Everything I Never Wanted

Moving the Blog

2012-02-15T14:05:00.000-08:00

I'm migrating my blog over to Wordpress in response to Google's new "privacy" policy.

This post will be here for the next few days, then it's gone pecan.

Our new blog will be www.gerardandjenniferspinner.wordpress.com

Thanks!

The Results

2012-02-10T12:48:00.000-08:00

Chicken thighs + water + salt + pepper + onion + bay leaves = delicious and inexpensive, too!

The broth came out so, so well. I'm mighty pleased. I ended up with about six quarts, two of which were used last night to make chicken and rice soup for the little ones. Em and Daniel both tasted the broth and then practically begged me to make soup! That's the type of nagging I don't mind one bit.

Rather than can the broth, I decided to freeze it instead. I do plan to can a batch or two in the next couple of weeks, however, making it shelf stable. Our commissary has whole birds for about .89 a pound, which is a good price, near as I can tell. I have a short list of things I want for the kitchen - a good cleaver and kitchen shears near the top - and once I have those things, I can do a better job at hacking up the chicken.

I also looked into utilizing the services of the nearest LDS (Mormon) cannery. I've always admired the practical lifestyle emphasis of LDS teachings and long been a "lurker" on the LDS-sponsored "Provident Living" Website. The emphasis on preparation for a rainy day hearkens back to a saner, more responsible time in our nation's history, one that seemed to disappear (or at least begin to) in the '60's. Such a shame.

BUT, *we* want to be somewhat prepared. I'm not talking about building an underground bunker, but if I am able to can and preserve rice and beans in bulk, why wouldn't I... especially when the price is better than any sale? Another kitchen gadget on my list is a good dehydrator and, until I am able to get one, I ca buy desiccated apples, onions and potatoes to have on hand and soooo much cheaper than anything you find at the store. Even if I don't have immediate need, these items last for years in a sealed can! One never knows what the future holds.

That's all for now. I'm playing around with applesauce today and maybe grapefruit marmalade. We received several large grapefruits as part of our Bountiful Baskets haul last week and they're sitting there on the counter, not being eaten! Perhaps if I turn them into something they'll be used... I'm think the same thing about the four bunches of radishes. I found a nifty, quick and easy recipe for pickled radish slices.

I'll keep you posted!

At this moment in time...

2012-02-09T13:35:00.000-08:00

I am extremely nervous about a large metal contraption, hissing on my stove.

I finally broke out the pressure cooker we bought before summer last year. I now know this is a "first generation" pressure cooker, which means it has the weighted regulator as opposed to one with a dial that gives a visual reading of the pressure inside the cooker. There are benefits and drawbacks to this type (evidently) but it matters little to me since this is my first time using one!

I stood there the first twenty minutes... staring. Waiting for it to explode and coat me and the kitchen in scalding (and blinding) chicken stock.

It didn't happen.

That's not to say it won't happen... I still have about thirty minutes of cook time left, not counting the pressure release period. I'm not really sure what "gently rocking" looks like in regards to the regulator and I fear the hissing that is filling my kitchen means the pressure is a tad too high. I guess that means I'll have super-concentrated stock.

There are worse things that could happen, no?

My ridiculous fears aside, it smells FANTASTIC. If it works out, I'll post the recipe for those who care to give it a try. I received another (nicer) pressure cooker years and years ago and we used it once, when Mimi - Gerard's grandmother - came for a visit. She cooked turkey necks for dressing and then it went back under the cabinet until I gave it away shortly thereafter. I *never* thought I'd use such a contraption!

But, here we are, several years later, and I have a pantry full of mason jars and lids, a food mill, apple peeler and big ol' steamer for processing goodies. I make my own yogurt, bread from scratch and no longer wince (too much) at touching raw meat.

I've come a long way, baby!

Very Pinteresting

2012-02-05T09:28:00.000-08:00

I'm on Pinterest, by the way. I don't know that anyone reading this will care... I don't know that I even care... I'm having a difficult time "getting" it! (The point, that is.)

I guess it's just a visual "favorites," right?

I dunno.

I'm listed under my married name, if you are interested!

Oh, and Geaux Saints! Ha! I wish!

Here and There

2012-02-04T13:12:00.000-08:00

This is TWO shares of fruit and veg. Only $30!

We've had a wonderfully mild winter and the children have enjoyed being able to play outside. The last few days have been as close to perfect as possible - better than what we typically get until about June! Sunny, clear and in the 50's. We LOVE it.

We're nearing Daddy's homecoming and not a moment too soon. There's definitely a lighter mood around here these days, especially for me! I cannot wait to have him here.

Today was our pick up for a program called Bountiful Baskets. For fifteen bucks, you get a basket full of fruit and veg, sorted and ready to go at pick up time. This week we ordered two baskets and were not disappointed with our goodies! The program is available all over the United States. If you have it in your area, it's worth looking in to!

Our resident Whipper Snapper. Photo courtesy of Emmy Lou.

All is well on the weight loss front. I've done well with cutting out all sugar and grains - as of this morning, I've lost 25 pounds since December 12th. That's pretty darned fantastic! I've made a conscious effort to increase my fat intake, decrease the carbohydrates and eat moderate protein. It's amazing the difference in every area, particularly my mood and the appearance of my skin, hair and nails. Fat is your friend... as long as you avoid sugar and processed foods! If you want an interesting and humorous look at this type of diet, check out "Fat Head," by Tom Naughton. It's excellent.

Daniel and Julius destroying... er, learning about water and how it
changes the landscape. That's what I told the neighbors, anyway.

The children are doing really well. I am SO glad we stuck with homeschooling this year. It really is our best year ever! I read something that really stuck with me - "never doubt in the darkness what God has shown you in the light." In other words, don't let the fears that come when you're in difficult circumstances sway you from what you know to be God's will. I think this is especially important as we enter what appears to be the darkest time in America's history when it comes to religious liberty and freedom.

Even so, come Lord Jesus!

A self-portrait of my two "big" girls... those glasses make me nuts!

Elizabeth has completely kicked her viral infection and is back to her happy self. She's been a bit more ornery than usual the last day or so, however, as she's cutting more teeth. She LOVES to eat solids and I took a chance on a rather gimmicky product known as the "Baby Bullet" to make her baby food at home. IT'S FANTASTIC. It's quick, easy and cleans up in a breeze. Em helps make food, too. Today I plan to do a huge batch of carrots and freeze them and we typically make applesauce and pearsauce on demand every morning. No added sugar necessary! If you're looking for a nifty baby shower gift, the Baby Bullet is pretty neat.

That's it for now. I'm taking advantage of a quiet house and I know it won't last!

Our Ninja Master... I think we need another one... because life's not crazy enough!

Quick Pics

2012-01-29T12:42:00.000-08:00

We ended up getting quite a bit of snow - about five inches by the time it was all over. The children had a blast... for about a day... then they were ready for it to go away! The snow was followed by an icy rain... then warm rain... making it a muddy, nasty mess. As much as I enjoy *seeing* the snow, me thinks I'd tire of a full-on snowy winter.

We had an opportunity to send a few photos out to my beloved, so I snapped two quickies in the bed with the little ones and tucked in a few I already had of Em and D. Here are the ones of Cat and LizzyBee. I can't find the other ones of the older children!

Family Photo, Minus One

2012-01-21T11:43:00.000-08:00

Bits & Pieces

2012-01-15T10:13:00.000-08:00

We awoke this morning to the lightest - and I do mean lightest - dusting of snow. Unfortunately, it's already melting away and, unless we get a wild shift in the weather, it's highly unlikely we'll get much of anything to celebrate. The Olympic Mountains create a "donut hole" over Kitsap County, keeping us from getting the snowfall and thunderstorms the surrounding areas receive every year. If we lived across the water and north (around Arlington) we'd be happy campers!

So, it's brrrr chilly out there and we're getting a slow start to the day. Elizabeth has been quite ill the last two weeks with a respiratory virus and I've made one trip to the E/R, as well as a three-hour visit to the hospital for analysis of her mucous, along with chest x-rays. It does seem (finally) that she is improving and not a moment too soon. Pardon me for being selfish here, but not sleeping for several days in a row left me a bit frazzled. That, coupled with her uncharacteristic constant crying and screaming, has made all of us a bit frazzled!

It looks like she is on the mend, however, and happy days are here again. I'm still keeping her close to home and away from situations in which she could cough or sneeze and infect others, particularly little ones. That means we haven't left the house in about two weeks, save for a quick trip to the grocery store (just me and Daniel) and the trips to the hospital. Can you say cabin fever?

We've hit the half-way hump for this deployment but the home stretch still seems to stretch looong before us. Gerard's email account is jacked up, so although he can receive my messages, he can't send any out. I've received ONE in the last month and it was only a few sentences because he didn't know that it would even make it out. Deployments are tough enough but not having any communication is almost unbearable! I constantly remind myself that it's more important that he receive my messages, however, since he's the one away from his family.

I've done well with keeping the sugar out of my daily diet and so far am down nineteen pounds. I have much more energy and it's certainly come in handy with Elizabeth being sick. Around the time she started showing symptoms, I had decided to cut caffeine completely, meaning dropping my daily morning energy "shot." Oh misery. It took a week to break the dependence! I'm good now, though. Drug free! Ha!

I'm sorry I have no photos to share. My hands have been full.

That's all for now...

A Whole Lotta Precious

2011-12-31T17:29:00.000-08:00

These are similar to two images already posted, but still so cute I want to share!

Sparkles

2011-12-30T14:08:00.000-08:00

This child is so sweet... even when she's teething, she sparkles!

The New 'Do

2011-12-30T07:02:00.000-08:00

The salon was able to get me in last night... I'm tickled with the results! I took a front-facing shot, as well as one on the side... kind of... so you can see the texture. I feel like I lost another five pounds... off of my HEAD! The back is shorter and has lots of layers - obviously, it would be tough to do a self-portrait of the back with the computer camera!

Happy (Almost) New Year!

2011-12-29T14:38:00.000-08:00

Elizabeth is entertained in her new-to-us "jumperoo" and Catherine is sleeping, which means I have a moment of silence... and free hands! Not only that, I can plant my rump on a horizontal surface for more than five minutes, which means I *may* be able to finish a blog post.

Here goes.

We had a lovely, if uneventful, Christmas. As I noted in my last post, I gave the children their presents a week or two early, so there was little in the way of "ooooh, look what I got" Christmas morning. I probably should have set aside one gift for each of them. But I didn't. And they survived. Go figure...

I hoped to take the posse to church, but it was not to be. Elizabeth was up all night and threw up allll morning, making me a grumpy, wet and stinky mess. She finally settled around noon or one-ish, and took a VERY long nap. I joined her. It was wonderful.

She awoke in a much better mood and we were able to venture to base for dinner. We ate a delicious meal at the galley, for the low, low price of seven bucks each. Technically, the only people allowed to eat there were military members and their families IF they were WITH the military member. The publicity failed to mention that helpful piece of information... but the galley manager made an exception for us. I told the children it was because I looked so cute... they said it was probably because he felt bad for us. They're probably right.

Speaking of cute, I'm getting my hair cut tonight. I cut the garbage from my diet about two-and-a-half weeks ago and have lost about fifteen pounds. Thank goodness. I was feeling quite nasty there for a while! To celebrate, I'm lopping off a few inches of my mane. You can typically judge my level of confidence by the length of my hair. If it's short, I'm feelin' sassy.

Lizzy Bee is growing impatient with her reflection. A very happy 2012 to you all!

A Quickie

2011-12-23T14:33:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas Eve Eve! I'm in the midst of cleaning my kitchen after a week of making and delivering meals for a friend and her family of nine... which, when combined with my own growing brood, makes for a lot of action around the stove! I've not been able to catch up all week, so today I opted to simply drop off the goodies and skip the three-hour visit in the evening. Emily and Daniel are disappointed but the house was crying out for attention!

It seems we've come out of the "Daddy's gone" slump, and not a moment too soon. This was one sad little household - and grumpy, too! As we move past the sadness, however, our spirits are lifted and the anticipation begins. Still far too long to go, but we're closer now than we were when he left!

Christmas is on the horizon and my children will have no presents under the tree... what an awful mom, right? No... I did all of our shopping earlier this month and then, when Gerard's sister was in town, made the mistake of letting them each open "just one." Well, I'm bad at keeping GOOD secrets and surprises, so I decided to give them everything at once!

Catherine and Elizabeth are the founding members of the
Mutual Adoration Club...
I need a better small camera to capture these moments!

In the excitement of our first couple of years of marriage, Gerard and I went whole hog with Christmas presents but quickly learned that charging a bunch of toys that would soon be ignored was a fool's errand. Thus, it seems each Christmas has become more low key, particularly since Gerard and I came back to the practice of our Christian faith a few years ago. It's not OUR birthdays we celebrate, after all - it's the birth of our Lord!

As our observance of Christmas continues to evolve, I believe we'll eventually get to the point of giving a small gift on Christmas and incorporating more traditional, religious customs, such as gifts on St. Nicholas' Day and perhaps participating in Three Kings Day. In order to keep the focus on Christ at Christmas, we'll give HIM gifts by giving unto "the least of these," as He requested. A water well in an impoverished nation perhaps.

Auntie Rae with Em and D

We've enjoyed LOTS of sunshine the last couple of weeks, more sunshine than I've ever seen in December. I believe this is the driest December on record - though I'm not certain. I often turn on the radio around 4 am when I'm feeding Elizabeth and manage to catch bits and pieces of the reports. I'm grateful either way. The sunshine lifts my spirits.

In other, completely unrelated news, I changed my blog settings to "public" once again. I do apologize for the back and forth, but it was difficult for some folks to log on. I will simply avoid mentioning specifics about Gerard's deployment - not that I ever DID mention specifics, but I'll be extra careful not to mention anything that can be misconstrued as such.

ANYWAY...

In the days since putting my blog back on the market, I've had a TON of visitors from all over the world! Crazy! The top referring search has been an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Christ child, included in my Ad Jesum per Mariam post. Seeing the stats really brings home how much influence one blogger can have - I wish I had profundities to share, but - alas - I do not.

Congratulations if you've stuck with me through this very random post.

Merry Christmas!

God with us!

A Beautiful Moment

2011-12-16T07:22:00.000-08:00

This 8 month old baby was born deaf, watch the moment as his cochlear implant is activated and he hears sound for the first time, and his mother's voice. It's simply remarkable! I love the moment his paci drops from his mouth.

For Daddy

2011-12-12T12:42:00.000-08:00

Two little girls were roused from their naps to get this photo... can you guess which one was more displeased?

MIA

2011-12-06T09:55:00.000-08:00

All is well, I assure you. This has been one rough deployment and I don't want to make a post, only to bellyache and complain about how much I miss my husband! I'm trying my best to be positive and upbeat, but this is tough. Toughest yet. Yesterday Daniel started crying (which is VERY rare) when he got to the last portion of his phonics lesson. It was a picture of a submarine and I told him to spell it, he looked up at me quietly. "Son, spell it." He started crying.

Sigh.

So, now that I've gotten THAT out of the way, on to other things.

