Hey guess what..

We bought a house :D And now, in all my free time, I am trying to envision my new decor. I have decided it should be all about the trees. Here are a few that I found that I really love.

Seriously LOVE this one

Cozy

Cute for the girls' room

I found a great sheet of scrapbook paper covered in trees. I haven't been able to find an image of it, but I bought it to use as a background for a family recipe page I planned to hang in my kitchen. The trees are so retro and I think I want to paint them down my hallway, floor to ceiling, in a row. It can be scary to know you are reading my thought process right now, but in my mind my hallway will be very cool!
Anyhoo, Moses, Jessica, Denae, Chris of Chris and Natalie that I don't know so well but I hear you are a great artist, you people can't hide from me. I need you.

Anyone who has any sweet drawing skills and a little bit of free time is encouraged to gimme a call. I would love to pick your brain. I think I could actually paint something as long as someone else drew the sketch first. I dunno. A little scary to just start painting on your wall, but I just love what these murals add to the rooms.

A Day of Thanks

Thanks-

-to my husband for just being my husband
-to my husband for caring about what he looks like,
-to my husband for caring about what *I look like,
-to my husband for being an athletic supporter for most anything I want,
-to my Mom for giving advice that is right for me, but may hurt for her,
-to my Dad for an endless supply of toe socks,
-to my brothers for keeping me entertained,
-to my children for giving me gray hairs (apparently my husband thinks they are sexy),
-to my sisters who came along and verified *I am not the crazy one in the family,
-to FASFA/FAW for funding my college education,
-to my friends for laughing at my jokes and telling a few of your own,
-to anyone who prays for me. I need more so keep them coming,
-to Pat Sajak and The Wheel for the goodtimes, money, and for laughing hysterically at my poodle joke, and
-to God for not giving me what I deserve but choosing to bless me anyway.

I am excited to see what next year brings.

Just a day in the life

I don't know why people assume that since I have many children, I must be good at what I do. I don't necessarily think God works this way in all situations. In our case, we just happened to be loony enough for the job so God kept the kids coming. This natural tendency toward insanity has come in handy considering I feel I have given birth to 5 of the oddest children ever!! During our chaotic, but fun, photo shoot, my friend snapped this shot. I love that she included it in our proofs. It shows A) that she finds humor in the same things I do, which is why I haven't lived near her for almost 4 years, but we seem to pick up where we left of whenever we get together, and B) I am a stellar multi-tasker. I mean, seriously- let's take inventory of everything happening here:
I am on the phone
I am carrying Samuel (you missed him wiggling out of my arms)
I am paying attention to Elijah as he does his new dance number
My clothes match AND are clean
My hair is freshly washed and actually put up a bit
I am walking out of my van, which has to mean I just came from somewhere really important,
and I am wearing tennis shoes, which means I planned to exercise, right? HAHA

In actuality I shouldn't be on the phone because I don't have daytime minutes,
I just pinched Sam's leg to keep him from falling to the cement,
I am totally ignoring Elijah as he is more interested in the camera anyway,
I did lay my clothes out the night before which was easy because they just came from the store (where I shouldn't have spent money on them in the first place),
My hair is deceiving because it was washed a day before as I always have better hair a few days after the wash,
I actually had the kids stashed in the van eating marshmallows while the others were having their pictures taken,
I was feeling chubby and didn't feel like sucking in my gut for pictures, so I wore exercise-ish pants to avoid a muffin top,
and I wore tennis shoes because they matched my pants better than my loafers.
See, all you moms who think I set a standard to live by..you too can be just like me. You just have to be a liiiitle bit lazier. :D

Big Finish

I don't want to be so excited, but football and cheer leading are finished! Praise the LORD!! This picture is another from my insanely talented friend Jessica Baldwin. Look for her website over there. Can't you see me pointing? Anyway...

I just need to get back to simple. Why is that so difficult? My children were hilarious to watch during this football season. Addison prayed every night for the kids to go to practice (apparently she was tired of their company). She also learned Layla's cheers quite well! She will just suddenly jump into a room and holler "READY OKAY!!" and go at it! Even Sam knows to clap when she is finished. Goodtimes. That is what I like to call an athletic supporter. And you know...if you can't be an athlete...

