"Film Stills"

  

 Getting ready for a glamor shot.

"Ouch!"  Gracie fixes something in her slipper.  Sarah waiting for her turn in the picture.

"Come on Sarah, loosen up!"

"Oh!!!  Did you hear....?"  *gasp*

 Unsuspecting ladies.

 *scream* EEKKK   A bad guy!

"Don't worry!  I'll take care of it!"  Gracie always prepared and ready.

Fish....ish....ish!!!!!!

What could they be looking at?????

Oh.....What!!!!! LOL!!

Heads or tails???? ;)

Don't worry! The sink was bleached VERY well! You can come over to our home knowing that every inch of that island and sink are very clean! LOL!

A weekend of Thanksgiving!

My family and I have much to be thankful for this year, as always! The delights of seeing our new home nearing completion is so encouraging! Here is a little look into our weekend of rejoicing and thankfulness!

Oh yes! We have to remember the pies! I have always stacked the apple pies as tall as I can! They get to looking like this before the top crust goes on!

This one is ready for the oven!

I don't really know what got into me! I think I was a little too eager to taste the pie! Apple is my favorite! Yummy!

And this is how you cook your pie, till the oven smokes and the smoke alarms start ringing all over the house. It wasn't the pies! It was the juice that oozed out the side! :sigh: It does that every year! I did find a way to prevent that while cooking the next two pies!

We were delighted to have Michael J visit for the evening before going to David and Keslie's. Lydia thinks SO highly of him! Look at her eyes!

Thanksgiving day! The pies are done and not burned! Our guests were: Grandpa and Grandma H, Grandma E, dad's brother Paul and his girls Katelyn and Kelsie.

Friends of ours gave us these darling turkey cookies to place at each seat! They were so festive and yummy too!

Another thing to be grateful for is that Grandma was able to be with us! She hasn't been in our home since August and with her Alzheimer's we were very nervous how she was going to take all the excitement of the day, but she did very well and seemed to enjoy herself! We were so blessed to have her in our home again!

Our sweet cousin Katelyn, Gracie and Heather just as they finished all the dishes! That was a lot of work, thanks girls!

Then everyone went out to the house!

The hearth is all done! We are going to put rocks from our river on the back wall. It should look great!