It's cold, gray... but not rainy. For that I am grateful! We've had a remarkably dry start to the colder months and I do hope it continues that way through winter. (It won't, but a gal can dream!) The children are opting to stay indoors despite the dry weather, simply because it gets dark so early during the month of December. I think it's particularly fitting for the four weeks of Advent, as we await the Light that shines in the darkness on Christmas Day!

Gerard's younger sister Kristen is here this week and we're having a great visit. She's here through Sunday, so we have a few more days to snap photos and enjoy her company. I hope to have a few shots to share sometime next week.

Speaking of shots, I took senior pictures for our friend Angelica. She is the younger sister of Maddy, for whom I took senior pictures earlier this year. Here are a few of my favorites -

Isn't she beautiful? Inside and out.

I hope everyone is well!

Most Popular

2011-11-19T22:01:00.000-08:00

At this moment - 10 pm on a Saturday night - I am the most popular kid in school... three of our four children are asleep in my room, two of them in my bed! Em is staying at a friend's house, so it's party in momma's room!

I won't write much because I'd be a FOOL to stay up late when everyone is asleep, but I will post a few recent shots for your enjoyment. You'll notice Elizabeth's unhappy face in one of the shots and an obviously upset Catherine in another. This is why photos are so rare these days! It's mighty tough to get everyone smiling for the camera!

Enjoy...

Second Verse, Same as the First

2011-11-08T15:00:00.000-08:00

Big D at approximately 8 am today.
Em helped him make a helmet from a
discarded ice cream bucket - you can't
read them, but the words on the star read:
"Nerf or Nothing"

Ladies and gentlemen, Gerard has left the building.

It's been a stressful week (last week) as we prepared to say goodbye. Remember when you could walk with your friends and family to the departure gate at the airport? You'd just sit there with a lump in your throat, making meaningless small talk and sidestepping the obvious. Always on the verge of tears. Knowing they'd open that gate and you'd have to say goodbye.

That was our week.

Gerard and I didn't talk about it much. We joked that it was coming and both noted that it had sneaked up on us this time around, but little more than that. It wasn't until last night as I watched him play checkers with Em that I started to feel those hot tears and that terribly uncomfortable knot in my throat.

Deployments suck.

I realize that suck is not the most genteel word to describe it, but I can't think of a word that better expresses the way we all feel.

You'd think it would get easier.

For us, it's only gotten more difficult.

Enough about that. There's no point wallowing in misery when there's life to be lived and children to be loved! It's a bright, sunshiney day and we are blessed in every imaginable way. Deployments are temporary, after all, and before we know it, my beloved will be home again.

Catherine in her "Dora" poncho

As I just mentioned, it's bright and sunny outside, although it's quite chilly! Those beautiful fall leaves are still clinging to the trees, waiting for the inevitable windstorm. I still haven't gotten outside with a camera... it's just so much work! I know, I know - excuses - but it's a lot of work getting everyone dressed and outside, then trying to get everyone to smile for the camera. Shoot, I'd settle for getting everyone to LOOK at the camera!

We just came in from running errands. It was nice to get out of the house! Em and D like to meet their friends at the school gate when the bell rings, so I dropped them off and came home with Elizabeth to see that we left the front door WIDE open. Oops! Thankfully, the neighborhood is safe and I wasn't concerned at all.

Now that Gerard is gone, I can buckle down and set a few goals. At the top of my list is re-establishing a daily devotional time with the children. We've slacked on praying with them and doing Bible study and that needs to change. I bought a beautiful book on Proverbs from Doorposts, Hidden Treasures. I have a bit of reading to do before we can implement the program, but it looks so promising. Nothing - and I mean NOTHING - can bring about heart change like scripture can. I read a chapter of Proverbs every day and am eager to do this with our children.

In the meantime, we'll pray together daily and work on a very easy character study that you can find HERE. We'll probably begin tomorrow and do it every day for the following ten days. I plan to construct a tree on the wall and add the fruit as we go. Doesn't it look like a cute project? For all its ills, the Internet is a great resource for great ideas and information!

My other big goal is to drop thirty pounds during this deployment. He's gone until early next year, so it shouldn't be *too* difficult... cough, cough... I decided today that I will go back to my trusty method of taking off pounds without hunger, a reduced carb "diet," coupled with daily exercise. Nothing too challenging there. Once I drop the thirty pounds, I'll transition to a moderate diet like I used to follow when Gerard and I first met. Back then it was easy, though, because I didn't really know how to cook. Now that I know my way around a skillet, saying "no" to seconds is a bit more difficult.

Darned Food Network!

Finally, I hope to learn my way around the sewing machine he bought me a few years back. That's the most daunting of all because I want to learn in THEORY but don't feel like doing it in REALITY. It's just so much work to thread the bobbin and the needle. Well, it's not - but I'm kinda lazy.

Off to make dinner...

Going Public

2011-11-02T08:54:00.000-07:00

Not a care in the world!

My apologies to those who tried to visit our family page and found it blocked. Blogger allows the site owner to see trends in visitors and I noticed a lot (and I mean a LOT) of traffic coming from very strange sites. I tried to find pages hosted on those sites that may have linked to my blog, but couldn't. Thus, I went "dark" for a while. Should you find the page blocked again, please send me an email and I will include you on the authorized users list!

It's a crisp, clear morning here in the great state o' Washington and we've enjoyed many sunny days as of late. Oddly enough, it feels like we've had more sunny days the last couple of weeks than we did over the summer! The trees are decorated in their autumn finery and everything is so very pretty. I do love fall here - the brightly colored leaves really stand out against the evergreens. Unfortunately, fall is short lived and we anticipate a big windstorm at any time to blow all those pretty leaves away!

Each day brings us closer to Gerard's departure and today the children and I are putting finishing touches on his "halfway night box" - a shoe box filled with cards, letters and candy that he will open when he gets half-way through the deployment. The boats typically do a big party that night, with goofy games and big ticket give-a-ways to bring the crew together for a few hours of happiness in an otherwise rather dreary stretch of time. Months away from family is bad enough, but couple that with no access to the outside world (not even windows to see it!) and you can begin to imagine how miserable the guys can get. Gerard tries to sleep as much as possible but told me it's not easy to do because there's no light to regulate your sleep-wake patterns.

This was taken a while back (you can tell by Elizabeth's thin
legs!) but it's so cute I had to share!

He'll make do, of course, as he always does... and so will we. Our intent is still for him to get out of the Navy but it is a scary prospect. Everything will depend on employment and whether he can find a decent job upon transition. Although we were leaning toward Louisiana, our research has shown that the cost of living there is still pretty steep. Eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina are definitely in the running! Still the south, still a good growing season, but considerably less expensive and a bit more "country," which is what we want.

The children are doing well. Elizabeth continues to amaze us with her sweet, mild spirit. She really is a joy! She's so quiet and agreeable that we have to pinch ourselves sometimes. It's not uncommon to see one of us gently place a finger under her nose to see if she's still breathing. Seriously! Her temperament is far different than that of our other children, although it's hard to say because Em and D spent so much time away from me as little ones!

Catherine is... well... Catherine! She's a wild one and definitely demands a lot of attention. She looks (and acts) like a three-year-old more than a two-year-old and her vocabulary is a amazing. I was able to get a Leapfrog learning thing through the Amazon reviewer program and she carries that thing EVERYWHERE. I believe she'll be reading before long! She sings along and identifies letters and sounds. It's quite amazing.

We've reinstated our evening family devotions
and they're so relaxing (evidently) that Daniel
fell asleep while we were praying!

Daniel continues to improve in his reading. I'm so proud of him! He's very confident in math but reading leaves him a bit flummoxed, particularly when reading for anyone OTHER than me, especially Daddy! We continue to practice, however, and I look forward to seeing his progress over the next couple of months. He's managed to make a couple of good friends, too, and he wants to keep up with them. One of them, Julius, loves to read and that spurs Daniel on to try harder. Nothing like positive peer pressure!

My lovely Emily is growing up and it scares me to pieces! She's twelve now and more aware than ever of the world around her. One of her neighborhood friends is terribly concerned about appearance (as in, "do these pants make me look fat?") and we've had to run interference to make sure Em isn't swayed by such foolishness. I'm trying to be more involved with her and look for opportunities to build our relationship. I want her to trust us and believe us when we tell her that her value and worth does not come from the clothes she wears or the number on the scale!

I've included a few random shots in this post, many of them taken with my phone camera. I know that I need to get out the big camera and take a few good ones, I just haven't been motivated to do it! We're too busy living life to take photos to capture it!

My faithful helper

Decorating for fall

Me and Catherine

The view from Silverdale

An Obligatory Post

2011-10-22T09:35:00.000-07:00

Alright, it's been far too long since my last post. It's time to plant my hind quarters on the seat and make it happen. I'll do it in a "quick takes" format since I've had a bit of writer's block the last couple of weeks (hence the lack of posting.)

In no particular order...

We celebrated two birthdays in October - Daniel's eighth and Catherine's second. Both were low key events, although Daniel did have a couple of friends over for pizza and sodie pop. This year was the first time Em and D had people at the house, outside of family and very close friends. I know they both enjoyed it very much!

Gerard leaves soon and has been on night shift all week.

Sigh.

The first two nights were difficult - I couldn't sleep at all - but I know it will get easier as the days pass. In my mind, I'm already detaching myself from the situation. That's my coping mechanism; I simply step "outside" of whatever is happening (at least I try to) and view it as unemotionally as possible. Does it help? I'm not sure, but that's what I've done for years! Dwelling on what one cannot change doesn't make a lick o' difference in the situation.

As usual, I have a mental list of things I'd like to accomplish while Gerard is gone. I'd really like to learn rudimentary sewing - I even moved a table downstairs for the machine so I can search for online tutorials after the children are asleep! Sewing is competing with learning to play the guitar at the moment. I'd like to learn to play basic hymns - nothing fancy - so we can restart our family devotions in the evenings. We haven't done them in years and my binder full of hymns is long gone. Foolish, foolish me.

Elizabeth is doing very well - she's a fatty pie and so cute! Her initial difficulty gaining weight is a distant memory - she's well above average in height and weight. I don't ordinarily pay attention to such things, but it's good to know she's where she "should" be. She continues to be the "easiest" baby I've had and a true joy. I hope any future children are as mild mannered as she!

I know things have happened the last month and a half, I just can't think of anything to write! I'm sure I'lll get back in to the swing of things once Gerard is gone. I'll stay up late the first two weeks and run out of things to read!

I'll write more soon.

Checking In

2011-10-10T21:41:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth with her godparents,
siblings Mackinley and Sophie.

It's been a while since my last post, but not to worry - all is well! We've been busy, enjoying Daddy's last few weeks at home before the big deployment.

I'll catch up soon, I promise. In the meantime, please join me in welcoming Elizabeth Anne into the family of God. As I've posted before, baptism was one of the first doctrines that brought me into full communion with the Catholic Church.

It's a joy - unspeakable - to be able to see my children cleansed of Original Sin and know that we are participating in what has been the practice since the earliest days of Christianity. Our conversion has been a gift to our family and one for which we are so very grateful.

Elizabeth is named for St. Elizabeth - our Lady's cousin and the mother of St. John the Baptist - and St. Anne, whom Christian (and Islamic!) tradition holds to be the mother of our Lady and the grandmother of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit...

Anointed with the chrism of salvation

Group photo - obviously!

Girl Stuff

2011-09-14T12:13:00.000-07:00

I just sent Daniel up to get a barrette and he came down with a bobby pin.

As he came down the stairs, he said, "Mommy, I hope this is a barrette. I don't even know what a barrette is. I'm not a girl."

Good point.

Infuriating

2011-09-13T12:45:00.001-07:00

http://www.ncregister.com/blog/simcha-fisher/funding-the-couch-bum

Laundry

2011-09-12T11:31:00.000-07:00

I didn't realize that the addition of one child to a family multiplied the amount of laundry exponentially.

As in, well above and beyond the actual number of people in the household.

Seriously.

I believe our dirty laundry mates at night and will soon take over the world.

Bwahahahaha!

Okay, maybe just my house.

Bane of my existence.

Help, Please!

2011-09-11T10:06:00.000-07:00

I've never read Homer's Odyssey, but I'm in the mood. Any recommendations on a good translation?
I'd like a traditional translation, nothing modern and dumbed down!

Ulysses in Homer's Odyssey, by Joseph Mallord Turner

El Diablo

2011-09-10T10:49:00.000-07:00

Do you believe in the devil? Satan? Ol' Lucifer?

I remember this episode, believe it or not. Dana Carvey, as "the church lady,"
concluded that "Santa" was really "Satan."

I sure do.

It's easy for us - in a "post-Christian" society - to forget that the Satan does, indeed, "go about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Peter 5:8) We are to "be sober, be vigilant," in order that we may resist him "stedfast in the faith." (1 Peter 5:9)

The great apostle Paul pulls back a bit further the shroud that separates what is seen from what is unseen in his letter to the Ephesians -

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6:12)

It occurred to me the other day, as I read blog after blog from long-time homeschooling mothers experiencing new doubt and fear about continuing on the homeschooling path, that the devil is on the attack.

Satan has always been the enemy of the family. That's nothing new. Now, however, it seems he has a better foothold than ever before, particularly in western society. America, while never a fervently Christian nation, has always espoused a general Christian morality and ethic, even in our laws. This is no longer the case and Christianity is passe', to put it mildly.

Persecution is good for the Church. It separates the wheat from the chaffe. If there was ever a time in America's history when we needed strong Christian families, it is now! "Where evil abounds, grace abounds much more." (Romans 5:20)

God has made provision to give us all the graces we need, through the apostolic ministry of His Church. He has left it up to us to take advantage of them.

I pray God's protection and blessing on all of my fellow mothers - regardless of how God has called you to educate your children this year. May the Holy Spirit lead us all as we seek to draw closer to Jesus and raise up a generation that proclaims the greatness of the Lord.

Tasty!

2011-09-08T16:37:00.000-07:00

I've had zero motivation in the kitchen the last couple of weeks, save for a momentary burst of inspiration in which I made granola, yogurt and chicken and andouille gumbo over the span of three days. Other than THAT, I have little appetite and even less desire to cook.

Enter the chicken.

I took out a package of chicken breast fillets the other day and they were thawed and ready for me. I wanted to order pizza, you understand, but that would not be wise.

I'm trying to work with the "wisdom" thing in all areas of my life since my burst o' homeschooling clarity the other day.

So, wisdom says "don't spend money on overpriced pizza when you have chicken in the fridge."

On to the Internet.

I typed in "easy chicken recipe" and a Chinese-esque recipe popped up. I looked it over, read a few comments for feedback and did my own thing.

Click here for the link.

Now for my twist.

I didn't measure anything, but I did use the same basic ingredients, albeit much more than called for in the recipe. I also added a can of pineapple "tidbits," juice and all. I cubed the chicken, tossed it in, and cooked it - covered - on medium for about 15 minutes. I then uncovered it and added a cornstarch and water slurry to thicken it a bit.

In the meantime, I made a big pot of rice, with finely diced carrots and onion, as well as peas, thrown in at the beginning. It's certainly not as good as fried rice, but it did use up my onion, the rest of my frozen peas and a couple of carrots on the verge of being unusable.

The end result was a crowd pleaser, albeit a tad sweet for Gerard. A generous dump o' hot pepper flakes solved that problem! The meal was like sweet and sour chicken, without the fried meat.

