Uncle Jeff had a baby...

At least, that is what Gracie is telling everyone today.

She carries her little baby around all dressed in pink, gets a serious look on her face and tells you "Uncle Jeff had a baby -n- dis is his baby". She lifts the little one to her eye level, frowns a bit(in a loving sort of way) and kisses it's forehead.




Why she picked my brother as part of her make-believe world, I do not know. She just learned to pronounce his name two days ago. If I ask her where is the baby's mommy, she states it is Uncle Jeff...if I ask her where the daddy is...she says uncle Jeff is at work.




So Uncle Jeff, if you are looking for your baby, I think you left it here.

My Big Boy.

My big boy is....drum roll please.....walking! He took off across the vast ocean of space between the rocking chair and the couch...made it half way and fell. He thought he was Mr. Smarty Pants with that grin he gave. Since then(Christmas Eve) he is walking more and more. He has been taking steps for quite some time now, but we do not count it as walking until they take 3 real steps at a time. My second 9m old walker and he is a slow and steady one.

My baby Lillie sitting so pretty I couldn't help myself but add this picture.

Jacob with his three man sling shot he recieved for Christmas and Miker in his big boy Carrhart coveralls, they all look so cute now! Here they are launching potatoes into the neighbors field.

My two Christmas projects, more knit hats, making these #5 and #6! This time matching ones out of homespun yarn for Lidger and Daddy. Lidger isn't too keen on the idea, but puts up with it. Yes, I loooove knitting, no I have no plans of buying a sheep for fiber.

This was awesome. I done gots myself a homemade version of Mindy's cheesepress! My hubby somehow snuck this one by me and worked on it without my knowing. It is made of UHMW instead of wood then the rest of stainless steel. Isn't he the best? What a sweet talented hubby the Lord gave me! Unfortunately now I need to save up the money for the rennet, lipase and cheese wax...but I am a large step closer to cheddar, baby!

My Mom won't like this picture because she never likes pictures of herself, but I LOVE it. She kept an otherwise crabby baby happy on Christmas by taking out the binky and inserting a candy cane. NOT something a Mamma would do, but Grandma can get away with it and surprisingly, he was quiet and sat very well on Gmas lap!

Success at last

Have you noticed how I talked about potty training my newly 2 yr old back in July? Then never talked about it again? I only boasted a little on how well all my children have trained, thus far. Thinking Gracie would fall right into that mold and be trained in a couple weeks time. We bought our *incentives*, washed all the trainers and the couple weeks it was supposed to take turned into a few weeks..then I gave up. One thing I have learned(and it took a long time) is that you can not say at "c" age a child should be doing "d" and don't frustrate yourself trying to *teach*(force) them do it. It will come.

Gracie refused to train, quite stubbornly, so I put her back in diapers and every couple weeks we'd give her a 5 min refresher course, to keep it fresh in her mind. I had given up on ever training her when all of a sudden, she was sitting at the table coloring by herself Monday when she quietly got down mumbled something about #2 and ran off.

I had Jess spy on her and she found Gracie ran and did the whole works herself, #2 even! Usually they start with #1, not Grace, she thought enough was enough. She has been in panties every since that episode three days ago, NEVER an accident and even dry for naps. Try to figure that one. Micah trained himself and did the same thing, only younger. Gracie just trained herself. Maybe it is the Teddy Grahams or the Fishies, I don't know, I just know I am glad it is done with! What a big girl! 2 yrs 5 months. This little girl is such a hoot, she talks non-stop and cracks us up so much! She isn't the handful she was as Mamma cracked down on her antics and she is much happier and in less trouble, too! We are so blessed to have each one and look forward to the future of having more if the Lord sees fit.

Did you see that?

