Explanation

I would like to explain a new change on my blog before it is confusing to anybody. If you go to leave a comment now, you will notice that there is a little box asking you to 'type the letters you see in the box above'. That's all you have to do---simple. After you write your comment, simply type in the letters that you see displayed in the box.

I have avoided adding this feature to my blog for several years now. Part of the reason is because my Grandma used to love to comment on my posts, and I was afraid that an additional step like this would confuse her. Also, I have never had any problems with comments in the past, so it wasn't a big deal.

However, just in the past couple of weeks, I've opened up my comments and found 'junk mail', comments from other 'blogs' that didn't make sense, and mass 'advertisements' for.....well.....things I don't want advertised on the comment section of my blog! I thought maybe it would just happen once, but it has happened several times, and it's starting to annoy me....

So, there is the reason for the new 'extra step'. This should help to prevent me getting any 'spam' mail in my comments. Essentially what this does is makes sure that the person leaving the comment is actually a real live person, and not a computer out there somewhere!

Please don't let this stop you from leaving a comment for me! I love the things you all have to say in the comments and look forward to reading them----those of you who are real people that is, and not some computer trying to hack into my comment section :)

So, if you're a real person out there, give it a try and leave me a comment right now :)

Our Sunday

So I call Eli at my Mom's house to say goodnight after having not seen him all day, and you know what he says?? "Can I talk to Cosette?" LOL! I'm glad to know they're good buddies :)

Oh, and my son, my baby boy, my own flesh and blood, said my SISTER'S name again. TWICE. I told them to teach him how to say 'Mommy' ;)

In all seriousness, we are missing our boys, but glad that Cosette can be here as the family finds comfort in being together. She was a very good girl today, and we were proud of her during the viewing.

One more cute thing before I sign off, because life is filled with things to smile about, even during sad times like this.

We were at Joel's Grandfather's house after the viewing so that we could all eat a meal together. As we were getting ready to go, I asked Cosette to get her jacket. She said "I can't Mom, 'cuz some man put it somewhere!''

LOL! I thought she knew who everybody was, but apparently Joel's cousin Wes was 'Some man' to her. I made a point on the way back to the motel to make sure she was better versed in all of her relatives :)

To prepare

So, we're traveling down tomorrow to the funeral and we'll be staying over-night. The boys are not going with us, since we felt like the drive and the viewing/funeral would all be just a little too much for them. Cosette, however, is going with us. As sad as she is about everything, she's also a little excited to be staying in a hotel room. Here are a few strange items that are packed in our bags that those of you without a family or small children might have never thought of:

• Maalox, Tums, Tylenol and Cough Drops---For my nasty pregnancy heart-burn, Joel's head-cold, and just in case all of the flowers in the funeral home give me a head-ache, which they have the past five times one of our grandparents has passed away. I'm learning!

• A big box of wipes---I find that even an almost five year old has need of these all the time--sticky hands, spilled her drink, whatever.

• A big water jug----because we can't be stopping for water every time this pregnant mama or our five year old decide they are thirsty

• Coloring books, crayons, library books, baby dolls, pen and paper, and little hand-size animals---because a 2 1/2 hour car ride can seem like an eternity when you're four!

• My tempurpedic pillow---because I'm so spoiled with this thing that I can't imagine trying to sleep on anything else now!

• My favorite fuzzy green blanket---because you get to hotel rooms and pull up the 'comforter' and think "What, THIS thing is supposed to keep me warm all night?"

• My hair straightener---because there are times when you just don't want your hair to look like a big mushroom---this is one of them!

• A bag full of crackers, apples, oranges, bananas, brownies---because I'm sure that Cosette and I will need some some snacks!

• Joel's cell-phone and charger---mostly because I will definitely need to call and check on my two little guys before bed tomorrow night!

So add into all of that mess that I had to pack the boys stuff to go with my mom and dad to church and then to their house, plus all of the 'normal' stuff for Cosette and I like clothes and dress clothes, tooth-brushes and shampoo and dress shoes and deoderant and little girls hair clips and bows, and.....well, I'm sure I forget something! And this is just a short 48 hour trip :) I can't wait until some certain little people are big enough to pack their own things :) Thank God that Joel can pack his own huge list of stuff--suit coat, tie, razor, toothbrush, deoderant. Men are so lucky :)

Mourning

We are grieving yet once again the loss of another beloved Grandparent. Joel's Grandma passed away last night. She had been in the hospital, but the last news we had received was that things were looking better and she should be headed home before too long. Well, things took a sudden turn for the worse, and she passed away rather suddenly last night. She will be greatly, greatly missed.

You may remember my post from a few years ago when Joel's grandpa passed away. Then, his grandma (on his mom's side) also died a few months after that. My great-grandmother passed away early summer of last year. Then of course, my mom's mom died this past April, and her mom (my great grandmother) followed her later that summer. And now Nonnie has passed away.

When we had Cosette, we realized that she had 14 living grandparents, great grandparents, and great-great grandparents. That's a lot for a little child! She was so blessed! We knew that eventually time would run it's course and she would lose some of her grandparents, but we never expected her to lose six in this short amount of time.

Please pray for our family and for Joel's family. It was difficult to tell the kids this morning when they woke up. It is difficult to know that Nonnie will not receive the beautiful get-well card and picture that Cosette drew for her and put in the mail just yesterday. It is difficult....

Life stinks sometimes. This life on earth is hard, it is not always as it was meant to be. We are looking forward to Heaven someday.....in the meantime, missing those who are already there.

Made my day...

So I was out the other day at the store buying milk. It seems I am always out at the store buying milk. With three kiddos under five, we go through a lot of milk. Add in that Joel and I also drink our fair share, and I'm guess-timating that we probably consume anywhere from four to seven gallons a week. Good grief. Do you all with large families buy that much milk?? Fortunately, there is a little store right down the road from my house, so I don't have to go far when I look in the fridge and realize that we're almost out again!

Anyway, I digress. The point of this post is not the large quantity of milk we consume. No, it's to brag on a certain man that I adore. You see, when I got home from my little milk-buying excursion the other day, there was a message blinking on my machine. I started running through my mind any number of possible people that it might be. I pushed the play button, and heard my husband's voice. His message was basically just along the lines of letting me know he was thinking about me, and everything I do to keep our family and house-hold 'running', and that he appreciates those things and loves me.

This made my day! No, more than my day, because it's been two days so far, and I'm still thinking about that sweet little message. Guys, do you want to make your wive's smile a little bigger, walk a little lighter, and mood a little more cheerful? Give her a surprise call and tell her how much you love her. You'll be amazed at the results :)

Table for 'one', please

My little guy, enjoying his Sunday Evening snack at a Noah-size table.

Thanksgiving Eve

Yep, we decided to cancel all school-work yesterday and make an 'official' holiday of 'Thanksgiving Eve'. We loved it! Here are some shots from our fun day, plus a video clip :)

Cosette and....WHO could it be?

Working on our Thanksgiving rings, which we
will hang on our Christmas Tree when we
get it. Each ring has a different thing on it
that the kids are thankful for.


We had carrot cake for breakfast--yum!

Imagine waking up to this sweet little guy :)

And finally, Eli practicing his classes song for

the Christmas Program at church :) I tried to

catch him 'unaware' while he was singing,

but he knew I was video-ing, so he put on

his 'best' performance :)

My Thanksgiving Blessings

All three of them :) Aren't they beautiful? This is the best

'group picture' I could get with everybody at least part-way

smiling. Next year there will be four beautiful

children in this photo :)