Yum!

Welcome to the Nut House

2011-09-03T09:12:00.000-07:00

aka Spinnerville

I'm buying this sign.

Oh, yes, I am.

I often feel like I'm one step away from crazy and it's even more apparent since Elizabeth arrived. The noise in this house is almost deafening at times and you should see us at the grocery store.

"Act like ducks, children!"

Evidently, "ducks" sounds like "cats" to Daniel.

It's a blessedly beautiful noise, however, and - although I can't do as much grocery shopping in one trip as I used to (not enough room in one buggy and TWO buggies is ka-raaazy in the little ol' commissary) - we're fortunate to have the means to feed all the members of the Nut House.

Blessed, blessed indeed.

My mind has been wrapped around the education conundrum the last few days. You can tell by the state of my house - it's immaculate. Gerard gets on to me because I don't clue him in on big decisions along the way, preferring to spring things on him after I've mulled it over for a month... or two... or a year. This is how he found out about my decision to come into full communion with the Catholic Church.

Poor guy.

More on that another time. Back to the house.

When I have a lot on my mind, I don't like to talk about it. I like to think about it. There's no way I'm going to sit on the couch and think about things, so I get up and move. And I move things.

Like couches.

So, the house looks the best it's looked since we moved in. That makes my hunny a very happy man. I must admit it makes me happy, too.

Now, about the conundrum.

"Wisdom" comes to mind when I think about the decision. What is the wise decision? In my daily scripture reading, every single chapter of Proverbs (and I didn't cherry pick - they're the chapters that correspond with the day of the month) has to do with seeking wisdom and following after it. I chose to read a few Psalms along with starting Hebrews... wisdom was the theme. Seeking God's face. In fact, there was a reference FROM the Psalms in the chapter I randomly chose IN Hebrews! Co-inky-dink? I think not.

I've revisited (over and over) the reasons we initially opted to homeschool. I did digging and found that the local teachers' union - the Washington Education Association - is an arm of the National Education Association. The NEA, in addition to being opposed to just about everything I hold dear, is in cahoots with classy organizations like SEIU and NARAL- Pro-Choice. When the WEA endorses local and national candidates for public office, the usual suspects show up.

You can probably see where I'm going with this.

This morning I drove to church to pray and meditate on God's word.. When I walked through the door, I was overjoyed to see the Blessed Sacrament, exposed on the altar. I genuflected and kneeled to pray.

Jesus, I trust in You

The answer is (finally) clear.

If I put my children in public school - or any school, for that matter - it's not for academic reasons, rather it's a decision based on fear.

Fear that they'll be bored this long winter.

Fear that I'll be overwhelmed.

Fear is not the way to make decisions.

"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. He who fears has not been made perfect in love." 1 John 4:18

When the school bell rings at 8:20 Wednesday morning, Emily and Daniel will not be there. They'll probably be finishing their breakfast.

At home.

Thank you so much to those who have joined me in praying for God's direction. I believe I knew the answer all along.

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God - Who gives generously to all without finding fault." James 1:5

How Things Change

2011-09-02T13:16:00.002-07:00

Only a few short years ago, my "dream" car would have been an Audi or, even better, a Mercedes.

Now?

Just THINK of all the little Spinners that we could fit in this bad boy!

Yeah, you right! We realized a few weeks ago that the addition of just one more car seat to the Tahoe would make it mighty tough to have visitors. It would also limit our ability to grocery shop. And the children would be smooshed.

Mercedes? Psht. I want a BUS.

Happy Birthday!

2011-09-01T10:40:00.000-07:00

Today is my darling Em's 12th birthday, happy, happy birthday to her! Her arrival in my life changed it forever and in the best possible way. I am so thankful God chose us to be her parents!

You So CRAAAZY

2011-08-31T11:45:00.000-07:00

We just returned from a fun trip to the hospital, where I was able to explain (in a less than effective way, I'm afraid) why we take philosophical exception to certain vaccines. Although the good doctor didn't say as much, I could tell he thought I was a wackadoodle. That's okay. A couple of years back Gerard was told that it was "people like us" that cause epidemics. Really? Because we don't give our children vaccines cultured on the embryonic stem cell lines of aborted children? (Like the chicken pox vaccine.) Sheesh.

Last night we ventured out to the big Walmart to buy school supplies for the children... and, I think, the teachers. Why in the world does Em need five packs of Post-It notes? Daniel needs two large black dry erase markers? One of the strangest things of all was seeing that almost everything on the list (like Em's four DOZEN no. 2 pencils) go into a community stash that gets doled out to the children as needed.

I think that's crappy. And inherently wrong.

I'd like to think the best of other parents but, let's face it, a lot of folks take it to the Dollar Tree when it comes to school supplies. There's a big difference in generic markers and Crayola markers. You know it. I know it. They know it. I don't want to come across petty, but I also don't want to have my children come home with sub-standard supplies (like chinky binders) when we paid for good ones.

My first dilemma.

So, as we muscled our way through the aisles, I was faced with the overwhelming realization that this whole public school thing is going to be really difficult.

For me.

There are lots of "little" internal battles (like this one) that are bound to pop up and, unfortunately, I'll be forced to navigate this new territory alone since my darling husband will be beneath the briny blue for the next half year. I keep having almost overwhelming moments of panic in which I think, "what in the hell am I doing putting them in a school?" It goes against just about every philosophical standard I espouse.

So why am I putting them in school?

As I ponder that question, I'm forced to admit that part of the decision is selfish on my part.

Momma Jen is worn out.

There are days when this little ol' apartment seems even smaller than it is and, with the start of our miserable-as-all-get-out, nine-months-long winter just a few weeks away, I'm scared that the children and I will claw out our eyes with boredom in this house when the long winter months set in. Knowing that Gerard will be gone for the entire time doesn't help matters much.

My hope is that having Em and D occupied and engaged for the majority of the day will go a long way in helping them stay sane and, therefore, help me do the same. If we lived on a farm or just had a yard or some land, my fear wouldn't be there. As it stands, though, we're chillin' in the 'burbs. In an apartment. Crazy town.

At the very least, we'll have them tested to see where they are according to the public school system, then politely take them back out, order curricula and return allll those school supplies. They're in two bags in the closet - just in case we don't need them after all.

On to other business.

I made a stinkin' awesome batch o' granola the other night. It was easy to make, inexpensive and it's very tasty. You can find the recipe HERE. I didn't have flaked coconut, so I substituted coconut oil for the canola oil to add a layer of flavor. I made the small batch at first and was so pleased that I TRIPLED it and made another batch immediately after! I filled two big ol' mason jars with it, whipped up a batch of yogurt and we had yogurt and granola for breakfast. And lunch. And snacks. It's good, darlin'.

If you want to know more about immunizations derived from stem cell lines of aborted babies, go HERE and HERE. I don't agree with the conclusions made by the author of the article at the second link, but the information is solid. (For the record, likening avoiding such vaccines to not watching television program is a terrible analogy and fails to make the intended point. The evil of abortion and immorality of a show like "Desperate Housewives" are not equivalent.)

Unrelated but also helpful is THIS link, which shows you how to fashion a traditional rebozo-style sling with a sheet. It's very easy and cheap, if not free. I've used the same bed sheet for Catherine and, now, Elizabeth and it was one we had folded in the closet, not being used. My mother-in-law took off a few inches from the width while she was here, making it even easier to use.

I've shown people in the store how to do it and, last night, was able to grab a sheet off the shelves at Wally and fashion it into a quick rebozo to calm Elizabeth. (We were in a rush and I left mine at home!) Five bucks well spent, let me tell you. You can even turn a sheet into a "ring slings" with two inexpensive rings from Joann's. You can find instructions HERE. There's a slight learning curve (there was for me, anyway) but once you do it, it's easy.

The Monday Run-Down

2011-08-29T13:28:00.000-07:00

Pardon my not-so-catchy blog entry title. I'm taking a break from cleaning (and eating lunch, doing laundry, feeding Elizabeth and watching "Conquistadors" with Gerard) to tap out a blog entry. It will be random, sort of a "quick takes" format. I'm sure you don't mind.

In no particular order...

1. I hit the three-dozen mark Saturday - 36 years old! Emily reminded me (over and over) that I was now "three dozen eggs old." Sweet girl. Age doesn't bother me and I'm not embarrassed or ashamed to let folks know "how many" I am. Now weight?  That's another issue.

2. Speaking of which, my post-partum weight loss has stopped. Completely. Elizabeth going to formula at three weeks post partum means I've lost my breastfeeding weight loss "edge" and I'll have to work for every pound I lose from this point forward.  Boooooo! Hisssssss!

3. The good news, however, is that while my weight loss has stopped, Elizabeth's weight is on the rise. She's still gaining and has the poopy diapers to prove it. She's moving from the eat-poop-sleep stage to eat-poop-awake-poop-eat-poop-sleep stage. Or something like that.  She's very aware of her surroundings and lets us know when she isn't happy. Her cry is more of an abrupt "squawk" and it is sooooo cute!

4. Cute.  Gerard is cute. Actually, handsome. And wonderful. We had to move our busted-up bird feeder/hanger post thingy from the front yard so the apartment could be pressure washed and the decrepit old thing was too busted to go back into the ground. Not wanting to give up our feathered friends, Gerard used several zip ties to secure the hanger to one of the fence posts in the backyard. Now, instead of seeing them through the kitchen window, I can see them out the back window as I sit at the computer. Every time I see the zip ties I think of how "lucky" I am to have married the man I did!

5. That wonderful marriage has netted me four yummy little children and, as of next week, two of them will try on the local public school for size. I KNOW that is a crazy development, especially if you know my views on age segregation, public schools and governmental overreach. It's something I've pondered (and agonized over) for several months and I'm anxious now, even as I think about it. Ultimately, Gerard and I decided to give it a shot and, if necessary, we'll pull them right back out and order curricula.  They're nervous and excited, as you might imagine, and this will be Daniel's first experience in an institutional educational setting. Have I mentioned that I'm conflicted about it? Ugh.

6. In other news, we found out today that we're pregnant with baby number five. Just kidding.  But wouldn't THAT be something? ;)

On that note, I'll wrap up this blog entry and bid you adieu. I've work to do and it doesn't look as though much is getting done while I sit here!

Hands Full of Goodness

2011-08-26T10:01:00.000-07:00

First, the Good News

2011-08-21T14:10:00.000-07:00

I just received an email from Barclays Bank in Lagos, Nigeria. Evidently, I'm a millionaire! Woo hoo! I'll let you know when I get my money.

Maw Maw and her grandbabies

Now back to reality...

As you might imagine, we've had a busy couple of weeks - although certainly not as busy as it could be. Gerard's mom went home last Saturday and I had my first week at home, sans extra hands. Sure, Em and D are here but nothing beats having another adult in the house! We managed, however, and survived the week. From this point, it should be easy peasy, right?

Now comes the less-than-good news.

Elizabeth's two week check up (which was LAST week) revealed that she was not gaining weight like she should have been - she'd only recouped two ounces of what she lost after birth! So, I spent the week nursing like a mad woman, doing everything possible to get her belly full and her weight where it should be. Fearing the worst, I bought a box of bottles and a container of formula so I'd have everything ready should I need it.

Friday was her follow-up weigh-in and she'd only gained ONE gram since last week. That, dear friends, is NOT good. She also hadn't pooped in more than a week, which - while not unusual for a breast-fed baby - is still something to watch. The good doctor gave me a few pointers to see how much milk I am producing and to get her tummy working, with another visit scheduled for Wednesday.

**Disclaimer - in-depth poop and boob talk for the next several paragraphs**

So, I came home (Friday) and pumped to see what's going on with my milk and, much to my surprise, I was NOT producing a lot. That's a first! So, Lizzy Bee may nurse for 40 minutes, but she's only getting about two ounces. That certainly explains why she was nursing so often, why she didn't sleep very long and why she wasn't pooping! I prepared her very first bottle - with my pumped milk - and she killed it. Four ounces in about ten minutes!

That was shortly before noon, so when she was done we took a long nap along with Catherine. When we awoke, I attempted to pump and got precious little. This despite having the let-down sensation... so strange. So, I cried a bit - okay, a lot - got over my mommy guilt and made her a bottle of formula. Not only did she drink it without issue, she finished it quickly and passed out for another nap. About five hours and another three ounces of formula later she filled not one, but TWO diapers with poop. I cannot believe I've been (inadvertently, of course) starving my baby!

I also think I had a foremilk/hindmilk imbalance, at least initially, because her stools were still very green and kind of frothy, days after the mecomium had passed. Regardless, she's already sleeping better, more alert when she's in an "awake" period and she POOPED. I am still dealing with my own guilt/inadequacy-as-a-mother issues, but knowing that she's already showing improvement is going a VERY long way in allaying those feelings.

Rather than bounce back and forth between breast milk and formula, I decided to dry up my milk and go with formula only. It was not an easy decision and I have cried many, many times, worrying that I'm not doing the right thing by my child. When those feelings hit, however, I take note that she's eating well, sleeping well and more alert... she pooping all day (and night) and, best (and most amazing!) of all, she's already GAINED two pounds! I know that sounds crazy, but I've weighed several times and the scale tells me the same thing every time. So, as tempting as it is to punish myself with guilt, I'm trying to keep things in perspective and remember that she's thriving in only two days of switching to something that's actually providing nourishment.

**End of poop and boob talk**

In other news, we've had a nice week of weather, just in time for the end of summer - yesterday we noticed a few maples already changing colors! Amazing! Last year was no different. Gerard's sister came for a visit and we were in jeans, long sleeves and coats at the end of August! Here's a shot from that visit...

Ah, summer at the beach - western Washington-style!

That was taken at the end of August! This summer has been even milder than last summer - so we're enjoying this sunny, temperate week of warmer weather. Soon enough, the clouds will move in and take up residence for the fall... winter... and spring. I do hope next summer is just a hair sunnier!

(By the way, I am quite certain that if/when we make it back south, I'll complain about the heat and humidity and long for the cool summers of western Washington. Consider yourself warned!)

I suppose that's all for now. Daniel (who is holding Elizabeth - so sweet!) and I are watching a documentary on the Dark Ages while Gerard and Catherine sleep and Em plays outside. Watching the documentary has prompted a few great items of discussion between me and my boy - regarding poverty, the grave and enduring error the Church made in becoming aligned with the State and the effects and implication of sin. Pretty heavy stuff, but certainly worthy of contemplation.

Enjoy your weekend!

Sleep is for Sissies

2011-08-11T22:52:00.000-07:00

Snoozy Suzie

Like Gerard.

As for me? Pssht. I don't need no stinkin' sleep.

Actually, I do... but when you spend the majority of the day holding, feeding or changing a newborn, night time is the right time for Jenny time. Ya dig?

So now the house is quiet, save for the steady hum of the dishwasher and the voice of Jessica Fletcher and her friends on Murder, She Wrote. Gerard and the children hit the sack shortly after 9 pm, Lizzy Bee fell asleep after nursing around 9:30, and Brenda and I have been up ever since. She's been cutting coupons, I've been puttering, doing all the things I cannot do easily during the day. It's lovely.

