The bonfire

EJ has family land not far from us.

They were digging out some ponds and needed to clear a bunch of cedar trees.

Once that work was done it was time for the biggest bonfire ever!

Of course a bonfire requires a hot dog roast and some s'mores.  Even though the fire doesn't look that way it was still very hot!

B man being silly eating chips

Q is a man with style.  I mean not everyone wears a tie to a bonfire.

W taking a break from running all over the land to pose for a picture.

Lil' Ruthie is ready for dinner.  Sippy cup in hand and chips near by.

Papa and Grandma deliver the dogs.

D is happy if he has his sucky finger.

E is still trying to figure out why he has to get in this ridiculous car seat and go places.

 Sister is pretty impressed with those hot dogs.

The marshmallows were pretty good too.  

"I'm sticky" she says.

Me and my man.

 Papa and baby D.

The whole crew.

This time on the land is extra special to my man.  He brings the big kids out here to play regularly but rarely are we all there.  These acres mean a lot to him.  He has dreams of building out here one day.  We talk about it often.  If God allows, we will build in a few years.  

But for now, it is time to head home and tuck our six blessings into bed.  Perhaps in a few years we will just walk to our house on the land.  I bet my man will be dreaming about that tonight.

Let's get this party started

Before the gals arrived I was doing my usual multitasking.

Here I am rocking baby D with one foot while feeding baby E.

I've asked Mom and the sisters to come once a week for a while.

This serves three purposes...

1. Instant play date for all the children.

2.  They help me out with babies, laundry and dishes.

3. Coffee talk with my mom and 2 of my sisters.

(DW needs to move home asap)

Let's get this party started.

By party, I mean play date with 11 children, 3 mommies and 1 grammy.

Pretty Princess shows up with coffee for all.

She is a good woman.

Grammy arrives with groceries and keeps the kiddos busy in the kitchen making some delicious guacamole.

Time for some yummy lunch.

I swear lil' Ruthie loved the guacamole.  I guess she didn't want her picture taken.

 The big boys found a place to keep their Lego sets safe from the little ones.

Q and Super Girl played puppies.

The kiddos love play time with Grammy.  I think this was some kind of jam session.

Then it was time to play cars.

Lil' Ruthie talked her cousin into playing princess castle with her.

Baby E didn't mind all the noise.  Baby D is much more mature so he took his nap in his crib away from the noise.

 The sisters minus DW.

Here we are on the phone with DW.

Grammy getting in some snuggle time with baby E.

 Time for nails!

It was a wonderful day!

It sure helps our cabin fever to have the party come to us.

Thanks for the fun Grammy, Rock Star, Pretty Princess and kiddos!

This is what a wise man looks like...

He could care less about sushi and he hates coffee.

But he loves me a lot.

He also loves his children a lot.

It sorts of looks like he is saying, "Here sweetie, look at these tasty treats.  Step away from the edge of that Mommy melt down and take a moment for yourself."

Wise man indeed.

No one wants a sleep deprived, hangry (when you are so hungry you are angry) woman on their hands.

Especially not a man with six children.

We make a good team honey.

Now, keep those coffees coming and no one gets hurt.

Including you.

Just kidding.

Sort of.

This is a beautiful sight

 

11 freezer meals made.

 

4 more in the works.

 

I am telling myself that all this hard work is worth the annoying number of Braxton Hicks contractions I am having.  I think I may have overdone it today.

 

Time to put my feet up and enjoy some Chinese take out.

Second Dinner

One of my favorite episodes of the series "The Office" is the one where Pam goes into labor with her first child.  During her pregnancy, she and Kevin are constantly eating together.

Here is a quote from Kevin: "Pregnant Pam and I, we get hungry at the same times so we've been eating together a lot.  Not all meals.  Just, second breakfast, lunch, second lunch and first dinner."

