January 30, 2012
-
{monday night at random}
This morning I ate powdered doughnuts for breakfast…
leaning over the kitchen sink, licking all the powder off before eating them.
I know, gross!
but it’s just how I’ve always done it.
And I drank my milk from a coffee mug.
just because I love drinking from coffee mugs.
we don’t even have a coffee maker in the house.
but somehow I feel by holding a coffee mug I’m still channeling that, “I can’t wake up till I’ve had my coffee” thing.even if it’s just milk.
someone else likes powdered doughnuts too!
So. If you happen to be wondering exactly how many days until summer..
just ask Kate!
a friend of hers snapped this shot on her phone.
I guess you could say a picture is worth a thousand words.
or in this case- three!
when someone told her that hate was a strong word, she replied, “exactly!”
She started her end of semester exams last week, and will finish on Wednesday.
I’m proud of how she’s done in school. academically and {most importantly} spiritually.She’s been exposed to some strong stuff and I think it’s helped her know more what she truly believes.
Their schedules are more lax during exam time though and I’m glad she’ll be around the house more this week.I still surprise myself by how much I miss the older two every day.
Now Ben.. unlike his sister.. likes to see the snow falling!
Since his his new favorite pastime is learning to snowboard.
He likes practicing off our front porch..
with a custom built jump down the steps!
I’m sure the neighbors must think we’re nuts – {or atleast he is!}
I know of all the kids, Ben misses our farm in Cincinnati the most.
all that SPACE! and no one to watch your experiments.
On Friday his school was out for a PA day.
He headed to the ski slope first thing that morning and stayed until they closed at 10 that night.I’m just glad we finally have the kids health cards.
Ben doesn’t quite get that he can’t do the same jumps and big hills as his friends who’ve been doing this since they were 2!!
Emma and I continue to plug away at first grade.
most days I have no idea how I ever taught the other two how to read.
I’m already preparing to attend college with her~
I’m pretty sure she’ll still need me to remind her of the short i and e sounds!!
bless her little determined soul.
Lately, she’s into cutting hearts from construction paper.
we have hearts turning up everywhere! 
Kate and I decided to do a valentines shoot with the girls today.
here’s one of emma. and hopefully I’ll get some of the others posted sometime this week.
On Friday Emma and I took a trip to Chapters~
we had fun sitting in little chairs “too small for mom” and reading dozens of books.if you ever read this one…
you’ll need to read this one right after.
to make you laugh away the tears!
And of course reading about pancakes meant we had to make some.we like pancakes around here..
most especially for dinner!I think it’s because you feel like you’re eating dessert first, only you’re allowed to!
so it makes it extra fun at dinner time of all times.though really, we’ll eat them any ole time!
While in the bookstore I saw these napkins.
the “keep calm..” is what I aspire to.
the “now panic..” is more reality!
How about this idea for a bathroom sink?
someday.
the result of trying to decide what color nail polish to buy at the drug store…
Over the weekend, my sweet Sharon friend celebrated her 40th birthday.
And we partied retro style!!
Can you say hello blue eye shadow and leg warmers! 
I think Sharon was adorable in her Twiggy channeling outfit.
While the rest of us just looked.. well, let’s just say, less Twiggy-ish! 
Did we really wear this stuff and think we were cool?
I mean, I know my bangs are awesome, but still.
If you had to choose a favorite thing from the 80′s what would it be??
———–
and thank you so much for the comments and messages on the last post~
when I came so close to not even submitting it..
just feeling I stuttered and stammered about.
not sure if it would come out like I wanted it to.
but once again. you all reminded me what a gracious community this is. {so blessed by that}
and most of all, that I’m certainly not alone here in these trenches. {even more blessed by that}if you didn’t get a chance to read through the comments I highly recommend it.
there’s more wisdom and insight in the comments than in the post! seriously.
I read through each one nodding my head. grateful. and brushing away a few tears.
that’s why I love the interaction of comments -
the things I wanted to say, but didn’t, you say for me.
the things I didn’t think to say, you thought of instead.
what I felt maybe didn’t tie together or completely communicate, you add the connectors to all the dots!
i love that.
love this huge, ongoing conversation, as it feels to me, of the blog world. 
amber.
Comments (30)
Is that baby girl gorgeous or what? And getting ready to make us all laugh too, as she laughs!
I was just looking through some photos from early 90′s today…I think the 80′s continued on. Oh my, what about those bangs? I wish I could change my hair in most photos. You all look like you had lots of fun!
Poor Kate! Maybe some fun, cozy, things will make her love the winter. I like skiing, so I am with Ben, but never til 10 at night! wow.
Totally love that bathroom
Now I am going to bed, and I will dream of pancakes!!
