E...

I was cuddling with Eth after devotions when I caught a whiff of his hair...

E, you smell really good. (said mommy)
He said, "I used man-soap!"

HA HA HA

WOW!!

I just had to share this little story with ya...
I was in the midst of making rolls for Sunday and pretzels for the kids for snack when I realized I didn't have enough flour. Troll is at a youth rally tonight so I couldn't drive for flour. It was pouring down rain and dark out so I didn't want to walk to the store. I was trying to figure out what I could possibly do. I prayed and told the Lord I needed flour. Then I felt prompted to run upstairs and tell the kids to pray that I'd get some flour cause I couldn't leave the partially mixed up batters just sitting and them go to waste. I went back downstairs and walked into the kitchen. I immed. felt like I should go in the pantry. There on the shelf was the cup and 1/2 of flour I needed!!! Ha, ha, ha!!! What was so cool was that I'd just cleaned up allot of the pantry today and I KNOW I didn't see that wrinkled up bag sitting right there. I started to grin like a cheshire cat (kinda like my dad!) and went out to finish mixing them up while hollering up to the kids that God had given me flour. Their eyes and faces were amazing to see!!

Now this hasn't been the only time something like this has happened. Numerous times we've been strapped financially and needed milk and we'd go back to see an inch or two more in the jug than what had been there the night before. One other very vivid time I remember was when we had only a few of our kids and we needed diapers. I knew I'd used the last one but when I went to the where I kept the diapers I found three more. God has always taken care of us and I didn't want to let this time go by the wayside.

Thank-you, Lord, for seeing fit to continue to bless me and my family. Such a great thing for my kids to witness.

profile

For those of you that don't get facebook...here's my new profile pix!!! (All due to my 12 loads of laundry I just endured!)

Mommy & Cohorts!!

I have been enjoying the days with my youngest two. I'm so thankful that I've been able to be a stay-at-home mom. I'm truly blessed.

Late night.

Last night we were driven out of bed when we heard one of the kids cry out really loud. After going on the search we realized it was Reagan. He just cried and didn't say much so we put him back to bed and went back ourselves. About 20 minutes later I heard him crying again and went to see what was going on. I found him in the bathroom crying. I asked him what was going on and he said he was in pain. After allot of questions, pursuing the web for symptoms of appendix pain and watching him crash to the floor doubled over in pain we decided that Troll would take him to the ER. They got home around 3 a.m. with what the doctor said was a bug! Whatever virus he has was causing his abdomen to cramp up something feirce. I felt bad for him being in pain but was glad it wasn't his appendix. I do believe that Troll is probably teaching while sleepwalking today!!

Saturday evening fun.

This evening Troll had to speak at a Sweetheart banquet. The kids were not to thrilled to learn their daddy had to leave at 4:30 in the afternoon to get there on time. I decided to get a smile on their faces and asked if they'd like to help make cookies. They quickly agreed and we soon had a sugary, doughy mess all over my just scrubbed floors!! It was worth it though. We had so much fun. I must say that it is a good thing that we aren't having company for lunch tomorrow due to the massive amounts of finger licking that occured while the Raisin Puffs were being rolled in sugar!!! I just laughed as I watched and thanked the Lord that I was able to have this chance to spend special time with all five kids at once. Granted they didn't look at all like they do when I make them alone but hey....they still taste the same and that's all that matters.

And then for an extra treat for snack for being such good workers....

More "E".

At supper...

"Mommy when I have my birthday I don't want to turn five." said E.

Why not, E?

"Cause I want to stay four." said E.

But why do you want to stay four?

"Cause when I turn five you said I have to go to school and I don't want to go to school. i want to stay here with you." said E.

Do you think he is done with school?

"E" comments

On our way to church last night after we'd put the dogs in the crate only to realize that Palin had dropped a very nasty pile in it the night before and had therefore made the living room smell TERRIBLE....

"Mommy, I don't want to live at home anymore." (emphatically stated by E)
Why not? (quizzed his hysterically laughing mother)
"That house just stinks." (E)

No amounts of laughing or persuasive comments could deter his bold pronouncement!! Funny. He slept here last night and then cried and cried cause he had to go to school!! This is the third school day that he's cried his heart out to not go. I told him this morning he no longer had to go to preschool if he didn't want to. Seemed to satisfy him...partially. His daddy told me that he has been spending the day with him on upper campus. I believe our next to last child has had it with preschool!!

Yes, sir!

The boys came downstairs like this on Saturday and enjoyed a rousing few hours of listening to Aust telling them how they were to march, talk, walk and basically live!! Bia just had to get in the picture!!

Surprise!

Imagine my surprise to open the door this morning to see a man standing there who said, "Are you Gwen?" I answered in the affirmative. He said, "Hold on a minute...I'll be right back." He walked down the couple doors to the flower shop and came back with these. I couldn't figure out who they'd be from as I knew we were in no shape for Troll to be getting them. I hurridly went into the dining room to set them on the table and open the card. Guess what? They were from Troll. Every year we've been together he's gotten me a long stemmed rose on Valentine's Day for as many years as we've been together. I wasn't expecting any this year as I know financially we are a bit tight. No, I'm not complaining. That's just how it is right now. So I was really shocked with these arriving on my doorstep!! They are gorgeous and smell like Heaven. (At least...what I imagine Heaven will smell like.) AND another big shock was a card with a gift certificate for a one hour massage!!! He must've had a stash i didn't know about!!! :-) Thanks SO much, Troll, for making my day such a special one. I love you.

Bia has decided to head to her room to get more accomplished in her culinary arts. Thankfully the plate in front of the baby no longer holds a brain and a pickle. Looks like it's spaghetti. Although I'm not sure why she insists on cooking her teacups...I'm sure there is a reason.
The other kids can't stand the taste of her plastic inventions and have been making me laugh by their hard laughing as they watch "Mr. Bean" be an idiot!! Not sure what Hannity is getting out of it but he's right up there with them. I believe Palin is under Ethan's arm.

latest

Here are the latest of the cakes. These were made last night for Mr. DeStefano's 60th bday party at school today. They are nothing fancy due to me being gone to Fl. for a week. I didn't have time to go out of the ordinary. Sorry for the humdrum.

Mr. D is the principal at the Penn View Christian Academy by the way.

Just wanted to get on here and say that I'm glad to be home from Florida...safe and sound. Thanks to Ruthie for asking me if I wanted to go and for providing the way. It was great to be with family, friends and people I've been seeing since a toddler. Camp was good (at least the services I got into) and I can't wait until we all go down next year.