Oh Happy Day - IT's MY DAY!!!! MY SITs' DAY!!!! OH MY!!! OH MY!!! OH Happy DAY!

For my regular readers, this day is a treat!  It is my SITs’ DAY!

For visitors – WELCOME to the blog of chaos – just like our house!  Chaos in a good way – where there is love, laundry and Lego’s  EVERYWHERE!

This is me  - my name is:
Lana like BANANA. 

(The paragraph below is about my blog…if you are in a hurry just keep scrolling down and find out what your objective is – yes, I have an objective for the comments. 
Please do NOT write – Happy Sit’s Day!) 
{If you write that – everyone will know that you have not read this post.}

At my refuge aka blog – I like to write about:   

• our crazy remodeling that we are doing to our house, including our kitchen re-do.
• Easy Easy Easy Recipes (did I mention EASY?)
• Ways to spend my money wisely (in fact I have 77 ways)
• our home education adventure (with special rules and hints)
• Family Trips (we are on a quest to visit The World’s Largest everything.)
• Did I mention my sweet hubby loves to make things?  He just finished this fort, this cat jungle gym, and even cornices for my living room.  He’s all mine!  :)
• I also Twitter – it is pretty new to me – so I’m still in learning mode.  Okay, I really don’t write about twitter – I just was passing on some information…
• Mostly, I write because of  and for my kids.  Yep, I have 5 of them babies.  (That is so funny because I really didn’t want any kids.  Maybe that is not really funny – maybe it is just poetic justice.  I’m truly thankful for God changing my heart and giving them to me.  Yes – everyone of them is a gift and I’m so grateful that God has blessed my husband and me with them.

Okay, enough about me….

For those in a hurry STOP Here!  This is the objective!

I want to know what you are thankful for, why and where you celebrate Thanksgiving!

My hubby’s family has the neatest tradition for Thanksgiving and since we are not going to be with them this year, I’d like to do it here.

About 2 weeks before Thanksgiving, Aunt Debbie sends out invitations for Thanksgiving day.  It all starts with an early Turkey Bowl game (it is usually COLD and rainy) where men and women of all ages go and play “flag” football that usually turns into CONTACT sport.  I think that Tylenol and Ibuprofen becomes a sweet friend during this time of agony.  Then everyone goes home to clean up.

Around 2:00 or so, everyone comes back and meets in the tight-fitting  but warm and cozy basement.  Before ANYONE eats, everyone goes around the table and tells of something that they are thankful for.  Usually many tissues are needed from birth announcements, to wedding plans, to simple love for a brother or sister.  I love his family and this tradition – it truly reminds me of an Hallmark movie.  (One year there were around 65 people who attended.  That year there were 2 eating sessions.)

Something else I truly love, is that everyone is made to feel like family no matter if you blood related or not.

So, back to the objective.

Tell me something that you are truly thankful for and why.  Then tell me something you do that makes this holiday special – if you don’t celebrate it - just tell me something you are thankful for!

That’s all folks!

Blessings to you!!!  You are loved!!!

BTW – Next week, I’ll be posting our Thanksgiving decor including the Thanksgiving Tree and ideas we have -  to truly be thankful in all circumstances.
 

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That would just bless my heart.

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Events that should have warned you – it is one of those days!

Yesterday was a day of days!

I woke up to “Honey, I let the dog out in the middle of the night and she is missing.” 

Okay, let me give you this picture…I’m asleep, haven’t had my coffee yet, and I hop up quickly to go look for a stinky dog (who is NOT my best friend at the moment.)  I run into the living room and find the front door wide open and all my kids are in the driveway (with their jammies still on.)  I peek in the kitchen…the dog is asleep under the table.

My sweet hubby is yelling at the kids to come into the house, the reality hits me that I’m not wearing suitable clothes as I’m standing in the doorway, and the stupid dog is in the kitchen fast asleep. 