Things have been simply wonderful around here the last two weeks. Seriously. I keep waiting for the proverbial other shoe to drop - the difficult side of welcoming a new baby into the home - but it's yet to do so. I tend to be a bit pessimistic (Spinner's law, you know) so having such a blessedly easy transition makes me quite nervous.

Precious pink toes

Tomorrow we have Elizabeth's two week check up with the good doctor and I'm excited to see how things are progressing. I'm most curious about her weight gain, primarily because I'm not nursing EVERYSINGLETIME she fusses or puts her hand to her mouth. I've tried to establish a routine (not a rigid schedule, mind you) and we're employing the services of a pacifier. We did neither of these things with Miss C and we all (especially she and I) suffered for it. I'm determined not to make the same mistakes again. Begin as you mean to go on and all that.

Maw-maw's visit comes to an end Saturday and we're trying to enjoy every bit of her company for the last few days she's here. It's been complicated by Gerard's return to work and only having one working vehicle (the motorcycle battery is on the fritz) but we're managing. We walked down to the waterfront the other day and noticed the early blackberries ripe for the picking and the children - especially Daniel - have been obsessed with said berries ever since. I told them today that if they could scrounge up about two cups of fresh berries, I'd make cobbler for breakfast.

They got the berries!

We still have a few weeks until the heavy canes are ready for harvest, so this early bounty is a real treat. Although my hopes for canning summer's bounty have been thwarted by... the absence of a summer, I do intend to preserve blackberry jellies, jams and cobbler/pie "filling." The best thing about using blackberries is that they're free for the taking - literally covering every roadside and pathway in western Washington! All we invest is the time, effort and a bit of shed blood to reach in and grab 'em. We get a huge payoff for very little work.

It's just past 11 pm and I can feel myself turning into a pumpkin. I'll close out this email with a few of Emily's recent shots. I think the girl has potential!

My other baby... the most difficult thing about Elizabeth's arrival is NOT being
able to snuggle as much with Catherine!

You've gotta ask yourself one question, "Do I feel lucky?" Well, do ya, punk?

The lovely photographer and her bosom friend, Starla

Life, remixed

2011-08-05T13:42:00.000-07:00

There is nothing quite like family life to bring you to your knees, humble you and leave you begging for more.

I love being a wife and mother.

Just when I think things couldn't possibly get any better, something - or, in this case, someone - comes along and shows me how limited are my expectations of joy and satisfaction! Goodness and mercy, indeed.

We're eight days into our life with little Miss Elizabeth and things are going far better than I anticipated. She seems to be much quieter and mild mannered than Catherine Grace was and, considering we're not as rusty this time around, we're a bit more on top of things. We're establishing a routine from the get-go, for all of our sake, and she's responding well. I simply cannot repeat the first six months of Catherine's life outside the womb. It was rough, to say the least!

Recuperation has been a breeze, too. Other than lingering water retention from the umpteen bags of IV fluid pumped into my body during the induction, I've been up and at 'em since I came home, cooking dinner almost every night. Now, before you impugn my darling husband's care and concern for my well being, remember that I love to cook! Having my maw-in-law in town has also helped tremendously and Gerard has kept her employed with a steady stream of sewing projects. She's a huge help with the children, too, and I cannot imagine things going as smoothly as they have without her being here.

Gerard's baby leave comes to an end today and it's back to work come Monday. I'm so disappointed! Every day that passes brings us closer to the big deployment and now it seems we dread it even more. I predict a long, lonely fall and winter... and spring. Sigh. It could always be worse, of course, and I remind myself of that when I think about throwing a one-man pity party. The one who has it the worst in this situation is Gerard, anyway. If I'm going to feel sadness, it ought not to be for myself.

On that cheery note, I hope all is well for everyone! I hope to get better photos of everyone this weekend and post them soon.

Photos

2011-07-30T14:34:00.000-07:00

Especially for you, Theresa my dear!

We Have a Baby!

2011-07-29T17:39:00.000-07:00

Of course, we have had a baby for the last nine months, we were simply unable to see and hold her! Now, however, she's quite visible (and audible!) and we are so pleased.

So, a quick rundown...

Elizabeth Anne Spinner was born Thursday, just past noon. She weighed 8 lbs., 10 oz., and measured a very lengthy 22 inches. She has dark skin and a head full of thick black hair. I think she'll favor Daddy as she grows up!

They did an ultrasound on her noggin today and, praise God, all is well. Nothing out of the ordinary! The doctor who got me in for a non-stress test last week and then recommended the induction told me he was more than happy to take me and Elizabeth on as patients, so a very happy farewell to my last (incompetent) doctor. I shall see her no more!

I'll spare you the details of the induction, labor and delivery. I decided to give an epidural a try and am so stinkin' glad I did. Any future Spinner children will also come into the world with mommy having an epidural. Sure, it busted my record of natural births and dropped my street cred a bit, but it was worth it!

We were released from the hospital about an hour ago and are happy to be home. She is currently passed out and I hope to join her in the Land of Nod when I publish this post.

THANK YOU to all who lifted us up in prayer the last few weeks. I really appreciate it!

Photos to come in the next few days...

Here We Go!

2011-07-27T13:30:00.000-07:00

The awesome doctor who got me in for a non-stress test last week and quelled my fears (head of the department) just called and asked if I'd mind being induced...

TONIGHT!

So, I'm awaiting a phone call with the arrival time and packing my bag. I'm SUPER excited! I cannot wait to have her in my arms.

Please continue to pray for a safe delivery and healthy baby and mom. I appreciate it!

Updates

2011-07-27T07:26:00.000-07:00

My due date has come and gone, with no baby in my arms. I am disappointed, yes, but not surprised. I've never gone early with a pregnancy - why should I start now? We'll induce on Monday if the wee one doesn't make herself visible by then. I do hope we go sooner, however, as Gerard's schedule has changed and it's imperative that she is born in the next day or two. Otherwise, he won't be able to take his baby leave! (That would make Jen a sad girl.)

We've had a wonderful couple of days with Gerard's mom here. She brings such joy and brightness to the house and the children are simply enthralled with her. If you could imagine the ideal storybook grandmother - from a child's perspective - she would fit the bill! She's a great encouragement to me, in so many ways, and we've enjoyed many early morning conversations. I'm so glad she was able to come - THANK YOU, POPPA!

Today I am driving to the chiropractic clinic of some of our dearest friends - the Holts - to enjoy a prenatal "induction" massage. We asked two of their lovely children (teenagers) to stand as our baby girl's godparents and they agreed. A few days ago, mother Karen told me they were treating me to a massage and I could not be more pleased! Will an induction massage work? I don't know... but I'll certainly enjoy the attempt!

That's all for now. I hear plenty of noise upstairs, so I think the house is coming to life.

Nothing yet

2011-07-22T19:44:00.000-07:00

Our little one has yet to arrive, but the excitement is building daily! With that in mind, I'll share the latest.

My 39 wk. appointment was Tuesday and it did NOT go well. As I posted a few months back, I don't care for my physician and Tuesday's appointment did little to change my opinion of her.

I didn't go in for my first appointment until 18 wks. At that time, we did a bedside ultrasound to determine gestational age and I was offered a "big" ultrasound at the Army hospital about an hour-and-a-half away.
The only purpose was to better pinpoint a due date. We declined for a host of reasons, namely it was unnecessary!

We had our second trimester ultrasound in mid-May, here at the Naval Hospital. We learned the gender and were told all was well. I went in for a follow-up with my doctor a few weeks later. Nothing to report.

Well.

I went in TUESDAY (remember, I had my ultrasound in May) and the good doctor said, "so, you don't want to go to the Army hospital, even with the abnormal ultrasound?"

Say what?

I'll spare you the nitty gritty on this one. What it boils down to is that she neglected to tell me about a higher-than-normal measurement in an area of the brain called the "cisterna magna." To say I was pissed (sorry for the candid language, folks) would be an understatement. She tells me this a WEEK before my due date, when it was recorded more than two months ago?

I pushed her for information, but she had nothing to share. Absolutely nothing. She said I could have another ultrasound - I told her I was due in seven days! "Oh, that's right," she said. I had to remind her of my very close due date THREE times during the appointment!

She left the room to speak to someone and came back to tell me "it's not really a big deal and it's nothing to be concerned about." Easy for her to say!

While she was looking up information online (to no avail) I read over her shoulder and wrote a few things on my hand. I came home and did my OWN research.

What I found was frightening, to say the least. It can be indicative of some pretty awful neurological disorders but, in most cases, it's simply an odd reading. Still, I felt unsettled.

Today the head of family practice called to apologize for what happened and get me in for a non-stress test. I went directly to the hospital and all looks good. Once the wee one makes her appearance, we'll go in daily for a week to test her heart and she'll have an ultrasound of her brain to make sure all is well.

Catherine and Bee Bee test out the new car seat for me

So, for now everything looks to be fine. I do beg your continued prayers, specifically for her good health, a safe and healthy delivery and, if something IS wrong, God's abundant grace to be the parents she needs us to be.

I'll keep y'all posted!

If you have the time, here's a wonderful article on the high calling of motherhood and the priority of children, in our home and in society at large. Good stuff!

Two Pictures

2011-07-17T11:01:00.000-07:00

They aren't the best because I used my phone, but the subject matter is awfully cute. Take note of the tennis shoes in the first one - Catherine jumped from a size five to a size seven in tennis shoes and the only ones we liked tie, rather than velcro shut.

SHE LOVES THEM.

She's always been prone to running around in various stages of undress, but now she's accessorized by her new sneakers.

Every day.

What I enjoy most is watching her run up and down the hall. I think she believes the shoes make her run faster.

Maybe they do.

This, That and Other Things

2011-07-16T21:31:00.000-07:00

Another quiet Saturday night on the hacienda. My darling husband is (hopefully) catching a nap before taking the watch at midnight. He has "duty" tonight... which means he left bright and early this morning and we'll see him tomorrow. With him out of the house, I tend to stay up later. He drives me nuts when he's home but I miss him terribly when he's gone. I dread the next deployment!

We're on the home stretch - I think it is ten days until the due date - and we're all getting quite excited. Gerard is hoping I'll go a few days late so it works out better for his duty rotation and work schedule (he'd get to miss out on some tedious work stuff if I go a day or two late!) but I've informed him that going late is NOT my desire! He'll get ten consecutive days of daddy leave once baby Spinner arrives, so he'll have to be happy with whatever he gets. As I've noted before, I'd really like to go early.

In preparation, I ran out and picked up a package of little pink onesies, "newborn" diapers and a few sleepers... judging by the size of my stomach, I doubt this little bundle o' joy and goodness will be a nine-pound, six-ounce chunker like Catherine, but I've never had a baby under eight pounds, so I'm planning accordingly. It is simply amazing to see the difference in my body during this pregnancy compared to the last one. Night and day and I'm OH so glad! Catherine went right into three- to six-month sizes, so it's fun to have smaller clothes (and diapers) to wash and fold.

I understand much of the south is dealing with unbelievable heat. Not so here, my friends. We've had a week of cold, gray weather, complete with rain. There have been a few isolated moments of sunshine here and there, but nothing to break the monotony (or dry the ground) and brighten our spirits. Even Em - who would play outside if it was raining rocks - opted to stay in the last couple of days. Daniel asked if summer was over... then said, "wait, when did it begin?"

My thoughts exactly.

Enough crying about the weather. It could always be worse, right? I'm just glad we opted to skip planting a container garden this year. After last year's bummer of a growing season, I wasn't terribly optimistic about trying again. We'll just do our best to buy local (which is tough since many of the farmers are having a time of it with this cruddy weather!) and wait a few years until we're back south (hopefully) to plant a successful garden.

I'd post a few recent photos with this blog entry, but I'm on the laptop and the pictures are on the "main" computer allllll the way downstairs. Lazy? Yup. Stairs + my knees during the last month of pregnancy = massive pain.

I hope all is well with everyone!

Something to Share

2011-07-16T17:50:00.001-07:00

From the blog of Fr. Dwight Longenecker:

“Where shall we find a holy person? Where shall we find a saint? It is difficult because the real saint is hidden and humble and holy. Instead of looking for the hidden holy ones we fall for the celebrity ‘saint.’ We want the big dramatic conversion story. We want the dynamic, uncompromising speaker. We like the one who speaks out on sin and rails against the devil…

“…Stop and consider that the real saints are hidden. They follow the little way. If you were to tell them they were saints they would laugh and tell you to keep searching. If you even had the sense and discernment to see the saint next to you–the ordinary person who perseveres–the little person who serves others–the plain Jane who takes life easily and simply loves people–then you would learn again what true holiness really is. If we only had eyes to see the simplicity of the saints, the extraordinary ordinariness of holiness, the practical good humor and humility of the truly grace filled ones…

“It is the little way that leads to salvation. Not the way of pride and pleasure and power. Not the way of wealth and the world. Not the way of ego and ambition.

“Only the way of the cross. When are we going to learn this?”

Big, Fat, Huge, Wonderful

2011-07-13T13:12:00.000-07:00

No, I'm not talking about baby girl Spinner. She's still hangin' out in my womb, snug as a bug...

What I AM talking about, however, is almost (almost!) as good.

Today Gerard called to inform me that it was official - he's been chosen, from among all the enlisted guys on the boat, to be "spot" advanced to the next higher pay grade. The official term for this is the Navy Command Advancement Program and it allows the commanding officer (the big dog in charge) of a sea-going command to choose one Sailor and advance him (or her) to the next higher pay grade.

Gerard had an inkling that he was in the running, but no idea when he would know if he had been chosen. He found out today that (a) he'd been chosen and (b) the pay would be RETROACTIVE to January 1st!

PRAISE GOD!

Being "capped" allows a Sailor to bypass the tedious Navy advancement process, which is a muddled mess of quotas, percentages and other such foolishness that often rewards the best test takers, rather than the best Sailors. I say this based on my own Navy experience, as well as what I've seen in Gerard's time in the service. It's frustrating, to say the least, when you see people of higher rank doing less work because they're incompetent (truly) while the lower ranking guy is pulling the weight for both, based on his knowledge and common sense!

I am so, so proud of Gerard. He knows his job, works hard and is a natural leader. To see OTHERS recognize this is him makes me happier than I can possibly express! Even better, this is the SECOND time he's been capped - he was advanced from E-4 to E-5 on the USS Tennessee!

This news is the best possible news we could have received. With baby girl Spinner due to arrive in the next couple of weeks, I've felt no small bit of stress about just about everything, including (and especially) finances. Even with coupons, grocery prices keep rising and the price of gas is certainly no help to our bottom line. I've been nervous - even scared - about making it all work (while paying off student loans and trying to pay off the remainder of our debt) on one income. Just last night I started crying because we couldn't just go out and get Em new jeans without breaking down the budget to the last penny!

God has always provided for us and has never failed to make His providence known - always right on time. This is a tremendous boost to our faith. I'm so very, very thankful for His care for us and for using wonderful people in our life - like my AWESOME mother-in-law - to keep us encouraged and focused on what is important, namely, the importance and value of following God's will, even (and especially) when it seems like it will never work!

All praise and glory to Jehovah Jireh, the Lord our provider.

Momma's Li'l Capitalist

2011-06-30T07:50:00.000-07:00

This week marked Emily's entree into the world of capitalism - via a lemonade and cookie stand.