My kids favorite book is Hey, Pancakes by Tamson Weston. They especially love the part about the blueberry stuck in the nose
I don’t like pancakes, but my kids do, so i often make a huge batch, then freeze them, so they can reheat their own.
Yes, Kate, I HATE winter too!!!! This winter has been a mild so far and I am very thankful for that! Frustrating when the car doors are froze shut when I need to leave in the morning
Then, when I do get one door open finally, it won’t latch shut, so I have to try holding the door shut while driving down the road 
Lots of fun in this post! I have to be honest, I don’t think I have the fortitude for the bike to be my sink. I feel like it’s going to roll away. With my sink.
I think it would be funny to use those napkins at a dinner. Start with the red ones and when someone makes a snide or snarky comment, you just pull out the black one. ;D
We haven’t even got one snow yet, so after we get our one snow, then I can be tired of winter too and share in her misery.
The party looks like fun! You all looked great.
i love your kind of random. =)
but, i could hardly get past the ‘we don’t even have a coffee maker in the house’!!!! is that on purpose?! omw. being’s i’m sitting here with my first cup of java of the morning, and my day HAS to have a cup to start, i cannot imagine. ;O)
and, although i understand Kate’s sentiments about the winter, i’m actually quite sick of the winter we are having…highs in the 40-50′s the next couple days? literally, we are SICK of it. that’s one thing about all that super freezing weather that i always like; germs are eradicated and we’re all healthier. but, you know? who am i to complain. He knows our likes and dislikes, and yet, knows BEST.
look at your kids! all just growing right up!
and, that 80′s party! what a blast from the past! altho’ i was not so very old and stylish back in that day, when i look at some of the pics my parents have of me then? good grief. those leg warmers CRACK me up! super fun party it looked like!
and, now, i end my random comments…
a good Tuesday to you, sweet friend!
♥~
R
What a great post — your girls are beautiful, your son is so handsome, your 80′s party was so fun to see, and I’m hungry for pancakes!
Love it all…. your valentine pics make me want to be valentine-y. Most years the girls and I do something special but hadn’t even thought of it this year.
I am w Kate, winter is for the birds. (We haven’t really had any this year and I am still cold!)
What a darling Valentine pic of Emma ~ and yeah, your bangs are a hoot!
I was in my 40′s in the 80′s and having and raising 2 babies, so I didn’t pay much attention to what else was going on.
It looks like you had fun with your friends. If I saw some napkins like that I would buy them for our small group/Sunday School class.
girl, you rock the 80′s look, that is so great. What a fun party. Milk in a mug? uh no. it has to be in one of those little 4 oz. juice glasses. just sayin’.
I feel Kate on the winter hatred. Unlike Rachel, I’m pretty okay w/ the 40-50 temp range we’ve been having. altho, I realize it prly isn’t all that healthy for anything, for it to be that warm.
Love donuts too. I always feel like I am wearing the powdered sugar though. We had donut holes in Sunday School class last week…black skirt…powdered donut…not a good combo
.
Love the Valentine’s day shots!!
Interesting that you should mention the “health cards” for the children. I am taking a grad class on health care issues. We looked at health care in other countries. (of course the push is for universal health care in the US). I think it boils down to “there is no quick, easy fix”… How have you found the health care system in Canada?
I so enjoy your posts. Candid, everyday life…honest and “real”. Thanks.
my goodness, those pancakes look heavenly!
i love the v-day photo dhoot pic of emma… so cute! can’t wait to see more.
looks like a fun party with your friends
*photo shoot ….oops!!
My favorite 80′s thing, layering colored socks over leggings. (Although, they were called stretch pants way back when.
Also..loved colored mascara, but I was just old enough to wear it (in public!) right around the time it was going out.
I feel jipped! I’m waiting for green to make it’s way back around. =)
Love the Valentine pic of Emma, she looks so cute and grown up.
It must be something with the third child and learning to read…it clicked much later than the first two!
He’s good now, but for a while there, I thought I’d have to go along with him to college too. =)
As for the donuts…I eat the underneath part of frosted donuts and cupcakes first, then the frosting. So I get it.
Happy Tuesday!
I love your posts and I love you
I love your posts, and the wonderful pictures of your kids! Glad you have that little Reece to keep you young cause your older kids are turning into near adults WAY too fast! I love hearing about your interesting lives! And pancakes? My love! (especially with peanut butter! Everything is better with peanut butter!)
