Saturday, November 27, 2010

Birthday Month for Girls

November is the birthday month for the girls around here (including myself).  I call Amy my late birthday present because she was born 5 hours later than my birthday.  Molly, on the other hand, was due in December, but must have wanted to share November with us. ; )  She was born a couple of weeks early.


Amy Sue
Amy turned 12 this month.  She is such a blessing and so fun!  It's enjoyable having a girl after the four older boys.  The older Amy gets the more I enjoy her.  She really loves to serve; she doesn't wait to be told to do things, if there is someone who needs something she will take care of them.  According to Steve and the boys she is my "twin".  That is an extreme statement, but I too see a lot of myself in her.


Amy and Erin-Notice the "A" & "E" on the scarves Erin made
Amy and Friends


Molly turned 3 the day after Thanksgiving.  Molly has lots of energy and is very friendly.  She adores the color pink and fancy dresses to twirl around in. She is in love with her daddy!  Her world revolves around him more than I have seen in any other of the children.  She wants to do everything with dad and for dad.  She would even go to work with him if he let her (she does ask).
 
Molly & Mom


Molly on 3rd birthday
Molly opening birthday prizes


Molly at Rest
 I like this last picture of Molly.  Behind her is a "People at Work" poster Peter made for school.  Peter had propped up his poster to dry, and later we found Molly had crawled up on the ottoman and fallen asleep in front of the poster.

Happy Birthday Girls!

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Microwaveable Corn Bags


"Corn bag season" is here again! With the weather getting colder I have had a lot of orders for corn bags again.  There are so many different fabrics to choose from so it makes sewing them even more fun.  My favorite, and the most popular, are the bags with the fleece covers.  The other favorite is flannel.
10x10 inch with fleece cover
The removable cover is so nice because you can just wash it if it gets dirty.  Plus when my children have used them while sick, I feel like I can sanitze the bag and have it ready for anyone to use again.


4x4 inch heat pack-flax filled
This year I started making a smaller 4x4 inch size for the kids to heat up and keep in their pockets while they are playing outside.  But instead of using corn for these I have been using flax seed.  Somehow this seems nicer for such a smaller bag.  It retains heat for about 20-30 minutes; it depends on how cold it is outside.

15x5 inch with flannel cover
Right now, the 15x5 inch bag seems to be the more popular with my customers.  Usually the 10x10 is most popular.  The season is young so this could change : )

Besides using them for keeping warm-they are great for aches and pains too.  Here is more info:

These heating pads are convenient, easy to use and keep their heat in for up to an hour.  Here are just a few ways to enjoy these heating pads:
  • They're wonderful in bed for cold feet, or to snuggle against your chest or back.   
  • Sports injuries
  • Headaches
  • Helps ease the pain of Bursitis, Arthritis, Tendonitis, Fibromyalgia
  • Earaches
  • Nursing Mothers
  • Cats and dogs like to lay on them. 
  • You can take one in your car as you warm it up on those chilly winter mornings. 
  • They are safer than electric heating pads - there is no fire hazard! 
Heating packs can also be frozen, and used as ice packs for injuries or carpel tunnel or reducing a fever.  I have done this for my children before.  Just put them in you freezer for 1-2 hours (or always keep on in there to be prepared).  We have used them as ice packs in the summer to keep cool on hot days and at night when it's been hard to sleep.

The other fun thing about the cornbags is that some of my children love to help in the making of them.  Sam, who is 7, loves to sew for some reason.  I am not kidding when I say that he asks me at least every other day, if not everyday, if there is something he can sew.  If I tell him he can't use the machine then he asks if he can "hand sew."  This is the part of sewing I treasure most.  My children get a reward if something they make sells, but my reward is so much greater.
Love toward their mother is not so great in children as the love of their mother toward them......               Martin Luther

Monday, November 22, 2010

Snow Sweet Snow!


One of John's birdhouses in the snowy distance.
 We have snow today! What a perfect way for the kids to start their week off of school.  Last night the boys and Amy got all of our winter gear out of the shed to be ready for today.  And boy did they get order to the house fast today so they could play.  My favorite part is staying inside making something warm to eat, lots of hot cocoa, popcorn and other fun treats for them to have when they come in.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Letters from Seth

So we have received couple of letters from Seth.  It was nice to hear from him.  Before he left he said we didn't need to write him and "please don't send any treats" because of stories he has heard about what happens when someone in boot camp gets a package sometimes.   I know things are intense for him not just because he says, but because he asked if we could send him letters. ; )  What he doesn't know yet is that we already have sent him a couple, but it takes about 7 to 10 days for him to get a letter.  We get his letters in  only two days.

Here is the address for Seth:

Recruit O'Brien, Seth A
2nd BN Echo CO, Platoon 2115
38001 Midway Ave
San Diego, CA  92140-2115

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Dinning Room Fun Work

 So today some of the boys (and Molly) were tearing down the old wallpaper in our diningroom.  While they were working, all of a sudden Sam yells really loudly, "Thank you mom for the work!"  Wow-what a surprise!  I don't get thanked to often for giving my children jobs, but I guess taking down wallpaper isn't exactly a job, but more like a fun project to do.
Ben and Sam at work


Molly getting off wallpaper


Sam having fun scraping off wallpaper


Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Breakfast Time!


Sam making pancakes
 My older children usually make their own breakfast, but lately the younger ones have been wanting to do the same. David and Sam now make eggs (fried or scrambled) just as good as the rest of them!  David's eggs are so good that he can even make them for his dad (who likes them just so). The other morning, Sam offered to make pancakes for everyone. Of course he needs help with which measuring cups to use still, but he knows not to over beat the batter, and when to flip them over, how to add sprinkles, and how to tell when they are done. What's the most fun for me is watching how much fun they have serving each other. It reminds me of something our pastor said recently, "We are most fufilled when we are serving." Amy adds, that he also said in chapel, "It's much better to be a giver than a reciever."

Molly telling Sam she wants "pink" colored pancakes with sprinkles