She and her friend Starla spent Tuesday morning mixing and baking cookies, as well as preparing lemonade and peach tea. I must admit I didn't expect much for their efforts - Tuesday was gray and overcast... not to mention a workday.

They set up on a busy corner in the neighborhood, outfitted Daniel with a sandwich board advertising the stand, and got to work.

A few hours later, they'd netted $45 for their efforts.

After paying their advertisers, the girls walked away with quite a little stash and made plans for the next sale, tentatively scheduled for Saturday. Starla's mom invested in their first stand and I invested in this weekend's sale. From this point forward, however, they'll have to invest a portion of their profit to build their business. They'll also have to determine which type of lemonade and cookies sells best, as well as the best days to sell.

I couldn't ask for a better way to teach "business math," entrepreneurship and home economics to Emily. She struggles with remembering measurement (just as I did) but yesterday was telling me how many quarts of lemonade they sold, how many cups of flour she would need for this weekend's sale... and responding when I asked how many gallons/pounds they would need to double/triple their production.

They've already determined that simple is best. They dropped the peach tea from the booth and will focus on lemonade. They also decided fresh slices of lemon would be a nice addition to the pitcher and sugar cookies would be easier to make and more economical than the chocolate cookies they sold Tuesday. Good girls!

I plan to take photos Saturday and you can be certain I'll share.

Another Video to Share

2011-06-29T13:14:00.000-07:00

This one was shared today on the Louisiana Tourism Facebook page. Bless her heart, Jenna mispronounces "Atchafalaya" the whole way through, but that's okay - her narration is not what I love about this clip!

People from southern and southeastern Louisiana are unique and quite wonderful. The man says it well when he says Cajuns are known for being jolly!

Lord have MERCY I miss home.

And a little something from New Orleans. My hometown.

A Little Cheese

2011-06-28T21:22:00.000-07:00

In clearing out cds, I ran across this gem from several years ago. I made it for Gerard's "half-way night" box during a deployment. If you've never heard of such a thing, half-way night is - as the name indicates - the half-way point during a deployment aboard an SSBN. Communication is very limited on SSBN deployments and there are no port calls. Half-way night is a BIG deal.

The guys bring a box out at the beginning of patrol and hang on to it until half-way night. That night is filled with goofy activities, games and big-ticket giveaways, as well as opening the half-way night box.

Now that you know what half-way night is, you can understand the importance. The guys have typically gone about 45 days with little to no contact from their families. They miss home.

So, I made this and tucked it in to his half-way night box. It may not mean much to y'all, but it meant a whole lot to him!

Enjoy the cheese.

Hell on Earth

2011-06-28T08:19:00.000-07:00

Provocative title, no?

Daniel's hit the "difficult question" stage and, because I spend the most time with him, I'm the one who gets to fumble for answers.

Yesterday (or was it the day prior?) he asked me if Hell was "down" and Heaven was "up."

Well, no. But how in the world do you explain something like an altered state of the eternal soul to a seven-year-old?

(Seriously, how?)

So, I did my best to explain the location of Heaven and Hell and he seemed satisfied. End of story?

Er... no.

Daniel just came to me and said, quite triumphantly, "I know where Hell is."

"Oh, really?" I replied.

"Yup."

"It's Pittsburgh."

Say what?

He said he figured it must be in Pittsburgh because "Hell is the pits."

So, Pittsburgh = Hell.

I suppose it depends on who you ask!

A Worthy Read

2011-06-22T20:27:00.000-07:00

When I found out I was pregnant with Catherine, one of my (I assume) well-intentioned well-wishers told me that she should be my "last one" because the "next one could be a retard."

Seriously.

I did not take the "Down syndrome" test for any of my children. For all I know, the baby girl in my womb could have a serious birth defect or mental retardation.

It matters not to us.

We did not give her life. We cannot take it away.

We will love her the same and trust that God will give us the grace we need to be the parents SHE needs.

No matter what.

Nine in ten babies who are diagnosed with DS while in the womb are aborted.

Nine in ten.

Gabe King is fortunate to be the one in ten whose parents said "yes" to life.

His life.

Take a moment and read this wonderful article.

If you have the time, read this one, too.

Lord, help us to live our lives - not in fear - but in hope and faith.

35 weeks and counting

2011-06-22T19:17:00.000-07:00

I probably shouldn't type anything today because (a) I'm tired and (b) I'm grumpy. The two are definitely related.

Yesterday was a routine OB appointment and all is well. Baby looks to be head down (I was fairly certain of that based upon my need to stop every couple of steps and fall to my knees while walking through the store over the weekend!) and I'm measuring right on target at 35 weeeks. I really hoped the good doctor would tell me "Oops! We're off by a couple of weeks - you look to be 37 weeks along already!"

No such luck.

So, we're still on target for the end of July but, judging by the way I feel today, I may go see a witch doctor to speed things along.

I'm kidding.

Last night my lower abdomen started to feel achy and we turned in early for bed. I spent the whole night tossing and turning and dealing with period-like pain and lower back achiness. Unfortunately, it's still with me today.

I'm not in labor, but I am certainly uncomfortable. I think Gerard was more than happy to go to work today - just to get away from my complaining on the drive to drop him off at work! Not complaining about my aches and pains, mind you, but about all the drivers in east B-town who seem to think turn signals are completely unnecessary, even (and especially) when cutting me off.

See? I told you I shouldn't be blogging today!

We've decided not to move to Bangor. The last thing we want to do during the weeks leading up to and immediately following the baby's birth is pack, unpack and live in chaos. Plus, we'd only have five days to move and clean up the old place for inspection and, because the housing on Bangor is managed by a private company instead of the Navy, that means we'd have to pay out of pocket for the five-day overlap and take a chance (a very good chance) that the appropriate agency would delay our paperwork and not deposit our housing allowance in a timely manner.

Too much hassle.

So, we're staying here for now and, most likely, until Gerard's departure or transfer from the boat. We still hope that he can get out after this assignment, but we don't know until we get there. As much as we'd like to be on Bangor, it's just too much to deal with at this point. We're worn out just thinking about it! Not to mention, we only have a few precious days to be together as a family after the little one's arrival and then it's back to work and, before long, a very lengthy deployment. Do we really want to spend that time packing/unpacking and cleaning the old house? Nope.

Gerard is working tonight - duty - so we won't see him until tomorrow. We've had a lazy evening so far, the highlight of which (for the children) was being allowed to have homemade salsa with their dinner. I made a half-batch for us (the adults) last night and promised them they're own (less spicy) batch tonight. They were pleased to see that I came through on my promise!

Right now they're wearing elbow-length rubber gloves and tackling the downstairs bathroom. Ordinarily, they're allowed to stay outside and play until sunset (which is remarkably late here in the summer) but thisty! week it's in at 6 pm and bed at 8.

Oh, the humanity!

Why such drastic measures? To curb their easy propensity toward laziness and selfish behavior.

We've tried everything imaginable to get them to understand that they, too, have responsibilities in the house, all to no avail. Thanks to my creative husband, they no longer have a single toy or book in their bedrooms and their daily schedule has been altered a tad.

You'd think it would whip 'em in to shape, but no... still lazy. Having children is a sure reminder that "inherent goodness" is a lie! Still we try, however, and they're doing better this week, if only slightly.

I suppose I should scoot and do something productive. I just want to sit on the couch and be lazy! Dishes are calling, however, and I can't make the children do EVERYTHING... can I?

Moving... again?

2011-06-19T10:00:00.000-07:00

Perhaps.

When we applied to move back on base, the only military quarters (housing) available was located in Jackson Park. Our preference was Bangor - where Gerard works - and where the commissary is located, as well as a gym, bowling alley and indoor pool. Even more, the housing on Bangor includes attached garages. As it stands now, we have two small outdoor storage closets and no space indoors for Gerard's HUGE gun safe and our chest freezer.

That means they're both in my living room.

So, when housing called Friday to let us know there were a few units available on Bangor, with an anticipated move-in date of early July, I started a mental checklist. The primary negative, of course, is that I'd be less than a month away from my due date at the time of the move, putting the majority of the moving, unpacking and post-move cleaning squarely on the shoulders of my husband... who happens to have a full-time job at the moment!

I'm not sure what we'll do. In the short term, it's a huge hassle. In the long run, however, it saves us a good bit of money because Gerard would live on the same base where he works, cutting his commute to walking distance if he so desired. That would be fantastic, particularly with gas still hovering around $3.88 here in wonderful western Washington!

I'll know better come tomorrow when I'm able to see the available units and determine whether I'm up for the move and it's really worth it. We may just see about postponing it until after the baby arrives, but then we take the chance that a unit will open up while he's DEPLOYED. A very real possibility. So, I have a feeling we'll end up striking while the iron is hot. Who knows, maybe all the extra activity so late in my pregnancy will bring on labor!

It's Father's Day and the father of this house is working. I dropped him off bright and early and we won't see him again until Monday evening after work. Go Navy! Em and D had planned to surprise him with loaded ice cream sundaes, but we'll have to wait to enjoy them. We're not big on "mandatory" celebrations and commemorations, anyway, so it's really no big deal that he's working on Father's Day. I just want him home!

Much to do today and I'm behind already!

Like a poopie diaper. With salt.

2011-06-16T10:02:00.000-07:00

In planning the weekly menu, I'm trying to make as many double batches as possible, so that my freezer is at least partly stocked for the post-delivery period. My sweet maw-in-law will be here, but the last thing I want her worrying about is cooking. She's here to rub my feet!

I'm kidding, of course. That's my husband's job. We're happy to have her here to share in the baby's arrival and to keep the older children company. If there's one thing she is good at, it is entertaining children! In fact, you've probably met few people as comfortable with children as she. One of her many talents is keeping a positive attitude and making the best of *any* situation.

Remind me to tell you about the time we were stranded on a sandbar in the middle of Cumberland Sound. And we had to try and push the boat. And I sunk in the goopy, sludgy mud. Up to my thighs. While I was almost full-term with Daniel. In 97-degree weather.

Good times.

But I digress...

So, I'm trying to fill the freezer and earlier this week Emily and Daniel opened the deep freezer to fish out a package of bacon, only to be greeted by a nasty smell. I couldn't smell it from where I was sitting, so I asked Em to describe the smell.

"It's like one of Catherine's poopy diapers. With salt."

Mmmmmm.

Curious, I waddled over to check it out.

It was the enchilada casserole I'd put in to freeze! I would hardly describe the smell as a poopy diaper with salt... more like mozzarella cheese! I didn't have a air-tight top for the container, so I wrapped it tightly in aluminum foil. Evidently, my sniffer and those of the children are not operating quite the same!

In other news, Gerard returned late last week and, although our time together has been limited (he comes home around 8 pm and leaves by 3:30 am), it's been great simply knowing he's back in the state. As if we needed any further confirmation, this relatively short deployment served as a strong reminder that we HATE being apart.

But you already knew that, didn't you?

Emily and Daniel have made new friends - Starla and Micah. Their parents are southerners and it shows in the children... plenty of "yes ma'am" and "no ma'am" to go around! It reminds me of how sloppy I've been with my own children (with manners) since coming to Washington. I correct their "yeah" and "okay" responses when I think of it, but I'm far from consistent. It's definitely something I need to work on for all of our sakes.

We started our week with a trip to the hospital. Daniel has a case of periorbital (preseptal) cellulitis, which - if left untreated - can lead to the horrendous orbital cellulitis and, even worse, meningitis! Gracious! His right eye began to swell about two days ago, but we chalked it up to a bug bite on the eye. It was itchy and swollen Monday, so I treated him to Benadryl... by the time he woke Tuesday morning, his eye was almost completely shut and crusty.

Thankfully, we were able to get in to the doctor within thirty minutes (we only live a stone's throw - literally - from the hospital) and, even better, we had an "old school" physician who treats aggressively with antibiotics. He informed us that the common treatment action in the 90's was to admit a child with this condition and treat them with IV fluids and antibiotics for two days. Thanks to the advances in medical care and antibiotic formulations, that's no longer necessary.

So, we were given antibacterial eye gel and a heavy duty antibiotic and sent on our way. I plan to make yogurt today to counteract the antibiotics! He was very interested in the "good bugs vs. bad bugs" action happening in his stomach and has asked lots (and lots) of questions, some bordering on the disgusting. BUT, that's how children learn, right?

We're rapidly nearing the end of this pregnancy and I'm feeling it every day. Swollen ankles, moon pie face... and exhaustion are all everyday realities. I wouldn't trade it for anything, though. It's a small (miniscule) "price" to pay to bring new life into the world. I'm really (really, really) hopeful that the ultrasound tech was correct when she said I looked to be a week or so ahead of my predicted due date. I'm anxious! Plus, the sooner she is born, the more time Gerard has to spend with her before the big deployment.

Life is good on the hacienda. I hope it's good for you all, too!

From My Front Porch Looking In

2011-06-03T09:07:00.000-07:00

Have you heard the country song by that title? My son has selective hearing and often comes away from a conversation with a wildly incorrect understanding of what was just said. The same applies to songs.

The other day the song came on and afterward he asked, quite seriously, "Why is that man looking in someone else's window? I would shoot him if he was looking in our window."

Can't argue with that.

What a beauty!

It's been a surprisingly busy week and we're excited for what looks to be the first weekend of warmer weather this year. I've had the windows open since about 7:30 and I plan to bring out the fans later this morning. For the first time since moving to Washington, we're in a home that is shaded. O frabjous day! Kind of a bummer in the winter, but great in the summer. Since we're on base, we're also not paying for the portable a/c's and that means they'll be running constantly.

One of the highlights of my week was dusting off my camera and taking graduation/senior pictures for Catherine's godmother, Maddy. It's been a while since I did anything significant with the camera and I was pretty nervous. In the end, I think the photos came out nicely. I can always do better, of course, and taking those photos has rekindled my interest in photography.

Unfortunately, my zeal is not matched by extra money in the budget!

That's about it for now. I have much to do if we want to get out and enjoy the park before the toddler armada arrives. (All the other children are stuck in school until mid-June, so we get first dibs on the parks during the cool morning hours!)

No Dog or Beth, but still neat to see

Outtakes

2011-05-30T20:48:00.000-07:00

Easter Clothes

2011-05-29T12:59:00.000-07:00

I realize I'm a month late with pictures of the children in their Easter attire, but you must understand that we are servants to the spring weather. Easter morning was... rainy, cold and wet. Every Sunday since has been... rainy, cold and wet. This morning, however, the sun was out (it's gone now) and we took advantage of the opportunity.

Big Momma... I get HUGE when
I'm pregnant. I admit it.

You'll notice in the photos that Catherine's latest "thing" is sticking out her tongue. She does it constantly. It was near impossible to get a good group shot of them but I think we did okay. I can't wait for next year when we have an infant to add to the mix... call me the Cat Herder.

Gerard is still gone but the time is going by quickly. I've stayed busy by cleaning, cleaning and more cleaning! It's a great irony that when Gerard is home, I do precious little... but when he's GONE? I'm a cleaning machine. Okay, I'm not that motivated, but I do keep up better with the house. When he's here I want to sit and talk. When he's gone, the music is on and I crack the proverbial whip on the children.

If only I could figure out how to keep the motivation...