I remember the neos and Flashdance styles of the eighties. Everyone looked to have just walked out of an exercise class! Glad the 80′s comeback of clothes has a bit more class. Your bangs are a riot.
your recent updates make me sooo excited to see you again. Like really excited. :]
I need to go reread and see the comments on your last post. I have been so far removed from blogging recently and I miss the interaction!! love to read about your family and all the little interesting things about you (like the milk in a coffee cup, and licking powder from the donuts!) just so sweet and funny. We will make sure we have some licking parties at FFE huh?
We are having a major LACK of winter right now. As I write it’s 70 degrees…… :-/
i love 80′s music!
everytime i hear a song from way back then, i feel Even More like a kid. only i’m driving my car with all the windows rolled *yes* rolled* down without any car seats, veggie tale cd’s and cheerios. somehow a good song always put me back in that car. ha. and you all are looking AWESOME at that party. how fun!
and you said it all so well about this blogging world and circle of friends. soso true. <3<3<3
first of all, soooo totally awesome that you had that party with your new girlfriends that you’ve made up there! i love that. THANK YOU GOD!!!
second, miss reece is just too darn adorable. i can’t even imagine the joy in her eyes trying to nibble away at that special donut with mommy
i don’t like COLD…but i also don’t like the random weather we have been having up here. it has not been normal at all. I am so thankful that Ben has been able to learn snowboarding, but i’m sure that its hard to have him trying tricks that perhaps he might not be up to yet. determination is good…sometimes it hurts, hopefully he’ll learn the middle ground and still enjoy it!
what an awesome encouragement and blessing miss kate is in growing and sharing her faith. i’m so proud of her cause its is very difficult to remain a strong Christian in this world….especially when you are in highschool, there is so much going on (that is not to scare your heart, i know you know that already). i am just so proud of her and the way that you and Shayne have poured into her life and prayed for her. such an awesome reflection of the family and spiritual family she comes from.
and miss Emma. first of all, do not be discouraged because each child learns in their own way. i’m sure at some point it will just click…and you’ll wonder when she didn’t know those things. I a m glad that she has developed a desire for cutting hearts so that they are a beautiful reminder throughout the house of your love…and also good for lovely little lady photoshoots.
love you hon!!! i am so thankful for you, and your honesty and your desire to be real with us and with those around you.
oh and th 80′s party looked like a hoot. loved it.
I love the 80′s party – you sure did rock those bangs
I think you are all celebrating winter in style.. snowboarding…pancakes…photoshoots and cut out hearts… Drinking your milk in mugs.. Sounds quite blissful to pass the time. The picture was 2 funny though.. We have had so little winter.. it is crazy. I have not even been able to go ice-skating or play hockey on the pond. 55 today again. Tell Kate she can send some my way.
This is a great post! To answer your question, I was in Kindergarten in 1989, and I remember getting these black tight ants with a hot pink stripe down the side. The top had a neon kitty with a real lace bow on it. Keep in mind- I was six! I loved the neons and anything with cute animals on it!
Ha, ha..you take me back down Memory lane….do you remember the jumbo sized T-shirts, the slouch socks, turned up collars, and they way the guys rolled up their jean leg cuffs to make them fitted around the ankles? Or am I in the early 90′s? You look like a great bunch of girls!
Beautiful photos, beautiful family, beautiful heart!!!
Your ”Retro party” looks like sooo much fun! : )
Your images are so delightful, and I’m totally using the cut out valentine idea
What????? You love those little white powdered sugar donuts, too? Oh, my. You and I need to hang out! I rarely buy them but absolutely adore them (way too much) so whenever David and I get to spend a night alone somewhere we always take a pack of powdered donuts along. And the entire bag full gets demolished b/w evening and morning.
In fact, I think that’s what I want for V day. 
Hey, at least I’m easy to please. 
You don’t do coffee? Are you SERIOUS????????????
Okay, no coffee maker in the house??! I know you go to Starbucks, but you don’t drink coffee at home?? That is just SAD.
I look back on the era and just have to laugh. And then I quickly lose my smile and wonder if I’ll think this era is just as bad?? For some reason I don’t think so, because I love the look now, but we’ll see. 
Kate and I should trade locations for a while. It’s been 70s and 80s here, and I know it’s South Georgia but it’s most unusual. And I rather like cold and winter. But my kids love the warmth, even though today Zoe thought it was too hot to be outside.
That 80′s party is just great!! I love the pictures from that ~ it looked like such a fun thing to do, especially when it was kind of a deja vu’!
I meant to comment this before but forgot. Why is it that every time we read If You Give a Pig a Pancake, we always want pancakes for dinner after that? It happens every time. lol
I’ve got a magnet of the “Keep calm and carry on”. I haven’t seen the other one, but I did laugh.
Your photos of the kids are gorgeous.
And my 40th party was 3 years ago! (and I think it was a bit tamer than your friend’s party was)