I can totally relate to this!  Especially at this stage of pregnancy.  There is just no room in my stomach for a full meal.  That means I eat less per meal but more often during the day.  Much more often.

EJ knows that I won't make it from dinner time to bed time without having "second dinner."  He teases me a bit, but make no mistake about it, he loves to join me for second dinner!

He was working late a lot last week.  He kept coming home after the kids were in bed.  One night, when he came through the door, he could see that I had an empty plate sitting next to me. 

"Oh no!  I missed second dinner!" He said.

"A pregnant woman's "second dinner" waits for no one!" I replied.



Triple chocolate covered almonds with gray sea salt

Why are you so delicious?

 

My man hates coffee. 

 

That means he really has no use for Starbucks.

 

He also thinks my delicious snack of chocolate covered almonds is ridiculously overpriced.

 

But...

 

he loves me.

 

So...

 

when I look into my coffee drawer and find these little beauties my heart soars.

 

And my sweet tooth is satisfied.

 

Thanks, babe.

 

These are a perfect pick me up for a Momma who has spent the last 7 days cleaning up explosive diarrhea pull ups and diapers. 

 

I hate you Rotavirus.  You are not a nice house guest.

 

P.S. I am sorry I just wrote a blog post that included both tasty food and the mention of nasty bodily functions.

Ain't nobody got time for that

Coffee cups are important to me.  I have a favorite cup for home and a favorite to go cup.  My favorites have changed over the years.  Usually they change without my permission.  They get broken and I have to move on.  It is painful and requires a short mourning period.

I have been on the look out for a new favorite for about a week or two.

Then one glorious day, Grammy showed up with a little gift.  Two beautiful zebra print coffee cups.  Not only do they perfectly match my home (I have a thing for zebra print) but they are also the perfect shape and size.  FABULOUS!

I recently bought some dishes that came with coffee cups.  I knew they would be worthless to me.  Just look at the size of that puny white mug.

When I brew a fresh cup of coffee (thank you Keurig) I add just the right amount of sugar and cream.  If I were to use a puny cup I would have to make a smaller cup of coffee.  Which means I would have to doctor up my coffee more times per day.  Ain't nobody got time for that!

On that note, does anyone need 8 puny coffee cups?  They are free to a good home.

Pickles

Oh my stars.  I LOVE pickles.  I did not experience this craving in previous pregnancies.  I am currently working my way through the large jar of pickles on the left. 

Normally pickles are just okay in my book.

But these days that sour taste "hurts so good".

I gotta go.  I hear a pickle calling my name.

Taco Bell Verde Sauce...

 Where have you been all my life????

This stuff is amazingly yummy.  Have they always had it and I just didn't notice? 

Has anyone else tried this? 

Delicious.

Feel the LOVE

I haven't cooked for a long time.  I just can't stomach the idea of preparing food.  My poor family is eating easy to prepare, pre-packaged foods.  We are also eating out all the time.  There are only so many places in our little town to eat out.  After a while, everything just sounds gross.


For some reason my nausea is worse in the late afternoon and evening.  That makes the "What are we going to eat for dinner?" question even more unbearable to me.


This afternoon, I was trying to figure out what to feed my family. 


The truth is I just kind of wanted to lay on the couch and cry about it.


I am sick and tired.  I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.  You know what I mean?


Then I heard my phone.


It was a text from a precious friend.


"Do you have dinner plans?" (the answer of course was no)


"Can I bring dinner to you tonight?" (the answer of course was YES!)


The most delicious meal arrived at our house just in time for dinner.


My family celebrated!  Real food!


I am so grateful. 

Not only did my friend make me feel so loved by this act of kindness but it also made me feel loved by our Heavenly Father. 

He sees me.

Genesis 16:13
She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.”

J. thank you so much for blessing us tonight!

Today we celebrated...

Mommy's first time to drive since the wreck.

We ran one errand.

Then I was hungry and tired.

So we went to lunch.

'cause that's how we roll.