The morning then goes into some metamorphism of normalcy until I send the kids outside in the backyard.  Let me backtrack – just for a second… I wanted to catch the Dr. OZ show on the internet that talked about fleas and ticks – that is a whole other story for another year.  He said to basically keep your yard pest free – you need to pick up the dog’s you-know-what every other day.  Since my eldest loves that job (I’m so kidding)  I send him out to do the dirty work.  (There I’m back on track.) 

The next thing I hear is “Mom!!!!  I found a dead possum!”  What, I still haven’t had my coffee yet!  We live in the city!!!  I gave up the animals when we moved here!   I refuse to admit that the city has predators just like the country.

Luckily, my hubby is still home.  He takes care of the predator.  I want to go back to bed!  But, Fridays are the days we do our home school at the library.  So, I get dressed and made up so to speak. 

I get all the kiddies into the suburban.  The car won’t start.  Really???  Really.  I then tell my sweet prayer warriors to pray!  They do.  It starts. 

We run a few errands before the library.  I make it to the street where the library is and my car goes berserk.  It loses all power so I can’t even turn on my hazard lights.  I’m in the center lane, turning the key, to turn the engine, with no prevail.

I call 911.  After 10 rings, they answer then hang up on me.  I’m not kidding!  They hung up!  I call my hubby.  He is on his way!  Then he gets to the middle of the city and there is a funeral procession.  I’m not kidding! 

Then two precious Hispanic guys show up.  I mention that they are Hispanic because I really think they are Angels who speak no English.  I don’t care they understand a mother who is on her last leg – that is a UNIVERSAL language.  They are too precious!  They push my HUGE suburban to the nearest gas station.  My son says “They must work out at Gold’s Gym because they are strong!”    I love that there are still Good Samaritans.

Then at the gas station, I call another friend who has a mini-van who can carry some of my crew back to the house.  Thank you sweet friends!!!  My dead vehicle is towed home.  Now, we are looking for a new “used” vehicle to fit 8 people as my car RIP.  Hopefully, after the cash for clunkers deal – there are still “used” vehicles available.

These are the days – when you wake up and say “I really should have stayed in bed.”

However, I know that we are still blessed beyond measure and I’m really giving thanks in ALL things.

But….I really still should have stayed in bed.

Blessings to you!  You are loved!!!

Wassail – My Grandma’s Recipe!

Talking to my Grandma sometimes makes me want to wet my pants.  Our conversations go something like this…

Me:  “Grandma, I’m calling for a recipe… I don’t have your Wassail recipe.”

Grandma:  “Waffle???”

Me:  “No, Wassail!  Wassail!”

Grandma laughing:  “I don’t make waffles.”

Me bent over from laughing back so hard and glad I have a strong bladder:  “Grandma!  Wassail!  Wassail!  Wasssssail!”

Grandma (not sure about her bladder at this point):  “Oh, Wassail!  I thought you said Waffles!  Hold on – I’ll get it.”

I love my Grandma – she makes me laugh so hard plus her wassail is AWESOME!  She has made it for me for many years.

This year I will try to make it in the crock pot!  YUM!

Grandma’s Wassail

1/2 cup sugar
2 cups water
6 cinnamon sticks
7 whole cloves

Simmer the above ingredients for 15 minutes.

Then add:

1 cup orange juice
1 cup lemon juice
1 cup pineapple juice
4 cups apple juice
4 cups water

Simmer all DAY!  Oh – it makes a LOT!  YUMMY!

Blessings to you!  You are loved!!!

It is snowing in my house….

Wait a minute…as my 3 year old says…that is not snow!

It is drywall dust!  I DETEST construction!  DETEST IT!!!

The next house we move in WILL be finished before we move in or my hubby and I will not be sleeping in the same room!  Do you hear me MISTER??!!??  Well, maybe the same room but NOT the room being constructed - like right now!!!

I don’t like this white dust!  I don’t like it on my clothes! 
I don’t like it in my hair!
I don’t like it on my feet and in my shoes!  I don’t like it in my closet.
I hate it on my toothbrush!
I don’t like it on my pillow!!!  I don’t like it on my keyboard.
I don’t like it on my ceiling fan.  I don’t like it on the toilet seat.
I don’t like it on my water glass.  I don’t like it on my vacuum cleaner.
I don’t like it and I’m NOT going to do this again!!!