Hectic Weekends

In an attempt to keep the simple life I love so much, we have tried to stick with family commitments and really important appointments. The weeks are easier now that football and cheer leading are over. The weekends seem to fill up pretty quickly. Since taking charge of the agenda, we are still a bit full, but it has all been great.
Yesterday we babysat in the morning for friend,
cheered for Isabelle wile she received her honor roll certificate,
brought the kids to a friend's to bake an apple pie and a meatloaf pie,
went with my family and a TON of friends to a pie party (didn't win the contest, but had a ton of fun)
woke up late (after I woke up at 5 with Sam)
took the fam. to IHOP for breakfast
met a family that moved very recently and is looking for a church
picked Isabelle up from her sleepover
went home, put babes to bed, put hubby to bed on the couch,
watched the girls cut material for their sewing projects while I did my homework
went to my brother's to babysit,
currently blogging, chatting with a friend, and watching Transformers,
tomorrow is church
then we are having a celebration dinner for Isabelle's honor roll status
and because Monday is a holiday, The Man and I are going on a date mid-day
he has a chiropractor appt, but then we get to go to the movies..or maybe rent a room and have a nap!

Funny Questions I Heard This Week

Eli while I bathed the babies- Mom, why can't I hold water?

Addison- WHAT IS THAT IN MY BATH!?? (Sam's poop. ew)

Eli- Why isn't Daddy washing my window? (My response) Because he doesn't like you as much. (His response to my response) You are rude. (My final response) fits of giggles.

Addison- Mommy, remember when Santa pushed you?

Eli after I drew cool "tattoos" on me and Layla Grace- OOH Can you draw me a tattoo?
(My response once I drew them..one on the top side of each wrist) Go ask Daddy what it says. (Mike) Poop Nugget? (Eli's response) little boy anger (My response) extended fits of giggles.

My 9 yo nephew No-No Noah to his mother- Mom, if you and Dad BOTH have heart attacks, who will take me to school?

Right Now...

I am listening to little toddler voices (my favorite) play and giggle.

Right now, I can hear Layla Grace help Elijah read through his first chapter book.

Right now, I am missing my husband and eager for the days when he will be home four days in a row.

Right now, I am chewing a piece of Bubble Tape gum, sweet!

Right now, I am listening to Casting Crowns remind me of the people God has put around me to help, pray for, make laugh, and hold up when they need it.

Right now, I am reminiscing over what I heard God speak to me over this retreat weekend: I don't have to wait until I get to heaven, I can worship God all the time starting right now; the issues I am facing are not only very small, but a great learning opportunity for me and those around me; I am really a grown up, not just someone pretending to be a grown-up, so when God calls me to pray for someone or step out of my comfort zone, I no longer have that crutch to call upon.

Right now, I am trying to figure out what to make for dinner.

Right now, I am debating whether I should shower now and start homeschool late, or end early and shower before school.

Right now, I am wondering if my History teacher is going to see right through the bull crap that is my paper due this evening.

Right now, I am wondering if Moby is ever going to stop shedding.

Right now, I am wondering what that smell is...poo I am sure.

Right now, I am thinking I should get off this "devil box" (as my sister calls it) and actually stay on task.

I still Got it!!

You know what is great? That I can decide to totally skip turning in a paper and still get a B. Sociology is over. It was fun while it lasted, but even better now that it is over.
You know what else is great? Football is almost over. Now I can cancel all of my hate mail to Pop Warner. To all of you who made it to the playoffs, congratulations. I am so glad it was you. :D

Don't you hate those gay sayings about friends?

In the cookie of life, you are the chocolate chips. I know people take that to mean as a friend, they are the sweetest part of the cookie. But, if we have ever had a conversation, you know I don't buy that. It really means friends make things messy and cause you to require a napkin. That really has nothing to do with my post, but I am here to amuse myself!

On to the point. A friend found me recently. She is a woman I was incredibly close with for a short time while The Man and I lived in California. This time in my life was nothing to be replayed as I was certainly pushing the boundaries God had carefully laid out for my life. I still have guilt for some of the choices I made during this time, but I know I am forgiven. Probably even by her. I was so excited to hear from my old friend...she isn't old HA!, just our friendship. While I waited for her phone call, I found myself rehashing stupid mistakes and immature behavior I so graciously displayed in those days. I felt that I wanted to ask God for forgiveness all over again. But then, I remembered that God really does love me as far as the east is from the west (just like that song says). I don't have to relive those times. In fact, dwelling on them is giving party to the dark side. AAAND, considering I am not that big of a Star Wars fan, it was easy to get back to what God wants my focus to be. It is easy for me to get stuck in the past- whether I am reminiscing good or bad things. I want to focus more on being here, right now. I want to be more purposeful. If I get hung up on everything I am doing wrong or the negative influences in life, I will miss that "fullness" God mentions in Jeremiah. And in the wise words of Steven Tyler, "I don't want to miss a thing."