I've been considering various homeschooling curricula and have narrowed it down to a few serious contenders. I can't believe I'm going back to a text/worktext approach, but it simply works for our family. I spent a good bit of time (and money) trying to use "living books" and all that jazz but, although I like it in theory, in practice it's simply not a good fit for our family. We'll use texts/worktexts as a spine and continue to enjoy reading for pleasure. It's worked well thus far so there's no reason to reinvent the wheel.

For your viewing pleasure...

Em's always been a natural in front of the camera!

Notice the ham in the pink dress...

Dapper Dan... minus an additional tooth! Two in one week!

The wheels on the bus go 'round and 'round...

Sissy and Bubba

She prefers to pose on her own, thank you very much!

Lots of joy in this shot!

A Great Find

2011-05-28T13:53:00.000-07:00

For my local friends, Costco has a special edition of the Bob Books series called the "Bob Books Special Collections."

Not shown - the "My First Bob Books" Collection
and "Bob Books Sight Words" Collection

For those unfamiliar with the Bob Books series, you can find out more HERE. Were you to purchase the included book sets individually, it would easily cost upward of $100, plus tax, on Amazon - more if you bought them at a mass retailer such as Barnes and Noble. That's a lot of cash, my friends.

The Costco editions, however, condense the entire collection into five sets and reprint them in a larger size than the original readers. The cost for all this wonderfulness? $10 a box... for a grand total of $50.

There's nothing revolutionary about Bob Books - motivated parents could make something similar if they so desired and parents following a more Charlotte Mason-ish model of home education would probably turn up their noses at the twaddle... but we like them and Daniel, my reluctant reader, enjoys reading through them and showing his father how well he can do.

You can read more about the Costco editions HERE but you'll have to go in to the store to get them... which means you'll need a membership.

Finally, here's a nice, encouraging blog written by Matthew and Erica Milioni. They write from a conservative anabaptist (Mennonite) perspective and, while always kind and charitable, their thoughts are poignant and thought-provoking. We can *always* follow more closely our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This family offers a powerful witness in doing just that.

Envious? Me?

2011-05-24T14:30:00.000-07:00

Just a bit.

Gerard sent this image a few moments ago...

I really, really, REALLY want to be there with him!

Seen and heard

2011-05-23T20:55:00.002-07:00

Today I dropped by the bank to make a deposit and, in an effort to lift my spirits - if only temporarily - I walked in to the local Starbucks. My ears were soothed with the smooth sounds of Thelonious Monk.

Lovely.

As I made my way through the line and approached the counter, my eyes were accosted by this hideous image -

Born *this* way? I don't think so.

Wow. Really? At the counter? In a place that sells food?

I mentioned my surprise at such a hideous image displayed prominently at the register and the sweet gal behind the counter said I was one of many to say the same thing and she also questioned the wisdom of putting something so ugly on display - and at the eye level of young children - when she unloaded the boxes.

The two little girls in front of me asked their father what was wrong with that lady... he turned them away and redirected their attention to a display of coffee mugs.

If you want to listen to that crap, go for it. As with so much of today's pop culture (books, movies, music and the like) not only do I object to it on spiritual grounds, I object to it on the grounds of good taste.

Lady Gaga is nothing more than Madonna, remixed.

Wearing meat.

Nothing original here, folks. Move along.

Color me unimpressed.

The Delightful Aroma of Charcoal Briquets

2011-05-23T16:43:00.000-07:00

Our computer is by the window in our living room and, as I sit here, I hear and smell several things.

I hear Barney, singing on the television.

Children squealing as they play with their father.

A smoke alarm screaming from the kitchen.

I smell the sweetness of flowers in bloom.

Grass cut this morning.

Something wonderful cooking on the grill.

Unfortunately, the children are not my own. The smoke detector is not in my kitchen. The grill belongs to my neighbor.

Gerard left today.

Oh how I hate this.

I was fine earlier but now I'm feeling pretty down. Tears are welling in my eyes as I type this, which is quite a surprise! I did fine in the car as I reminded Em and D that this deployment would be a very short one but now, even after a nap, I realize he won't be home for dinner and I'm just sad.

Sigh.

An acre (or ten) of land in the middle of nowhere sounds mighty good right now. As long as I have my husband and my children by my side, I have it all.

All About Baby

2011-05-19T18:54:00.000-07:00

I've been on a cloud since this morning - seeing the wee one at such an advanced stage of development was amazing, to say the least. Best of all, we were seen in the actual radiology department by a woman with twenty years of experience administering and interpreting ultrasounds on the best equipment in the hospital. To say that the resulting images (and overall experience) with THIS pregnancy beat the socks off of the one we had with Catherine (in a regular room with comparatively dinky equipment) would be a serious understatement.

As I marveled at the image on the screen - a beautiful human child - and heard the thump-thump-thump of her heartbeat all I could think was "this is NOT my body. SHE is not my body."

I watched her squirm and turn, saw her suck her thumb and counted the four well-formed chambers of her heart.

She is NOT my body.

Counted her fingers. Counted her toes. Heard the technician tell me how "chunky" her thighs are.

She is NOT my body.

What a gift it is to carry a child. A gift to be a mother.

Survey says...

2011-05-19T11:30:00.000-07:00

Baby is a GIRL! The men folk are definitely outnumbered now!

The newest Spinner daughter is estimated to be a few days farther along than initially anticipated and already tipping the scales at 3 lbs., 7 oz. Another big girl on the way!

We're thrilled, of course, and can't wait to meet our baby.

Images to come as soon as I scan them.

A Word Fitly Spoken

2011-05-17T10:24:00.001-07:00

I'm a waffler when it comes to Facebook. One of the positive aspects, however, is the opportunity to connect with people you might not otherwise "find." This has come in handy several times but, most recently, in regards to Gerard leaving the Navy.

Late last year I was able to connect with a lady I served with in Italy. We spent more than an hour on the phone, talking about how she transitioned out of the military and settled back home in Iowa. It was great to talk to her and great to hear her experience.

Two days ago, Gerard contacted a fellow with whom he served on USS Tennessee in Georgia. He left the military a few years back and settled in a smallish town in North Carolina. He answered all of our questions and, like my friend Kim, gave a balanced view of the difficulties he experienced and the manifold benefits that have come from leaving the military behind. Are they "poorer" financially? Yes. Richer spiritually and emotionally? Big time.

Which is more important? He, like us, believes the benefits of leaving far outweighed any benefit in staying in.

Of all the things he wrote, however, the best was this -

"Ultimately, I believe you should pray and God his will on the matter. I personally think He would prefer you to be available to raise your children, rather than defend your country, but that is more of a personal opinion. If you feel God leading you to leave the service, then you have nothing to fear. I'm not saying it will be easy, but if it is God's will, He will take care of you."

He went on to mention all the naysayers who warned him he'd never be able to afford life "outside" of the Navy and that medical insurance alone would bankrupt him. He said that while there was a grain of truth to the "difficult" part, the grain wasn't nearly large enough to justify staying in!

When I read his response, my mind went immediately to Proverbs 25:11 - "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." In other words, the right words, spoken at the right time, are like golden apples set in precious silver. Perfection.

Sacred scripture is pretty clear on the roles and responsibilities of husbands and fathers. (Wives and children, too!) Let us never confuse Christianity with patriotism. The two are not the same.

What does God have in store with us? I don't know. I pray, however, that we have the strength of trust to follow Him where He leads us.

"For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself." Phillipians 3:20-21

A blustery day

2011-05-16T13:31:00.000-07:00

Little Miss Messy

I *love* blustery days, particularly when they occur in early fall and the hot air turns crisp and cool. If the blustery day is accompanied by colorful fall leaves, all the better!

Today our blustery day is accompanied by warm sunshine and spring flowers. It's so windy that all the blossoms on the "mystery tree" have been blown away! If the forecasters are correct, the weather will continue to improve as the week progresses, bringing sunshine, warm temperatures and LOTS of happiness to Spinnerville.

The children decided to celebrate the sunshine by enjoying lunch on the back patio. After yesterday's constant rain fall, they were quite eager to go outside. Being barefoot is even better! I, on the other hand, have all the windows open, the praise music loud and my tennis shoes on... beautiful weather energizes me and motivates me to catch up with chores. I should be able to get a LOT done this week!

Uncle Snaggles - that tooth will NOT come out!

This week is our ultrasound and we are very excited. I don't remember if I've posted this already, so forgive me if it's a repeat. We've settled on a boy's name and a girl's name - Andrew for a boy, Evelyn or Helen for a girl. We aren't sure of middle names just yet, but we'll worry about that once (if) we have a gender. I should know (and have a picture to share) Thursday afternoon.

Also on the horizon is Gerard's trip to Hawaii. Lucky duck! I think I may do a quick unit study on Hawaii with the children, even if we only focus on the island to which he's traveling. We'll probably do the same when he next deploys to Guam. Big plans, as always. It remains to be seen whether I follow through!

Lovely Miss Em, more beautiful every day

We're coming to the end of our homeschool materials and I've started shopping for new materials. I have several contenders in mind - materials that will allow Emily to do much of her work independently. I think this is especially important with the pending arrival of Li'l Breezy and Gerard's upcoming longer-than-usual deployment. If I can find materials for Daniel to work through as independently as possible, too, all the better for us all.

I can't close out a blog post without sharing my recent coupon extravaganza. I found a few great sales at the base grocery store and well-stocked shelves at Rite Aid. In the end, I bought several bags of Stayfree pads for .99 each, got the little Carefree pads for FREE, bought our favorite Pink Lady apples for .50 a pound and scored free tape, cheap Oxi-Clean and a bunch of disposable razor blades (excellent for Gerard's sub deployments) for about .25 a package.

All this for 50 bucks

Early Riser

2011-05-12T07:39:00.000-07:00

The last couple of weeks have been quite miserable for me. I've felt completely drained of all energy and without motivation to do much of anything.

Enter my multivitamins.

I used to be quite faithful in taking multivitamins, along with vitamins B & D and DHA supplements. I slacked off at the worst possible time - the height of our long, dark winter - and it really caught up with me the last month or so. I decided to get my act together and, miracle of miracles, it seems to be working. Couple that with the "lengthening" of our days as we near summer and it's a recipe for success.

As I type this entry, Daniel is wrapping up his studies (he awoke early, too) and since Barney is over, Catherine is going upstairs to wake Emily. It's only 7:30! Gerard left for work a little more than an hour ago and we've accomplished quite a bit in the time since. Not only that, but the SUN is shining today and, according to our crack forecasters, it should last a whole TWO DAYS! I think we're supposed to get in to the 60's today!

We don't have any exciting plans for the weekend. We're keeping things close to home to budget for Gerard's trip to Hawaii. Since he won't be driving the Beast back and forth to work everyday, we'll save a lot of money on gas right off the bat. The children and I are also very easy to please when it comes to dinner. Oatmeal for dinner? Sure! I'm sure that the money he takes to Hawaii will be easily offset by what we save here at home.

In other news...

I came across this transcript from a recent broadcast of Revive Our Hearts. At a recent women's conference sponsored by Revive Our Hearts, a group of women from a church in California showed up wearing "ex-" shirts. Ex-hypocrite. Ex-diva. Ex-abortionist. Ex-idolater. Ex-narcissist.

I searched the group leader's name and found more shirts including ex-fornicator and a few others, some quite provocative. To be quite frank, there was at least one that would anger me if I walked head-on to the woman wearing it, particularly if I was with my children.

I think the idea behind the shirts is noble - showing others that sin is to be exposed and that we can move past into something new. After all, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creation! I think the danger, however, is identifying yourself by what you WERE, rather than what you ARE. When I saw these shirts my mind went to 1 Corinthians 6:11. For the sake of context, I'll include the preceding verses, 9-10.

"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, or thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, ye are sanctified, ye are justified in the Name of our Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God."

I don't know these ladies and I certainly don't know their hearts. What I do know, however, is that we are not identified by what we WERE, at least not in the eyes of God. Praise God for that! If you want to know what God has saved me from, ask me! You won't see me wearing my sins on a shirt, but I'm eager to share what the Lord has done (and is doing) in my life. Understand that I'm not nearly bold or confident enough to say I'm an "ex-" anything, however. I know far too well how easy it is to fall back into sin!

What do you think? Would you wear a shirt (on a regular day, not for a conference or other special event) that broadcast your past sins?

Breakfast in Bed

2011-05-09T09:57:00.000-07:00

*Sunday*

We've had a very uneventful Mother's Day, punctuated by breakfast in bed, a way-too-long afternoon nap and a very tasty dinner, prepared by my equally tasty husband. ;)

Last weeks' OB appointment went far better than I expected. Perhaps my doctor was having a bad day on our first meeting... or perhaps she's just not terribly friendly. She certainly wouldn't be the first person to be put off by my overt friendliness. I can be a chatty gal and that tends to stick out around these parts. People routinely note that I "must not be from around here," even if I don't say "y'all" in the conversation!

I know I frustrate her a bit because I simply do not agree with invasive and intrusive medical practices - like vaccinations that are unnecessary based on lifestyle and risk factors. I can see the frustration on her face when she makes "denied by patient" annotations in my record... multiple times in a visit! Overall, however, we had a better rapport this time and, best of all, I have another ultrasound scheduled. We should know baby's gender in about two weeks and have already picked out first names for both genders. Gerard's fairly confident the baby is a boy - who would be called Andrew - but, if little one is a girl - we're leaning toward Helen or Evelyn. Not sure which will win out!

Speaking of ultrasounds, Daniel was treated yesterday to an ultrasound at the emergency room. It's been at least six months since his last ER visit, so we were due! Poor guy slid in the parking lot and fell off his bike, slamming against a fire hydrant. He had a hard time breathing and, since he's not one for dramatics when he's hurt, we decided to err on the side of caution.

Daniel was treated to an ultrasound and x-rays and it looks as though all is well. He does have a heck of a bruise, however, and I anticipate it will only look worse in the days to come. Thankfully, children have strong ribs (or so we were told) and that helped him to avoid breaking anything. It was frightening, however, because Daniel simply does not complain. He's dealt with so much difficulty since birth that I think he believes discomfort is par for the course.

*Monday*

I didn't feel like sitting on the computer yesterday (it was more fun to watch "Psych" with Gerard) so I decided to put a hold on this post! Today, however, it's back to our weekly routine. Breakfast is done and cleaned up and the children are upstairs preparing for the day. Yes - it's almost 10am as I type this! We thoroughly enjoy having the luxury of waking up much later than our neighbors and make no apologies. We'll begin our studies within the hour and finish no later than early afternoon.

There isn't much to write about. We had an uneventful weekend and, until the weather stays dry for more than one day, I won't have much in the way of pictures to share. I like sit on the ground when I photograph the children and that isn't happening any time soon. My ample rump will sink into the wet grass far too easily!

So, I'll close with a chapter from Romans. It's been a while (too long) since I read this wonderful letter and I realize how much I've been missing!

Romans 5

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
And not only [so], but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
And not only [so], but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
But not as the offence, so also [is] the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, [which is] by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
And not as [it was] by one that sinned, [so is] the gift: for the judgment [was] by one to condemnation, but the free gift [is] of many offences unto justification.
For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
Therefore as by the offence of one [judgment came] upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one [the free gift came] upon all men unto justification of life.
For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Jonesin'

2011-05-06T17:26:00.000-07:00

Not only for warmer weather, but for Florida's beaches... especially on the Gulf Coast.