Did you see that? That extra minute of sunlight this morning? It is coming. Spring is coming...It makes us giddy to think of the planting, the eggs, the produce, fresh veggies, so much fresh raw milk we give it to the dogs(something that does NOT happen now), young kids leaping around their mammas, incubators peeping, children outside these walls...snap out of it Jenn...it's December. Bummer. But I know it is coming and that makes every day a little brighter. The longest day of the year is OVER. Oh happy day!


I have this hen. She thinks it is Spring. She is a confused hen. Every morning we collect eggs she sits there with ruffled feathers and a mean look on her...er...face. She is broody. Passionately broody. She is ready for a family. One small detail she missed is that it is winter yet. Poor chicken. I will not leave the warm, nicely tucked eggs under her, for they would die as soon as her brooding efforts produced chicks and if there is one thing I can not stand, is to see a mother hen who lost her chicks. They wonder around distraught for hours. It is a most pitiful sight. She needs to trust I know better, not peck my hand as I take those eggs from her and in two more months, when her mother chicken broodiness returns, I will leave her a whole handful of eggs. Oh, if only those dumb chickens could understand!

Coffee in hand...

For a 5 minute break. Sorry Nana for the lack of posts. Here is a quick run down. Daniel kicked a glass jar by accident last week Friday. By the swelling and pain the next day, we decided to go to the doctor, have x-rays and get it looked at. It wasn't broken after all, he was on crutches for 3 days and then, as he puts it, was miraculously cured on Sunday!

There has been something keeping us busy every morning, noon and eve these last few days, I am sure like all of you!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Here is the photo Mr. Camera took of us for our Christmas cards! Smile Daddy! He is the poor guy that volunteered to start the timer on the camera then run back, get in place, position children and look good in less than 10 seconds! I think he did a fine job...just forgot to smile.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

This one is my favorite! Can you guess why? ;)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

This one Mr. Camera took for our church directory photo. It just works better to take our own pictures at home! I think we took like, 11 pictures before we had one that we all agreed on.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Silly me. I got this great idea to dry slices of grapefruit and hang them on the tree. The problem is they resemble the real fruit they once were, thus are snacked upon by hungry little 2 yr olds.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The 2009 gingerbread house.

Yes, EMILY, it was a KIT...again.

Shame on me...I forfeit all brownie points.

The first SNOW!!!

It started as a wispy snow falling over the lake as I held Elijah in the foyer at church, walking him to sleep during the sermon.

The drive home was a little scary, Daddy got his donuts in at the grocery store parking lot much to the delight of the squealing children and we did a premature stop so the kids could get out and throw snowballs at us while Daddy and I sat in the van pulling faces with the windows up.

When we got home it reeeeally started in. There is a hushed quietness that falls over the countryside when it snows, I love standing on the front porch and listening to the nothingness. The Sunday clothes were quickly cast off and the sled tied to the 4-wheeler. The littlest ones are napping, the big ones are making snowcones and sledding. The worried chickens are holed up in the coop as if a natural disaster has taken place. Hot chocolate is heating on the stove. I love snow.

Need a Christmas gift idea?

Need a classy but inexpensive

gift idea for stockings or a gift exchange?

How 'bout for yourself?

Consumables are in, clutter is out

Give a gift that gets used and appreciated.

Visit my website for our new Squaw Creek Soap .

..it may be the beginning of something beautiful ;)

Bus Rides and Yickish

Anyone who was reading my blog last year knows that our family has had a yearly tradition of riding the Lynden City Circular while wearing Santa clause hats, eating red licorice and singing carols.

Daddy is such a kick in the pants. He had no problem donning a Santa hat and singing with along. Jessie and I had too much dignity to *mess our hair* ;) at least, that was our excuse.

“Jingle bell, jingle bells…”

Gracie loved the yickish. We think she put down about 6 sticks on the 1/2 hour ride around town. Our favorite house of the year is in Heartland Dr off Bender Rd. The inflatable Grinch that popped up and down is what sealed the deal!

My beloved camera is on it’s last leg. My pictures are turning out horrible and I am anxiously looking forward to that tax refund.