N.Y. man attacks inflatable ghost, pumpkin

LLOYD, N.Y. - A woman says a neighbor attacked her inflatable Halloween lawn display of three ghosts and a giant pumpkin, then apparently smashed his head through her window in a fit of rage.

This struck my funnines bone late last night in the same way SNL is great late night. Sorry if it doesn't translate into daytime hours. It still cracked me right up.

State Police said officers found a drunken John Odee, 43, inside Dawn Garcia's house in the Hudson Valley town of Lloyd on Thursday night, arrested him after a brief struggle and charged him with burglary.

Garcia told the Middletown Times Herald-Record she heard hollering and swearing and looked outside to see Odee struggling with the giant pumpkin. "He was enraged. I could see that," she said.

When she yelled at him to go away, Odee charged the house. She fled through the back door with three of her children and heard window glass breaking. She called 911 from another neighbor's house. Police said Odee used his head to smash a window to get in.

No problems with last year's decoaration
"What made him do that, I don't know," Garcia said. "We had the same decoration up last year and it didn't bother him."

Odee was being held at Ulster County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bail Friday night. A corrections officer said inmates could not come to the phone. The officer did not know if Odee had an attorney.

You may not have known that I LOVE...

going to school,
exercising,
seasonal movies,
quoting any quotable movie,
history,
war movies,
black and white movies,
historical fiction novels,
photography,
faceless pictures,
music from the 50s,60s, & 70s,
quotes,
hearing my husband's jeep while it is still a mile away,
my husband while he sleeps,
my husband while he is awake,
my husband while he...well..does other things,
calling him "my husband",
writing,
sketching-especially with pencils,
reading,
my hair,
that Addison responds to "squirrel",
museums,
being home,
having company,
living in Reno,
Rancho San Rafael's arboretum,
my dog, Moby Richard,
finding Samuel playing in the Barbie jeep out back,
fall,
Christmas,
Halloween,
homeschooling,
date night,
Christmas cards-giving and receiving,
teaching, anyone about most anything,
the color red,
the color green with red because it reminds me of Christmas...which I love,
The Fray,
Five for Fighting,
John McLaughlin,
gardening,
having my toes painted,
scrapbooking,
editing,
grammar,
words,
trees-especially the Umbrella Catalpa and willow,
crayons,
coloring books at Christmas time,
puzzles and games,
music played on real records,
painted cabinets,
my piano,
musicals- especially live,
home videos,
The Office,
and acoustic music.

I am only stopping now so you will have time to read this post. I could go on forever. Are there things you LOVE!?

My Lightbulb Moment

Sometimes it takes me a minute or two to hear what God is telling me. This very character flaw is why I recommend going to church weekly. I have been physically sick more times in the previous three months then combined in my life so far. I have been praying for God to reveal if it is an allergy, or if I am simply making too many unhealthy choices, or if it is due to something greater. Saturday night, I was certain I was dying of some internal wretched disease. I prayed for God to not only heal me but reveal what was really going on during Sunday's service. I cried on Sunday when he did.

Louie (not Louise) talked about the pace he feels God has set for him. Louie (not Louise) said he was physically sick after trying to be apart from where God was asking him to be. This is me right now. It isn't that I am running in a direction God is telling me not to; it is more because I am running.

God began speaking to me about celebrating the Sabbath about six months before Louie (not Louise) brought it up at church. I was floored when it became a series of teachings at church. I committed my Sundays to God and family and rest. Then my husband got hired onto the Fire Department, and I let everything run amok.

In the same way Louie (not Louise) felt his schedule was out of his hands, I feel that the goings on around me are out of my hands. The picture I get is me in the middle of a tornado with seven schedules swirling around me mixed with all the expectations others have of me. My problem is I keep trying to jump out and grab hold so I can "handle" one or two. This doesn't work for me. I get beat up, feel sick, get pushed around (sometimes literally**stupid yard gnome! This is a story for another time) and still end up out of control.

Now I know my job is to simply remain. Remain consistent. Remain in the eye of the storm where I can find God and experience his peace. Remain healthy. Remain out of CONTROL, not OUT OF control. Simply Remain- though for me, there seems to be nothing simple about remaining.