All the inside doors look like this one here. Grandpa began hanging them yesterday!
~~~~~~
I have to break the flow of this post with a story that leads up to the rest of these pictures. It is long but I beg you to finish it so you can understand the rest of the post correctly!

Day after Thanksgiving Leftovers

It’s the day after Thanksgiving. Most of my family is painting at the new house and like always they need lunch. There are plenty of leftovers so I have begun to prepare it for warming and transportation. I call dad to see if they are going to take the time to come home for lunch or not. He says not. While I am talking with him Lydia comes screaming into the room with blood running down her chin. She has bit her lip badly in three places after a fall. Now, I’m on the phone with dad, telling him how bad it is, trying to calm a sobbing child, and thinking about the food that is getting too done in the oven. Whew. I ‘m finally able to get her relaxed by turning on an Andy Griffith Show and having her hold a cold damp cloth on her lip. I start flying around the kitchen trying to get everything in portable containers; did I mention that is now 1pm? The painters and kids are hungry! After many trips to the car with the meal wrapped in bathroom towels to stay warm I run out the door carrying my coat, purse, camera, and a roaster oven full of rolls keeping warm. Then I have to shut the door. So, I set my armload down on the porch to get a free hand. The lid slides off and skids a couple of feet away from me. I reach for it with the rest of my load in the other hand. I get the lid back on….it comes off again…I’m ready to leave it there when for the third time it comes off…After totally rearranging my burden I proceed to the van. Yikes! There is no room to set it down! Gracie is scurrying to make room…and by now the handles are hurting my fingers something fierce! After the rolls are safely stowed in the van with the lid held on by one of the girls I start to back up the van. Then yells of excitement burst forth as Sarah and Gracie start franticly warning each other to get a hold of lids and pans as they begin to slide about! Finally, I am assured they have them all secure and we are off. But not for good! Over half way up the driveway, Sarah yells to Gracie to get a hold of the peas since they were bouncing around as the van lurches over the potholes. Gracie asks what peas and says this pan is the gravy. No, said Sarah, that pan has the peas in it! Where is the pan with the gravy? Sigh, on the stove. So, I proceed to back the 12-passenger van all the way back up to the house as I’m thinking about all the heat that is leaving the comforting meal. I run up to the house and grab the gravy and a knife I’d forgotten to get for Taylor. While getting back into the van, I notice that someone had stepped on my seat with a dirty wet shoe….oh well. Once again we were on our way. It isn’t calm yet. We have to go over the potholes once more. The brakes are very touchy in the van, hang on girls! Every once in a while I hear, “Yikes! Hang on to that lid!” “Oh no! This box just landed on top of the marshmallows on the sweet potato pie! The box has most the marshmallows on it now…” “I almost sat in the jello!” Then I would yell for them to hang on as we are going around a corner! Then I look over to Lydia sitting calmly in her car seat with her damp rag plastered to her lip. Nothing fazing her! Finally, we pull up to the new house to see the front door on! What a lovely sight to behold! HOME! The food is carried inside and my family is sitting down to a Thanksgiving meal in our new home! As we are eating I look around and see my dad sitting there covered in paint! What a day of Thanksgiving! We are painting the house and despite all it took to get the food here it was warm (not hot, but warm) and everyone is full and happy and I’m ready for a nap!

Ta da! The front door is on!

The front door from the inside!

Our first Thanksgiving in our new home! haha!

Dad with a painted face though it did get MUCH worse as the day progressed!

There was not enough room at the table for the kids and the food so they got the hearth with the warm wood stove behind them!

Trying to get the sprayer unclogged. It turned out it was the primer that was causing it to clog.

Dad shooting the boys closet!

Grandpa has everything set up to hang the powder room door!

Now he is covered! LOL! Lydia wasn't sure about him and said he was scary!

Without his hat!

Now, that is a sign of a hard worker! It's a big house to paint! Thank you daddy!

Saturday Josh G. came and helped the boys chop wood, move painting stuff around and fill buckets, and some last minute work under the house! Work like that is always more fun with friends! Thanks so much Josh!

The masked man is Derek A. who came today to bring our paint, spray like crazy and critique Mom and Heather while they rolled our room! He was a great help and knows a lot about painting! He also has "friends" in high places and was able to get us an incredible deal on excellent paint, thank you so much Andrew R. you are a true blessing.

Thanks Derek, you were a great help!
(Oh, and also a big thanks to him for letting me use his camera while mine is getting fixed! Now you all can get more pictures!)

Happy....

....May Day!

See this lovely bouquet from our neighbors? It wasn't quite a total surprise though. The kids were playing out side when they literally ran into our neighbors coming around the corner of the house while they were trying to sneak up on us! Oh dear! It was lovely though, to answer the door and behold these lovely flowers!

Happy May Day everyone!

Told by the fly on the wall:

There is a very common misconception among some people we know about our Sunday morning routine. Our church family sees us arrive in our Sunday bests. The girls in their dresses, sweaters/coats, their hair brushed and fixed in a cute manner, their shoes actually clean. The men of our gang in their khaki dress pants, blue suit coats, brown or black shoes, nicely brushed hair, dress shirts and to top it all off, ties. We file in, greet our friends then head to our rows, yes more than one since they don’t make rows with 12 seats in them anymore. But, I wonder if they ever think about what it takes to get this country family to such a state of tidiness? Probably not. Have you? Really? Okay, then I’ll try to give you a little glimpse into our Sunday mornings.

For me the morning usually starts with Lydia jumping from her bed to mine. After a few minutes of snuggling she gets down and decides to "vake" the rest of the family up. “Baba veeak!” she yells until most of us are awake and are stumbling into the family room. We let the boys sleep a little longer. There is a little time for snuggling with daddy on the couch where we really wake up. Then the day really begins. This is a typical conversation in the morning:

“Can I have cereal instead of oatmeal?”
“No, remember you ate the cereal yesterday.”
“I can’t find the sugar!”
“Did you empty the dishwasher?”
“Oh, Dad, did you know my finger is finally healing!”
“What happened to your finger?”
:screams:
:giggles:
:shrikes:
“Dad can you catch Lydia! Quick!”
:roar:
“Are you a lion?”
“No.”
“A bear?”
:roar:
“Oh a bear!”
“I can’t find a spoon!”
“Did you empty the silverware yet?”
“Did the trashes get emptied?”
“No? Then get it done.”
“Did you remember to iron Ben’s pants?”
“Oh! I couldn’t find them!”
“Ben get me your pants!’
“Oh, not those! Those are the ones with holes!”
“Where’s my glass?”
“Look on the dish rack or cupboard.”
“I need in the bathroom!”
“Just a minute.”
“Please hurry, I need the curling iron.”
“Sarah can you get the rugs by the front door vacuumed?”
“Oh, do the family room while you have it out.”
:roar of the vacuum:
“Dink?”
“My dress fell and is wrinkled again!”
“DINK!”
“Which cup is Lydia’s?”
“Still need in the bathroom!”
“Someone needs to clear the table and wash it.”
“Gracie, can you get those dishes done?”
:roar of the vacuum:
“What?”
“The dishes need done, quickly!”
“Oh, is your bed made?”
“Get you shoes and socks set out.”
“The boys are still asleep.”
“Oh! They need up! Tell them to hurry!”
“Are your teeth brushed?”
“I can’t find my other shoe!”
“After everyone is finished eating set the table for lunch.”
“For grandpa and grandma too?”
“Yes.”
“Where’s Lydia!”
“Can’t find my shoe still!”
“Need the bathroom to finish my hair!!!!”
“I’m in line for it next!”
“Someone find Lydia!”
“BOYS, GET UP!”
“Can someone help me get the plates down?”
“Hewp?”
“Sure Lydia you can carry the napkins! Follow me.”
“Oh, dad did you know I finished the Christmas present I made!”
“Daddy, daddy! I know what I want for my birthday dinner!”
“Your birthday isn’t for another 9 months!”
“I know but I am trying to think about it now.”
“I see….”
“You need to brush your teeth.”
“YOU ALL NEED TO GET DRESSED!”
:buzz of activity:
“Where did you put my shirt?”
“Where I always put your shirt.”
“Oh! There!”
“Where’s Lydia?”
“Make sure you get your belt.”
“My dress is still wrinkled!”
“Iron it then.”
“Oh...”
“Has anyone seen my shoe?”
“I need in the bathroom!”
“You still haven’t found it?”
“Is the kitchen clean?”
“Almost!”
“Brush your teeth!”
“Get the camera!”
“Oh! She’s so cute!”
:laughs:
“Everyone one needs to get dressed!”
“Please get those books off the floor!”
“I found my shoe!”
“You’re dressed but where is your belt?”
“You need socks that match.”
“Should I wear these shoes or these?”
“You need a pink hair ribbon for that dress, not the one you have on.”
“Mom can you do my hair?”
“Are you finished getting dressed?”
“Ummmm….no.”
“I want you dressed before I do your hair.”
“Sarah!”
“Where’s Sarah?”
“Getting dressed.”
“Since you’re dressed, can you read to Lydia?”
“Wait! Come back so I can do your hair.”
“Get the bibles in the car.”
“Which cars are we taking?”
“The big van?”
“Dad, are we taking the big van?”
“Make sure the car seat is in it.”
“Where’s Lydia?”
“David please read to her!”
“I haven’t eaten anything yet.”
“Grab a banana.”
“Are we taking two cars or just the big van?”
“Sarah you don’t have your shoes on!”
“Oh!”
“Make sure to get your sweater too.”
“The chicken needs in the oven!”
“Is Lydia’s hair done?”
“She needs her coat on!”
“Where’s her coat?”
“In her drawer.”
“Where is she?”
“Are you ready to go?”
“What cars are we taking?”
“Yep!”
“You don’t have your shoes on!”
“There are still dishes on the counter!”
“Who left their hangers in the family room?”
“GET IN THE VAN!”
“Where’s my purse?”
“Did you get the diaper bag?”
“I can’t find my shoes!”
“WHAT???”
“I need in the bathroom!”
“Oh no! Your hair isn’t done!”
“Are you teeth brushed?”
“You forgot my bible!”
“Ooops!”
“Mom leave the dishes and come on!”
“Almost done.”
“Can I sit by you?”
“I’m not sure where I’m sitting yet.”
“No, it’s my turn to sit by you.”
“Guys, it’s just a 5 minute drive!”
“Get in the van!”
“Can you scoot over more?”
“You said I could sit next to you!”
“I didn’t say anyone could sit by me.”
“But I want to.”
“Just a minute.”
“Everyone buckled?”
“Where’s Sarah?”
“Must still be in the house.”
“Someone needs to find her.”
“SARAH!”
“What?”
“Sarah what are you doing?”
“Looking for my purse.”
“We’re all waiting in the car for you!”
“Oh! Just a minute.”
“You guys need to make room for Sarah back there.”
“You’re squishing me!”
“I’m not touching you!”

A few minutes later we file out of the van into the church parking lot looking ship shape and tidy as if we woke up that way. :shrug: If they only knew….

Hysteria!!!!!!

The day Christiana died, one of the kids (the guilty party wanted to be kept anonymous) asked mom why she was stiff when he, I mean the guilty party, found her. Mom told him it was called rigamortis. The guilty party then asked, “Is that what she died of?” It was quite a while before mommy could continue the spelling lesson because of her peals of laughter and we have all had many laughs over his ignorance, poor kid! He learned something he will never forget that morning in school!