But, oh I do like my new walls.  I do like that it is upgraded.  I do like that this will feel like a new house.  I do like that.  So, maybe – well, just maybe, we will finish the playroom.
But, I don’t like the dust and I don’t have to!

Blessings to you!!! 
You are loved!!!  (Exception:   if your name is DUST!)

30 Day Giving Challenge - Day 1

Today was our first day of the Giving Challenge.  It was a treat.

My kids have been attending a local Home school Co-op so they decided to write thank you notes to their teachers.  It is a lot easier said than done. 

Our next feat was we made a thankful jar.  We decided to write things we are thankful for.  Each day, we will take out a paper and thank God for these things then make a paper chain out of them to put on our Thankful tree.  (The tree is basically a bunch of long twigs stuffed into a pretty vase and adorned with fall leaves.  We live in the Tropics so we have to make our own fall foliage.)

Due to my camera battery not being charged – I’ll have to take picts later.  Until then you can take my word for it.

Blessings to you!!!  You are loved!!!

My sweet boy’s birthday….

Not many people truly make me laugh.  This guy not only makes me laugh but feels my heart with so much joy!

I can’t believe he is turning 9 years old today.  He is my Y2K baby.  He is the guy who was a miracle and was born with blonde hair therefore our Blondie.

After such a miraculous birth – he is still such a blessing! (This pict was taken in a Life Flight helicopter.)

We call him our politician because he never meets a stranger.  Honestly, it is a blessing to be his parent!

Happy Birthday – We love you!!!

An interesting challenge....

Kingdom First Mom is offering a 30 day giving challenge.  In some way, we are to give something everyday for the next 30 days.  It starts November 1, 2009!

I'm so excited!  I'm actually starting on Monday, November 2, 2009 with my kids.  This will be our first school giving project.  This is going to be so much fun!  What a delightful way to bless others and think of others more highly than ourselves.


Blessings to you!!!  You are loved!!!



©www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com

Questioning my chartreusse and fleur di lis...

The other night some friends and I went out for dinner.  For some reason, we started talking about Fleur di Lis.  I pronounce fleur di lis like fleur di lease and someone told me it was fleur di lee.  What do you say?  I looked it up and was still a little confused.  So many dictionaries and  not enough time in my world...

However, Mr. Language Man (who I found in a google search) explains it beautifully - basically I was correct -  at least according to him.  In French, it is pronounced Fleur di LEASE.  If you speak French and disagree with this - I can't handle more errors right now - go tell Mr. Language Man.

Do you ever start questioning EVERYTHING, when you thought you knew something, I mean really knew something and then find out to be in err?  

Now on to the subject:  chartreuse.

As long as my hubby and I have been married - I have made fun of him not knowing his colors.  (Already, are you thinking of a person with a haughty spirit will have a HUGE fall?)  His usual statement is...who really knows and cares what is chartreuse? 

I tell him - I think chartreuse is a DEEP Deep DEEP red.  Apparently, thanks to my sweet mother in law and father in law - who showed me the error of my thinking, it is NOT! 

Chartreuse is a fluorescent  green color i.e. the new fire fighter trucks or the green go signs.

When and where did I ever come up with the thinking that chartreuse is red?  I tend to blame my brother for things that I can't come up with an answer.  (He lives 10 hours away and I love him to pieces therefore it is his fault.)

Who knows?  Maybe my brother changed the crayons when I was growing up and put Chartreuse on my Violet Red color - yes, he would have done that, oh wait...I would have done that - not him. 

So, if you have ever asked me for the chartreuse color and I handed you a deep red please forgive me.  I'm sure this has happened many times in my life, I AM a home school mother.

One thing for sure, my children know what and how to pronounce fleur di lis and the color chartreuse - from now on.

Now don't you feel better about yourself?

Blessings to you!!!  You are loved!!!!




©www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com