Search Results

I put in a search to find a Reno Wives' Firefighting chat group and this was the advertisement offered on the right of my screen. Maybe God is trying to tell me something. This is the worst thing I have ever seen...(other than George Dahir post-shower)

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Just a Quick Update

Mike-
busy busy with school/work
LOVES his new job
volunteering to referee the Inter Fire Department Dodge Ball game for charity (LOL)
expert at shining his boots
squeezing in fishing whenever he can

Me-
Working hard not to lose my sanity
participated in the anual Susan G. Komen, Crop for the Cure and finished 10 pages!
Heading into week two of Sociology
bought kids berries and cream Fraps today because I couldn't resist
busy shuffling kids to extra "fun" activities
trying to stay ahead of my homeschooling schedule
feel sad I can't come to more baby showers, but it just can't happen

Isabelle-
dropped out of journalism because it is more writing than she is interested in
continually jumps rope even if there is no rope to be jumped
doing superb in 4th grade at her new school
cut off all of her hair (mike still has a hard time looking at her)
still loving her book publishing and beading clubs
in the market for a violin as she has decided to play one for school

Elijah-
awesome football player
working on mastering the rollerblades
planning on being Captain Jack Sparrow for Halloween
has figured out more math than I ever did at this age!

Layla Grace-
beautiful as ever
has an incredibly loose front tooth
hilarious cheerleader (ready Ohhh K)
reading chapter books

Addison-
as squirrely as ever
knows three of her colors successfully
obssessed with lip gloss and flops so protect yours well
has begun drawing circles to practice holding her pencil correctly
traces VERY well
is going to be three soon!

Samuel-
walking and refusing to crawl
has all of his baby teeth
still clinging tightly to his paci though only in his bed if we can help it
crinkles his nose when he laughs
covers his mouth when he cries
makes us all smile

Moby-
sleeping...and the other usual doggy habits
misses us so much while we are gone he knocks both babies down when we return EVERY time!

The family-
busy, but happy
big patriot fans now that Eli and Layla Grace are part of the team
just got back from a week in Vegas (minus Mike)
got cell phones so we can send each other texts of our fun experiences
finished painting the house, now we are working on the master and baths
had the mold in our bathroom inspected and we are all clear for purchasing our house!
had the greatest family pictures just taken. We will send some out for the holidays

Berries and Cream Part One

If you want to learn this special dance, scroll down a smidge; I have posted a tutorial on the entire routine.

Berries and Cream

I have nothing else to say about this other than : I would like to dedicate this post to my friend Jenene Boardman.

This is Living

This is another picture from camping. It doesn't have a lot to do with my post other than to put a visual to the rest I feel I need already. (note the beer that is not really a beer in my son's hand.) Mike started his academy last week, and already we are overwhelmed with stuff. We have been so anti-hectic for the past three years that this schedule may just end me. Between piano lessons, football, cheerleading, Isabelle's new schedule with school, homeschooling, keeping up with Hot Lips, and The Man's new work responsibilities, I felt it was necessary to take a small break from school. I was having a hard time comprehending anything I was learning, so I dropped my history class. (Louie not Louise should not feel disappointed as I fully intend to take this class at another time..just not right now.) I get a two week break, one of which is in Vegas visiting friends and family, before I dive back into Sociology (ack) and Poli Sci (ack ack!!). Plus, I am switching my school nights to Thursdays, at least until football and cheer are over. Sanity prayers welcomed. Volunteers to care for babies during football games seriously needed. Please be in touch through our local contacts should you be able to offer your services.

My pictures are messing up..here is another

Summer's End Camping

Here are a couple of pictures from our camping trip. It was full of relaxing, sand sculptures, swimming, bike riding, and gluttony. Other than the fact that Sam slept miserably due to his rotten snack of rocks and lake water, it was awesome. I ended up having to share my mummy style sleeping bag with him. Obviously this was not even a little bit comfortable. Especially because he is a wiggly worm.

My Style Weekend Update

One more night of my Critical Thinking class. We are responsible for presenting ten popular fallacies people fall for out of a list of 27 good ones. Here is my speech for the "false dilemma fallacy" where Cookie Monster is shown simply devastated because he is out of milk to wash down his cookies. There are four people in my team, and we are delivering our speech in true Saturday Night Live, Weekend Update form. Cracks me right up! I love school!Here is my speech:

Good evening, and welcome to the (SAY EXACT TIME) news on LOL Fallacious Reasoning TV. My name is Shontell, and I am joined by my colleagues Christina, Kelly, and Andrew.

Before we get into our top story, we have breaking news concerning a certain loveable, blue, fuzzy monster. Cookie Monster was spotted earlier this week slipping into a seriously deep depression when, during his usual snack time of cookies, he was left high and dry with out any milk. The tragedy of it all is that Cookie was apparently so high on sugar from years of gluttony, he failed to consider any other beverage to help wash down his sugary treats. What Cookie has here is a false dilemma. And, now to Andrew with our top story.