Sigh.

February 2007... sunny, 80 degrees

As promised

2011-05-04T18:04:00.000-07:00

There are many unfinished blog posts languishing in my "drafts" folder. I've started so many, only to get sidetracked or lose interest in typing. Can I blame the pregnancy? I'm blaming everything else on it... so what's another unfinished task?

Speaking of pregnancy, I have my second appointment tomorrow, not including my ultrasound done at 18 weeks. I'm preparing myself for a tongue lashing - I don't mind, though. She ain't my momma! Heck, I don't think she's anyone's momma. If I had the luxury of choosing a doctor, it would NOT be this one.

But that's another story.

All is well with the pregnancy, by the way. I'm about 27 weeks along - maybe 28 - and my belly is quite large. Exhaustion has definitely set in, moreso from carrying around too much extra weight. My right knee always acts up when I get too fat and, unfortunately, I'm currently too fat for my knee's liking! I've *always* gained a lot of weight with pregnancy and have been able to lose it quickly. My last pregnancy was the first one in which I didn't end up thinner AFTER than I was before, moreso because I don't have the "luxury" of full-time daycare (or even a husband that's home) like I did when I was in the Navy. Something about running three miles a day really helps one lose weight...

So, I'm a tired, grumpy girl. Gerard would probably tell you that's not all different from normal! Complicating matters has been the ongoing drama with the juvenile delinquents we call our neighbors. Unfortunately, our children are the only ones who do NOT attend the local public school and they've been marked, so to speak, as the whipping boys of the neighborhood. Gerard and I don't put up with too much from punks - or their worthless, uninvolved parents - and we've had many, many interactions with them all. We've had to call the cops... contact housing... yes, it's THAT bad. If my children were aggressive or instigators, I would understand... but they're not. They really are, for the most part, "good" children. It's very difficult to deal with this garbage every couple of days and Gerard and I have come face to face with a pretty dark place in our own hearts - is it wrong to want to choke slam a 13 yr. old boy who calls your daughter a b*tch???

Thankfully, the dysfunctional families seem to be moving away one by one and we are hopeful that things will improve by summer. It's been a good example to the children of how NOT to act and a fantastic, in-my-face reminder of why we chose to homeschool them in the first place.

Socialization.

I won't get on a rant here, but the one objection I've heard most often when I tell someone that we homeschool our children is "what about socialization?" People confuse "socializing" with "socialization" and what they're intimating is that somehow my children will be developmentally stunted by not spending six or more hours a day with a bunch of punk children their age.

We homeschool for many reasons but, first and foremost, we homeschool our children to avoid NEGATIVE socialization, from their peers and from those paid to teach them. It's particularly true here, in liberal western Washington, that the teachers do NOT share our values. The NEA is actively opposed to our rights to educate our children and, for that matter, the right of all children to LIFE. I refuse to hand my children over to people who actively and purposefully undermine what we are teaching them. This is why we don't participate in the religious education program at our church, either.

Speaking of which, I've been struggling with a few things in the Church, brought about by the recent beatification of John Paul II. I feel like the only person in the world who isn't excited about it... in fact, it's very upsetting. The actions and many of the statements of JPII, along with the changes brought about by Vatican II, were huge hindrances in my coming in to the church a couple of years ago and it's all come bubbling back up to the surface the last couple of weeks. I have big questions and I don't think anyone can give me a good answer without "explaining away" my concerns.

Ugh.

The thing is, where would I go? Jesus has the words of truth, no doubt, but it seems quite clear the Church has made an awful change to those words. Troubling, indeed. Depressing, too.

But, I trust that the Lord has me in the palm of His hand, ornry and unsettled though I am, and He will never leave nor forsake me. When all else fails, God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

On a much lighter note, we had a sunny day today. I needed it! Actually, I need more than one sunny day - I need two or three in a ROW - but I don't think that's going to happen until at least June. We are some kind of weary of western Washington weather! (But you already knew that, didn't you?) As I type this, gray clouds are moving in and the temps are dropping. The Weatherbug forecast model shows rain for the next seven days.

Awesome.

It could be worse, I'm sure.

Gerard leaves for the Aloha State in a few short weeks and I'm very excited for him. I'll live vicariously through his pictures! I think I'm more excited than he is and, everytime I see the swaying palm trees on Dog the Bounty Hunter, I sigh with longing. I miss being close to the beach!

It's nearing 6pm and I've yet to cook dinner. Gerard came home feeling ill and has been sleeping since about 3:30. I hate to wake him, but I know he'll be upset if I don't.

Ciao.

A Quickie

2011-05-03T19:15:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted in a while but I intend to soon. I have much to write about, I just need to sit and tap out my thoughts. Soon, I promise.

In the meantime, I'll share a bit about tonight's couponing adventure.

The most expensive items in the picture are from Rite Aid - my two mascaras - and they retail for about $9.00 a piece. I got them for free... I only had to pay tax! In fact, I had to ADD items in order to make the purchase. My coupons gave me a negative balance and, unfortunately, Rite Aid doesn't apply overages to tax like Walmart. If our local Walmart kept their shelves stocked, I'd shop there more often. I like paying NOTHING and getting money back!

The other purchases came from Walgreens. Their sale cycle begins Sunday so the nearest store was already out of many of the items I wanted. This necessitated a reworking of my plan. I won't go in to too much detail here, but Walgreens has a tricky way of processing "Catalina" coupons. In order to get the most for your money, you need to "roll" these coupons and work within the Walgreens system. It is, by far, the most stressful store for me to "get" so far but I'm doing better.

Thanks to sales, manufacturer coupons and the aforementioned Catalinas, I was able to get quite a bit at Walgreens for $5.77... including twenty-four rolls of toilet paper, disposable razors (necessary for Gerard when he deploys) and a few other "extras" like candy and plastic forks. The only reason I have to buy the candy and forks is to stay within the Walgreens guidelines. Otherwise, I would have walked out paying about $3.00 total.

So, here's today's buy. For a whopping $7.88 I was able to buy all this... and I received a coupon for $2.00 off my next purchase at Walgreens. Yes, there is a learning curve to understanding strategic couponing BUT I think it's worth the effort!

$7.88 out of pocket... and I received a $2.00 off coupon for my next purchase!

The Mystery Tree

2011-04-29T09:01:00.000-07:00

I still don't know what it is, but it's shaping up quite nicely. The sunshine helps!

NAOMIE!

2011-04-27T21:13:00.000-07:00

Please call me. I bought a new phone a few months ago and couldn't transfer the numbers. I emailed but haven't heard back... this is the only way I can think to get you!!!!

Which one?

2011-04-25T16:16:00.000-07:00

This week marks the beginning of the 26th week of my pregnancy. We're more than half way there! Here's what I received in my email today...

"The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days."

I was also given a link to see "what (my) baby looks like..."

Our little one - our baby - has definitely been making his or her presence known. We can actually see movements in my stomach and, when one of the children puts a hand on my abdomen, there's no doubt that baby Spinner is moving about!

In the midst of my joy, however, I'm hit with the sobering and horrendous realization that in this country it is not only legal, but acceptable for me to "end my pregnancy," - i.e., make the decision to kill this child through abortion.

Shameful.

Not only could I kill this baby now, I could decide to kill this baby at any point until delivery!

And we call ourselves "civilized."

Lord, have mercy upon us. Forgive our sins and heal our land. Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the unborn, pray for us!

Which one deserves to live?

Happy Resurrection Day?

2011-04-25T11:58:00.000-07:00

Add caption

I heard this greeting twice this week, from non-Catholic Christian friends. At first it struck me as odd, then I remembered thinking (earlier this week) how sad it was that our culture has stripped the religious meaning from all of our "holy" days.

Christmas means Santa... and sales.

Easter means eggs and chocolate rabbits.

All Hallow's Eve means dressing up as criminals and whores. (For adults, anyway.)

Such a shame.

So, perhaps it's NOT such a bad idea to say "Happy Resurrection Day." It IS the central event in the Christian calendar and the reason we ARE believers. I still like "Easter," though!

So, a happy and blessed Easter to my fellow believers. He is risen, just as He said!

Our Easter was very nice. Mass was packed, as it typically is on Easter and Christmas, and we couldn't find a seat, despite arriving more than thirty minutes early. We ended up in the choir loft, high above the church proper, and Catherine did well for about an hour. Then she was toast.

It was verrrry hot up there and when we went down to the vestibule, it was a chaotic scene. I ended up taking Catherine out to the car because I couldn't physically handle her climbing up and over my back. If I wasn't pregnant, I could have!

So, we spent the last ten minutes of mass in the truck.

Blah.

I've only left mass early once and that was at a very liberal parish near our old house. The "liturgy" started and we knew we were in the wrong place!

But I digress.

After mass we changed and scooted over to the Holt farm, the same place we went last year. I forgot my camera, so I have no photos to share, but we had a delightful time - as we always do! There was another family there, the Hamiltons, and they had (I think) seven of their children with them. Combine that with the Holt's seven and our three, as well as six parents and one set of grandparents, and you just imagine the scene!

Remarkably, the rain stopped and the sun came out to play. The food was great and the conversation was even better. I'm always better off for the time I spend there.

Our guilty pleasure!

We didn't get home until close to 9pm and it was straight to bed. Today it is rainy and gray (where have you read that before?) and Gerard's week looks to be full of long days. Lucky for him, he's off to Hawaii in a few weeks. On his list of things to do? Go to the Arizona memorial and, of course, stop by Da Kine Bail Bonds and see if he can spot Dog and Beth! ;)

What can I say? We like 'em!

As for us, school and cleaning. A typical week ahead. I've used up my grocery budget, so no shopping for good deals until the end of the week. My last trip (Friday) was a good one - if you combine sale and coupon values, I was able to bag $172 worth of goods (food and household, including diapers) for $39. I saved more than 77% off of retail, just by matching sales, specials and coupons. I had to run to the commissary to buy a few things for Easter dinner and happened to notice prices on certain items I'd purchased. Even with high value coupons, it was cheaper for me to buy them "in town" than it was to get them on base. The commissary typically beats off-base sale prices but when you match them with coupons... well... you save a lot.

It's about time for Catherine's nap and she's getting fussy. I'm thinking of joining her today! ;)

He is risen! Alleluia!

Something Exciting to Share!

2011-04-21T12:59:00.000-07:00

I'm taking a break from scrubbing the castle to catch up on email. As I sat down and read through the savings updates, I lamented that nothing was available for laundry detergent.

I need me some laundry detergent! ;)

As I sat here crying in my email, a notification popped up that I'd received the monthly Amazon Vine newsletter. I'm NEVER at the computer when it comes through and always miss out on the best review opportunities. Not so today!

A bit about Amazon Vine...

I started ordering from Amazon years ago when I was stationed overseas. I shudder to think of the money we've spent over the last decade! We like Amazon so much (and their prices) that we pay $79 a year to subscribe to a special "Prime" program that gives us free two-day shipping (sometimes one-day) on most products we buy. This includes shipping to friends and family! Now the program includes access to lots of streaming movies and television programs online. I think we get a better value out of the Amazon video programming (more of what we like) than we do from Netflix!

As I've ordered things, I've left reviews. A few years back Amazon decided to try a program that sent products (typically pre-release books, movies and new products) to reviewers for feedback. I was asked to participate based on the number of my reviews and the percentage of "helpful" votes I'd received.

Lists for $16.68!

Over the years I've received more books than I can recall, laminating sheets, Oreo-brand cookies, tissue paper, tape dispensers and a remote control for my Nikon! All I do in return is write an honest review of the product. I can do that!

Unfortunately, I typically see the Vine newsletter an hour or so later than it is sent and that means I miss out on the high-value items (like the solid wood play kitchen that was offered a few months back!) and get "stuck" with the books. Not today, my friend.

Lists for 19.80!

Now, I wouldn't call Tide detergent "high value" BUT when you need it, it's certainly HIGH NECESSITY. I scrolled to the bottom of the email where the good stuff is located and what did I find? Two different formulations of Tide detergent, free for the reviewing!!!!

Rock on!

I selected both and will receive my boxes in the next couple of days. I need to make sure my reviews are up to date so I don't miss out on any future opportunities!

(FYI, the Amazon Vine program doesn't take volunteers - they contact customers based on purchases and reviews!)

$634 Worth of Stuff for $50?

2011-04-20T14:57:00.000-07:00

No. Not even close.

Today was my first official foray into the world of "planned" couponing. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I haven't seen the TLC show "Extreme Couponing," but I have seen a few clips online. Some were inspiring, others were disgusting. I endeavor to NOT be in the "disgusting" category!

Everywhere I went today, people asked if I was an "extreme" couponer. Unfortunately, the show is skewing the perception folks have of coupons - as though every trip to the grocery store will result in hundreds of dollars worth of goods for next to nothing. That's just not realistic - not if you want to have a life, anyway! Plus, we live in a relatively small area and our stores do not stock a hundred bottles of yellow mustard on a shelf. If you clear a shelf here, you're taking all twenty or thirty of an item! Not very nice! The checker at Target told me a woman came in and cleared shelves - completely - twice before the manager nabbed her and told her she couldn't do it. We simply don't have the stock in sleepy li'l Silverdale to deal with that sort of thing!

I don't plan to clear a shelf of chocolate bars or scam the system to score 50 bottles of bbq sauce for five cents each. I get nervous enough doing this LEGALLY! I cannot see a need for 100 tubes of toothpaste, either, and I have no plans to dedicate an entire room to toilet paper...

even if it's free.

Alllllllll that said, today was a good - if exhausting - first run. I hit several stores, including the base grocery store, and had all the children along for the adventure. As you might imagine, it was a lot like herding cats... while checking prices and trying to stay organized!

In the end, I bought (with sales prices factored in) $184.14 worth of merchandise for an impressive (in my mind) $75.42. I think that's in the 60% saved range, but I'm not in the mood to crunch any more numbers at the moment, so my best guess will have to do!

$45.42 of this total was MEAT - chicken, sausage and bacon - and that total is before coupons (which brought the meat down by nearly $14.) Also included in my haul is fresh produce, free toothbrushes and toothpaste, high-end men's body wash, deodorant, several cans of Dole pineapple and mandarin oranges, salad dressings... even my favorite brand of hair dye (to keep my blond locks black-roots-free, of course!) was free after coupons! I could go on, but I think you get the idea.

When you couple this with the deals I made earlier in the week (which included MAKING money at Walmart and getting body wash, "premium" ketchup, dental floss and mozzarella cheese for free, I'm quite certain my "percentage saved" increases.

I'm definitely sold on couponing and taking the time to wait for sales. It's a bit more time consuming up front (in the past I would only clip coupons for what I wanted to buy and use them immediately - big mistake) but in the end, I think it's worth it. If you want a few links to help you get started, let me know and I'll post them. I created a Facebook account - under an alias! - just to "friend" these sites and receive daily updates on sales and price matching with current circulars. This is how I managed to get the high value coupons for chicken!

I'm EXHAUSTED and I still have a house to clean and dinner to cook. It's EASTER this weekend and that means - among other far more important things - there will be no coupons.

I'm glad.

;)

Coupon Craaaaaziness, part deux

2011-04-18T20:48:00.000-07:00

Catherine strikes a pose - completely unrelated
to this blog entry, but she's so cute
I couldn't resist!

