Loving his gifts...

little boy running...at the crack of dawn...bursting into the bedroom...declaring his love...Do you know how much I love ya'll?...I love you as big as the house...I love you as big as a big guitar that reaches from hear to China...I love you as much as a big houses that stretches to where the penguins live

fire blazing...warming our home...homemade bread and rolls rising on the mantel

an array of colors...green...orange...yellow...brown...bubbling in the pot...stew for supper

chubby baby legs...wobbly...learning to stand

little ones listening...enraptured...as I read The Nutcracker

Life with our two year old...

Here she is wearing the superman shirt for our dog about 5 minutes after she slathered lotion all over baby sister's head;)

Holli

Christmas Baking

Today was the day I had planned to do some baking for Christmas gifts. We decided to make a double batch of Molasses Cookies to give away with a our Christmas cards. The children worked busily on coloring pictures for all of the neighbors while I gathered the ingredients. With my nursling in her wrap we began the baking day. The boys were eager to help and we were off to a good start. ( I must add that my nerves were already a bit frazzeled because of a disagreeable two year old)


The ingredients were being dumped in the bowl correctly, the egg shells were staying out of the batter and all were taking turns when Lou Lou falls off of the chair flat onto her back. My nursling was strapped on tight and I couldn't check on Lou Lou as quickly as I would have liked. I headed to the couch to unwrap the baby (who immediately started crying) I go back to the kitchen to check on Lou Lou and give her a kiss. We finished the rest of the cookies with a crying baby in the walker beside the table.


As the cookies are baking the boys head outside to help daddy build a birdhouse for a Christmas gift. I sign the cards and bag the cookies to deliver to the neighbors.


When everyone is awake from nap we deliver the cookies to the neighbors. We had several nice visits and the day ended pleasantly.


So there you have it...sometimes everything does not always run smoothly our household;)

My nursling crying because I took her out of the sling.



Lou Lou and Boo helping bake the cookies


The kids drawing pictures and making cards for the neighbors.

Holli

Reflecting on His Gifts

Baby breath...wet kisses...wobbly legs learning to stand

My nursling peacefully sleeping by my side in the dark.

sisters...playing...laughing...loving

brothers...romping...building...just being buddies

Counting down the days till Christmas by the light of the tree

Snuggling together in mommy and daddy's bed...reading

hearing the squeals of delight from little ones as daddy walks in the door from work

Thanksgiving on the Mountain

On Monday we attended a Thanksgiving/pioneer day celebration with the local homeschool group. The boys baked a sweet potato pie for the pie contest. They won second place! They didn't quite know what to think about it. I didn't get a picture of the final product or the ribbon. Here they are making the pie.

Here are the boys at the quilting work station.

Here are the boys at the cival war confederate camp.

Our little soldiers learning how to march.

Here are the kids in a race to dress one another up as scarecrows.

Making Tinctures...Homemade Medicine

I used to get overwhelmed when thinking of making my own tinctures, but a friend gave me a step by step and I realized its really very easy.

What are tinctures?

Tinctures are preparations made by allowing herbs to soak in alcohol, vegetable glycerin or cider vinegar. This soaking extracts the medicinal properties from the herbs. After straining the resulting liquid has stronger medicinal properties than an herbal tea.

Material Needed

pint or quart size jars

spoon

vegetable glycerin or vodka(at least 90 proof)

warm water if using vegetable glycerin

labels

herbs

Today I am making several tinctures using vegetable glycerin. Pictured below are the supplies and process for making a restful sleep/calming glycerin tincture. The herbs I have chosen are chamomile, lavender, lemon balm, catnip, and peppermint. I layered the herbs in a quart size canning jar. Next, I poured very warm water (about 1and 1/2 cups)over the herbs. Using a spoon mash herbs for a couple of minutes. Drain off any excess water. Next, fill the jar with vegetable glycerin. Put lid on and shake the mixture until the glycerin seems thoroughly mixed. Then place a towel in the bottom of a crock pot or large pan on stove. Cook tinctures on very low heat for 2-3 days. When mixture is finished cooking strain and place in blue or amber colored bottles. Store in a cool dark place.

picture of supplies

mashing the herbs with the warm water

cooking the mixture on low

*Remember to strain excess water off of the herbs. The mixture must be at least 60% vegetable glycerin or it will mold.

*If using alcohol, simply place herbs in jar, pour in alcohol and let it sit for 2-3 weeks. Shake daily

Happy Herbaling...

Holli

"I'm following your steps mommy"...

During a short walk down the road with the littles today, barefoot Bo begins walking closely behind me. "I'm following your steps mommy, I'm even stepping on the hard rocks like you."

Inside I wince. Please don't follow me. I haven't been the best person to be following . Selfish impatience seems to get the better of me. Reacting too hastily to little ones mistakes seems to explain my parenting techniques as of late. As I think back over the situations I've been called to handle lately, it seems I've made a mess of each one.

I can't proclaim with the confidence of Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:1, "Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ." I need to practice more living in the spirit. I long for spirit living that makes a difference in my moments. Choosing to live each moment so that Christ is clearly seen in my life.

So that when one of the littles proclaim, "I'm following you." I can say, "Carry on sweet one, because I am following another far greater than I."

Holli