocked for the year. It really is quite a sight!

I would show you pictures of my Girl Scout - the one wearing size 7 1/2 ladies shoes and developing more curves than her daddy is ready to accept, but again, no pictures. Even if I had pictures I couldn't upload them right now, because I am on my laptop.

This is Mike's three laptops ago laptop! It has no card reader and I really had to check to see if it even had a USB port. It does, but I don't have the capability to use that with my camera. Besides my camera is in the kitchen and I am in the bathroom.

What??? No, I am sitting with my feet in the bathtub - my pink bathtub - getting ready to give myself a mini pedicure. I'm sure there are many rules being broken here. Namely the fact that my laptop is on my lap, over top of the tub and is plugged in. The biggest rule being broken is the pink tub, though!

The other question to ask is why am I giving myself a mini-pedicure? It is December, no one will see my toes. They are forever hidden behind cute socks and my Fuggs. (Fake Uggs according to Chris' fashionable sister!) Why wouldn't I show off my cute toes? Maybe because there are six inches of show on the ground and it is still snowing. Not to mention it is only 4 degrees out there tonight.

That's right all you Texas people I said 4! And those of you in Indiana - watch out - it's coming your way. Although since it has been snowing off and on for three days, I'm pretty sure it has stalled over top of my house.

This is the point where I would make sure each and every one of you knew that I really disliked winter. I think the snow is pretty, I just detest going out in it, driving in it, or getting my children ready to go out in it. And 4 degrees is really too cold for the kids to play outside, so it also means finding things for the kids to do inside. (Thus the reason every computer in my house had been occupied!)

Today we went out for a little while and it took 30 minutes for us to get ready and pull out of the driveway. Gloves, hats, boots, coats, carseats that need to be readjusted for coats, poopy diaper that needed to be changed after the coat, gloves, hat and boots, drinks, chap stick, and sunglasses! Too much!

However worth it because we were going to paint at our new church offices! I have mixed emotions about Mike being gone during the day now. I'm glad he will be able to focus better and it's nice to focus on myself and my work instead of feeling like I should be spending time with him just because he is home. However it also means he's more difficult to get a hold of (no more calling his cell in the basement), and he can't come running to help me with something, and I can't leave sleeping children to go get kids from school or run to the grocery store. Now I have to bundle them up! (see previous paragraph if you have forgotten what a chore that is!)

The offices will also hold our preschool that will start in January. Please pray for an awesome enrollment! Meredith is extremely excited about going. Although she'll only get one semester as she will start kindergarten next Fall. That seems unbelievable, but I'm still excited. Four down, two to go!

However, I must add that trying to paint the church office with six children in tow and a husband that is trying to study was not an enjoyable event. I think I'll head back some evening this week and get a lot more done!!

So now that I've caught you up my water is getting cold. Maybe next post will be nothing but pictures!

UPDATE: A salt scrub feels wonderful on your feet but not on your hands when the skin on your fingers is splitting because it is cold and dry. We usually have very low humidity and this time of year you really need to dip yourself in a vat of moisturizer every morning and evening. I just checked the weather and it is now 1 degree, feels like -12 degrees, and 68% humidity. How can it be 68% and be snowing? Is that like when we lived in Texas and it was 99 degrees and 100% humidity, but not raining?