Alec is Coming... and other fun news!

Here at the MeYeR house, we have been busy, busy, busy this week! We (thank you, JESUS!) got in a full week of school without much whining or crying...and the kids were great, too. We started a new lapbook this week about the famous inventors and the boys are really liking it. History and Science in one fell swoop and it's FUN, too...what's not to love??? Dan has 'come over to the dark side' and is now allowing me to bake all of our own bread...whole wheat of course and NO HFCS!! YEAH! I have enjoyed a week without working in the evenings so far and have almost caught up on my sleep!! I have managed to get in my work out each day and a few days I even snuck some extra time!! Dan says I'm not lifting enough because I can still smile while I'm lifting...but I'm pretty content with where I am in that regard. Game night was last night and we missed Ty because he was at a b-ball game....but the rest of us had fun. Karen has been over twice for coffee in the morning and we have enjoyed gabbing together and laughing over the antics of the boys. It's nice to have her visiting more often again and I am pleased to say that she seems to be happier in the past few weeks than she has been most of the time we've been here...it's a beautiful thing! Jodi has been working about a zillion hours and when she's not working at work, she's working at home and when she's not doing that, she's running in circles doing the "modified stationary panic," (Dennis, that was for you!) and the owner is managing to drive us all crazy...poor Jodi!

On another note, I have spent the week wrestling with the whole Old Testament Law vs New Testament grace issue. I am pretty sure I'm headed in the right direction, but am still praying over it. Feel free to leave me your opinion about that. Dan and I are enjoying our Double Dog Dare of the New Testament at church...and are making our way through the NT in 90 days. Wheee!

Alec IS coming in February and we are sooo excited! He will be here just in time for Dan's b-day and will be here for a full week...yeah! I better get practicing on the guitar hero. We are e-mailing back and forth with some friends from church about gettting together during an upcoming trip they have planned...I hope we can make it work! Anyway, I've chattered enough for this week, I guess so I'll add apicture or two and be off. Let's catch up soon!

Blessings,

Kristy and the Man Crew

Here are T and I hanging our while the boys play. James was hiding in a fort and wouldn't let me take his pcture...hee hee!

David brought some cars and he and Derek had a ball letting them go flying down the slide and crash...woohoo!

Pat is working on doing one arm pull ups...I cant' do a pull up with two hands and a stool! Ugh, youth is soooo wasted on the young!

Dan, Dan, the welder man!

Ok, so some of you know that Dan got a welder a while back. He collected copper wiring to strip until he had enough to have a decent chunk of money, and then traded it in for the welder he always wanted. Personally, I didn't think there would be much to do with it once he got it, but what do I know?? LOL! Anywho, he has enjoyed it so much and it's been so much more useful than I would have ever guessed. He has found (or made up) an excuse to use it at least twice a week since he got it. ; ) He has welded the trampoline back together before we got a new one for Christmas, used it to reattach Jodi's muffler, build a cart to roll the actual welder around on (including a little drawer to keep his gloves in) taken it to work and had such fun updating his workout equipment. First he cut apart a barbell bar that he didn't use into little sections and welded them to the back of the weight bench to hold his free weights so they weren't on the floor, then he decided he needed a dumbbell stand to hold all his dumbbells so he wouldn't have to stub his toe on them, and then he made a stand to hold his barbells so he didn't have to bend over to pick them up anymore. Oh, I almost forgot, he made a new ramp for the boys bikes and scooters from some scrap metal and a sheet of plexiglass! Isn't he the craftiest of the crafty? Who thinks up this stuff?? Anywho, I just wanted to share a few photos of the things he made...ENJOY!

Kristy

Seriously, how does he think of it all???

WHHHHEEEEEE!!

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY January 26, 2009...

Outside my window...birds are chirping, dogs are barking and the sun is shining with a furious brightness.

I am thinking...that Home is the best place ever!

I am thankful for...babies, big boys and hunky hubby!

From the learning rooms...we are starting a new lapbook about inventions...how great is that? History AND science in one!! We are enjoying our read-aloud book called "Masterpiece" and fractions are getting the best of some of us.

From the kitchen...whole wheat bread is baking and tempting me with it's delightful aroma and bean soup is bubbling away on the back burner.

I am wearing...khaki capris and a sage and khaki speckled shirt that has too much Lycra for my taste.

I am creating...mended shirts, full tummies, a home to enjoy, a healthy mommy, happy hearts and boys that will become Men that follow God.

I am going...to stay home most of the week and have a coffee hour with Karen on Friday..so looking forward to that!

I am reading...the New Testament in 90 days with Dan and he is asking me to read each night before bed...WooHoo!

I am hoping...that we are scheduled to have out taxes done soon...got big plans with that 'extra' money!

I am hearing...James read about trains, the UPS truck drive by with Shadow barking at it, Titus' jumparoo rattling as he bounces happily and Mickey Mouse clubhouse...I'm allowing Derek to watch since he isn't feeling well today.

Around the house...much to clean, and a veritable MOUNTAIN of laundry to fold...I managed to get it clean, but keep putting off folding it so now it's taken my king sized bed hostage...BAD LAUNDRY!! ; )

One of my favorite things...doing this each week! It's 15 whole minutes of just me time and I look forward to it each week.

A few plans for the rest of the week...Getting into the habit of baking all of out bread, finally found a recipe that hubby approves, Getting a full week of school done, working out at LEAST 5 times, losing another 2 pounds or so, and making nutritious meals all week long.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...This is Tyler and Patrick (whom normally DON'T get along) this was taken at Pat's b-day party last week...they were reading Pat's new encyclopedia about big cats...so sweet!

For more posts about the simple life and enjoying life at home, visit Peggy's site Here or click on the photo at the top.

Zipping By

Hey there friends and neighbors! Greetings from perpetually warm NM! It was so warm today, (you all in IL should hold on to your hats) that Dan and I went motorcycle riding...and it was wonderful! We explored ruins of an abandoned army outpost nearby, had dinner in the Chile capital of the US (or so they say) and generally had a wonderful time. It's the middle of the night here and I am just home from work, but I wanted to stop by and say hi and share my fun day. I will try to post another one tomorrow and add pics and such, but I was bubbling over with JOY from today and HAD to share it! Goodnight all!
Kristy

Simple Woman's Daybook

To enjoy other blogs of this nature, simply click on the picture and then scroll down. This is a great site!!

FOR TODAY ... January 19, 2009

Outside my window...I see dried leaves, clinging to a the few tress I have, sandy window wills and a cloudless, blue sky

I am thinking...that Monday is one of my favorite days of the week, a brand new chance to get things going in the right direction...although that isn't working out so well today...LOL!

I am thankful for...new beginnings, peanut buttery smiles and sweet moments to reflect on life

From the learning rooms...much to accomplish this week...starting new lapbooks, finishing up 'Masterpiece," fractions, decimals and alphabetizing..oh my!

From the kitchen...Fresh zucchini bread lingers, whole wheat bread waiting to be made and yummy goodness hiding behind cabinet doors

I am wearing...workout clothes...does chasing kiddos and crazy dogs count as working out??

I am creating... order out of chaos!

I am going...crazy...wanna come along for the ride?? Actually, I'm creating new routines and schedules for us to keep us on track with not so much willy-nilly room

I am reading...the New testament in 90 days...it's the double dog dare for our sermon series coming up,,,yeah!

I am hoping...that losing weight will be easier than gaining...but not holding my breath!

I am hearing...the Incredibles movie play, the dishwasher whirr and the dryer tumble...time to go fold clothes!

Around the house...It's time to get cleaning...a few dishes left over, clothes to fold and beds to make.

One of my favorite things...Quiet! Hot tea, scraps of fabric that make something new, a good book, and a snuggle with a wiggly boy.

A few plans for the rest of the week: working out, work, school, AWANA club work, resting at home, last week was TOOOOO crazy...I'm getting too old for that nonsense!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...hmm, let's see...what to share?? OH...check this out! The boys' friend got a new puppy and brought it over to share...everyone get excited about it...so cute!!

Friday Night check in!

Auntie Kristy and Titus with Bath time hair!!

Yeah, I made back to blog on Friday...yahoo! Not a fascinating week, but finally a return to getting the kids to bed on time, an ALMOST full week of school, and getting more sleep again for mommy. But, I also got back to the things I love, spending time with kids, sisters and hubby, baking for the family and hanging out on Cafemom. AWANAS was a HUGE success last week, which was answered prayer and Titus is managing to keep mostly on his schedule, making his life more pleasant and mine more predictable...thank you, JESUS! We are having the usual pizza and a movie night...look at this glorious pizza... anyone wanna come over?? We are watching "Space Chimps" and "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed" (it's about Intelligent Design instead of Evolution) I'm pretty excited about it...I know, I know, I don't get out much, but it's OK to be happy at home, right?? RIGHT??? Anywho...greetings to you all and I hope you have a great weekend...just a few other snappies form this week and I'm gone!

Love to all,

~K~ and the Man Crew

This one of James and Titus is so sweet, they are wearing their matching T shirts...Aaawwww~

The boys made their own swing to add to the playground in the backyard...so creative they are!!

I made my first attempt at cream puffs, they weren't QUITE right, but a very tasty mistake...yummy!

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY ~January 12, 2009

Outside my window...it is cool and breezy, but the sun is shining brightly and the air is crisp.

I am thinking...that I have got to be more productive with my time this week! Putting T on a schedule is turning out to be more of a hassle than it should be, but once it is done, I will be able to get more done in less time...PLEASE?!?

I am thankful for...boys who play nicely together (sometimes) less TV and more music. A new AWANA program that ALL the boys loved on their first night even though they cried all the way there.

From the learning rooms...Now that we have our new printer up and running, we will be bale to do a full week of work, worksheets and ALL, hurrah! We are finishing up our lap books about slavery and picking a new one to start by the end of the week.

From the kitchen...I am planning yummy meals based on my pantry full of food and only supplementing with fresh dairy and veggies...hurray for a well stocked pantry!

I am wearing...my workout clothes since I was working out 15 minutes ago.

I am creating...a new routine for us and a new schedule for T...catnapping is NOT an option!!

I am going...nowhere pretty much...just working one day this week, so I get to be home all week, and I love that!!

I am reading...my Bible and that's it for now

I am hoping...that the new routines will go well and things will start moving in the right direction again...Christmas break threw us all for a loop

I am hearing...T scraping up his little fruity puff things, the bigger boys playing in a tent they mad in their room and Derek happily splashing away in the tub.

Around the house...much to clean, organize and work through, but it's also moving in the right direction and that's what counts!

One of my favorite things...a week at home to get re-started! I need to work on getting some more sleep this week, still feeling run down from the holiday excitement, and spend some quality time with Dan...we've been slacking in this department and it's starting to show.

A few plans for the rest of the week: NONE...I'm making no plans for the week except to be home and happy..that's it!

Here is picture thought I am sharing... My sweet nephew Titus playing in his snuggly bed...aawww~