I don't have any representative pictures to share because my eager husband has already stashed my stash, BUT I can share the results of my first "unofficial" couponing trip.

It's unofficial because I was NOT ready but Gerard WAS... so I matched what I could and hit the road.

First to Target, where I'd hoped to snag a few boxes of feminine pads for a penny each, as well as allergy meds for free and body wash for four cents a bottle.

It was a complete bust on all fronts.

Everything was gone, which didn't surprise me. Certain coupons - like pads for a penny - are sure to draw shoppers in, even those who aren't "extreme" couponers.

I felt pretty defeated, I must admit, and had to scrape my saggin' arse off the ground so we could scoot over to Safeway for EIGHTY DOLLARS in gas... gasp... and, hopefully, two free bottles of ketchup.

Score!

Safeway had 40 oz. bottles of Heinz ketchup on sale for $1.98, regular price $3.98 each. I printed two "$2.00 off" coupons online before we left (that was the limit) and walked out with two FREE bottles of ketchup! I felt much, much better after that trip and was ready for the next stop... Walmart!

Into Walmart we went, where the Nivea women's body wash - regular $3.99 a bottle - was on sale for $3.00. I put ten bottles in the buggy, pulled out ten coupons for $3.00 off and saved... 100% Awesome! I did have to pay tax on the non-coupon total, so I ended up with $40 worth of product (at regular price) for $2.58. If they would have carried the men's Nivea, I could have bought a few bottles of that, too, and paid nothing more than tax.

Because one photo just isn't enough...

So, on my first outing - which was rather impromptu and very much haphazard - I scored nearly $50 worth of goodies for less than $3. I've more than recouped my initial cost in purchasing papers!

In the future, I will consolidate my trips but tonight was something of a test run, inspired by my eager husband! Tomorrow, it's off to Albertson's where I plan to use 27 "doubler" coupons to save big bucks and, hopefully, walk out with free food.

I'll keep ya posted!

Coupon Craziness

2011-04-18T09:20:00.000-07:00

Before I start, I want to share a video of those hateful, racist tea partiers...

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/fung-brat-protester-screams-profanity-at-14-year-old-tea-party-speaker/

Exactly. Betcha won't see THAT on MSNBC or the mainstream media... or the various video clips from Wisconsin and Portland by those sweet, wonderful union members.

But I digress.

My much anticipated first Sunday delivery of six papers was a massive disappointment... the fella only delivered ONE copy!

All that remained at 9:30 last night

I promptly called the paper and asked for the remaining copies to be delivered and she assured me they would be at my house in the next hour and a half.

Well, the hour passed... then the next hour... the next one... no papers. Of course, I'm not interested in the papers (although they are being used for "logs" for Gerard's camping stash) it's the coupons I want. Yesterday's Tribune had FOUR inserts in addition to the store-specific coupons. That's a big deal, my friends.

I called back and the paper offices were closed. I drove up to the local grocery store and snagged the four remaining copies of the Tacoma Tribune (the Kitsap Sun is cheaper but had ONE insert and the Seattle Times was the same price but had different/fewer inserts!)

I intended to clip them and organize them yesterday but then got very ill - huggin' the toilet ill - and ended up in the bed for a bit. I managed to get most of them clipped and filed but tired out after a while and hit the sack. I wanted to do as much as possible knowing (hoping) that the other five Sunday papers would be delivered today.

Today's task!

Boy am I glad I did!

The Sunday papers were waiting for me this morning and I've already separated them by insert. Now I have to go through and separate them AGAIN by page. I'll collect them and then clip six copies at a time, file the coupons and call it a day. Ideally, this would have happened yesterday afternoon, of course, so now I'm under a bit of a time crunch to match sales with Albertson's, which is doubling coupons today and tomorrow.

Children, can we skip school today???

Nah, we can get it all done. I was able to get a lot done in the house before I took ill, so I can focus my full attention on school and clipping. Other than a bit of math instruction and one-on-one reading time with Daniel, the children are able to do much of their work free of my assistance, so I'll be able to sit at the table and clip while they do their work.

Sure to appreciate in value!

Totally off subject here, but I found an add for a Kate Middleton doll among the coupon inserts. Why... why... why... would you want this "collectible?" I must admit that I cannot see the attraction to any of this stuff. I'm glad they're making it official and no longer screwing around but I'm no more happy for them than I am for anyone else who marries.

I suppose it's no different than the Obama socks Gerard bought for me in Korea. I wear them with his face on the bottom of my feet... as does Emily. But you probably already knew that...

Back to the royals.

Perhaps if I bought these snazzy collectible mugs I would see things differently...

Seriously, folks?

Nah. Probably not.

Off to clip coupons!

Back?

2011-04-16T20:33:00.000-07:00

Perhaps.

I deleted my blog altogether, only to "undelete" it a day or two ago. I don't know - maybe the hormones are making me impetuous. I worry that wackos are able to access my page and I also worry that much of what I write is nothing more than self-indulgent blather. I talked about that very thing with friends last weekend - that so many bloggers speak from an unqualified position or *assume* that their opinion is worth writing about. I don't want to be counted in that number! To the contrary, I realize more and more what a dingleberry I am and how much I still have to learn, how much I need to grow in every imaginable way. Maybe I'll figure it out - whatever IT is - before I die.

I'm not counting on it.

Gerard is off camping this weekend - into the mountains with a couple of friends from work. I wish we could have gone as a family (as does he) but it's simply not doable with this cruddy weather. They're in the mountains near Jefferson Lake (where we went last spring) doing a bit of primitive camping. Nothing to keep them warm but sleeping bags, beer and sheer determination.

Lord have mercy.

I do hope they are having fun and that it's not TOO cold. This time Gerard has a MUCH better sleeping bag than he did on his last winter camping trip and, as far as I know, there's no snow in the forecast. As long as those things are covered, I think they'll have a good time! He enjoys camping - preparing, packing and setting up - and I know it will do wonders for his morale. Work has been stressful and this impromptu trip is just what he needs.

As for us, we're staying close to the home, watching the most recent season of Dog the Bounty Hunter on Netflix. Not the most highbrow entertainment, to be sure, but Emily's learned a lot about the job of law enforcement, constitutional rights for all Americans - even those accused or convicted of a crime and why drugs are a very, very, very bad thing. She's heard enough foul language on the playground the last month or two that I don't worry about her hearing them say a** or b*tch in the context of arresting someone. At least there's some justification for it - on the playground there's NO justification whatsoever.

But that's another story for another day. Pray for military families. Please.

Last week I embarked on a new and exciting project to save money - "super" couponing. I first learned of such a practice at the end of 2007 when the local news station profiled a woman named Teri Gault who was able to save big bucks by combining coupons with sales to get rock bottom prices and sometimes free goodies from the grocery store. I signed up for her Website in December of 2007 to take advantage of a free trial period but never got into it. It just seemed like too much work.

Well, now that we're looking seriously at Gerard leaving the Navy for "redder" pastures in Louisiana, I want to save money any way possible. I added several couponing sites to my Google reader about two years ago and have poked around, but never did much with it. After reading "Pick Another Checkout Lane, Honey," and seeing short clips of a few admirable women saving big bucks and donating lots of goodies to their local food bank and shelters, I was inspired to give it another go.

Enter the newspaper.

Last week I bought SIX copies of the Sunday paper - yes, six - and then found a deal for the Tacoma paper at half the cost of buying the Seattle rag at the newsstand. Tomorrow I'll have six copies of the current paper waiting at my front door, chock full of high value coupons. I have a big, fat binder, bursting at the seams with clipped coupons, ready to be matched with sales and "stacked" with store specials. In my whopping one week of doing this, I was able to find a good price on whole wheat pasta and use my six coupons to knock the price down to $.39 per box. Not too shabby.

This week, Target's on my radar. I plan to buy multiple boxes of feminine hygiene products for a penny a box. Our (free) local Navy paper features one of the coupon inserts every Friday and I happened to snag six copies while I was on base. Theoretically, I could clip 100 coupons and spend a buck to get 100 boxes of pads. That gives me plenty for our cabinet and TONS to bring down to St. Vinnie's and the Pregnancy Resource Center. I like that. If I can shop with coupons and score things like formula and other baby goodies for pennies on the dollar, I'm benefiting these life-affirming charities FAR more than I would by giving them cash or buying items at full price or on a regular sale.

Can you tell I'm "sold" on couponing? I haven't even started and I'm excited! Gerard's thrilled, too. We won't be able to use many of the coupons for our own needs (lots of processed stuff in there) but we can make donations to the food pantry. If I'm able to learn the system and score free toothpaste, toilet paper and other toiletries, that frees up a lot of cash for buying the grass fed meat and raw milk we love so much. (We really do love raw milk - there's simply nothing like it. Drinking the regular or organic stuff is very difficult to do after you have the creamy, unhomogenized goodness that is REAL milk!)

I'll keep you posted on my hauls from the store. I'm keeping it in prayer and asking God to bless my admittedly scattered efforts at doing better. I want so badly to be completely free of debt and, especially, for Gerard to no longer be a part of this corrupt and murderous government.

Catherine is ready for her bath, so off I go. I didn't plan to write so much! Don't be surprised if the blog disappears again... or goes "private." If it does the latter, just send an email and I'll add you to my authorized readers.

I hope your weekend is a dry one!

Three Pics

2011-04-09T12:48:00.000-07:00

I've been terrible about taking and posting pictures the last few months but I have a few to share from the last couple of weeks.

I came around the corner to find this beastie feeding on the small suet cake... go figure.
I thought someone was looking in the window when I caught a glimpse out of the corner of my eye.
He's much bigger than it appears in this photo, trust me!

Catherine and I were enjoying a late lunch yesterday and I got a bit sidetracked in working
on a budget. I looked up and saw her passed out cold. She did manage to eat all her lunch, though!

I took this more than a month ago, using the computer camera. I like it because we're both
squinching our shoulders... she's such a doll!

Daniel's New Obsession

2011-04-08T09:39:00.000-07:00

He *loves* this song!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4ujS1er1r0

Chicken Fried lyrics

You know I like my chicken fried
Cold beer on a Friday night
A pair of jeans that fit just right
And the radio up
I like to see the sunrise
See the love in my woman`s eyes
Feel the touch of a precious child
And know a mother`s love

Well I was raised up beneath the shade of a Georgia pine
And that`s home you know
With sweet tea, pecan pie and homemade wine
Where the peaches grow
And my house it`s not much to talk about
But it`s filled with love that`s grown in southern ground
And a little bit of chicken fried

Cold beer on a Friday night
A pair of jeans that fit just right
And the radio up
I like to see the sunrise
See the love in my woman`s eyes
Feel the touch of a precious child
And know a mother`s love

And its funny how it`s the little things in life that mean the most
Not where you live, what you drive or the price tag on your clothes
There`s no dollar sign on a piece of mind; this I`ve come to know
So if you agree have a drink with me
Raise your glasses for a toast
(From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/z/zac-brown-band-lyrics/chicken-fried-lyrics.html)
To a little bit of chicken fried

Cold beer on a Friday night
A pair of jeans that fit just right
And the radio up
I like to see the sunrise
See the love in my woman`s eyes
Feel the touch of a precious child
And know a mother`s love

I thank god for my life
And for the stars and stripes
May freedom forever fly, let it ring.
Salute the ones who died
And the ones that gave their lives so we don`t have to sacrifice
All the things we love
Like our chicken fried

Cold beer on a Friday night
A pair of jeans that fit just right
And the radio up
I like to see the sunrise
See the love in my woman`s eyes
Feel the touch of a precious child
And know a mother`s love

You know I like my chicken fried
Cold beer on a Friday night
A pair of jeans that fit just right
And the radio up
I like to see the sunrise
See the love in my woman`s eyes
Feel the touch of a precious child
And know a mother`s love

Disgusting

2011-04-08T09:07:00.000-07:00

Goodness - where do I start? Listening to the news the last week or two, the ridiculous leftist spin and refusal to tell the truth, has left me almost speechless. This morning I turned on the radio and heard about this...

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/dem-rep-gets-in-shouting-match-with-veteran-at-town-hall-time-to-sit-down/

I am utterly disgusted with this administration and their complete lack of concern or decorum when it comes to dealing with constituents. I'd initially thought Gerard should get out of the Navy because we wanted to be done with deployments but it's now quite clear that he needs to get out because we need to be DONE with the government. I'd rather be dirt poor than have him answer to this administration.

Leading up to the presidential election, I wasted considerable time listening to leftist radio shows and commentators in an attempt to see if perhaps I was missing something. How could so many people be voting for a man completely unqualified and who spoke only in platitudes? I sincerely wondered if I was wrong... what did I not se?

So, I listened and listened... and listened some more. Those months of "progressive" radio did nothing more than confirm that I am, indeed, a conservative. I will NEVER vote for a democrat, even if I have to hold my nose to vote for a republican. Not even in a local election.

"Women's heath" - i.e., abortion paid for by tax dollars - is more important than paying military members. Honestly? Gerard and I will gladly forfeit our pay if it means less children are slaughtered under the false pretense of "choice." Choice to choose? Choice to kill.

God bless America? Please. May God have mercy on America.

We be grubbin'

2011-04-07T13:37:00.000-07:00

I just created an account over at Cook's Illustrated - online access to tons of videos, recipes and reviews - with a free 14-day trial. Once the trial ends it costs about $35 a year... which comes out to less than three buckaroos a month. I think that would probably be worth it - especially considering you can also access current and past issues of the magazine, along with how-to videos. Those magazines are expensive and I've definitely spent more than the annual online subscription fee in purchasing magazines from the store!

As I've already mentioned, we've had fantastic results with every recipe we've tried. The only recipe I had to tweak significantly was their red beans and rice recipe... which really doesn't surprise me because we grew up with the real deal. Everyone has their own special way of making red beans (or any dish, really) and Gerard and I are quite particular about ours. The Cook's Illustrated recipe gave me a great base, however, and with only a few additions I was able to make it just as we like it and I learned a nifty method of salt-soaking that helps soften the beans and add an extra layer of flavor. We like flavor.

Last night I made one of our go-to recipes for pot roast and the great irony is that, although we all agreed it was certainly good, it paled in comparison to the tasty recipes I've pulled from my CI magazines! How's that for irony? One of my favorite recipes of all time is no longer a favorite... but it's still easy and tasty and won't be leaving the rotation any time soon. In fact, I stripped the meat this morning and added veggies for a tasty beef stew tonight. I love a recipe that does double duty and that one does. Tonight we'll have the stew along with homemade garlic and parmesan bread. Tasty.

Do you have a favorite go-to recipe? Would you mind sharing it? I don't mind intensive prep... as long as the results are worth the effort!

Another hit!

2011-04-05T18:00:00.000-07:00

"Updated Chicken and Dumplings" is one of the best meals I've ever made!

I scanned the recipe into another storage location - you can see it HERE.

I did things a bit differently -

We used 2 lbs. of thighs (instead of 2.5) because I didn't want to buy another package and split it.

We also used 2 pounds of wings (instead of 1) because I didn't want to freeze the extra. (Lazy, I know.)

My parsley went south, so I substituted 4 tsp. dry for the 1/4 cup fresh.

I ended up with way more meat than we like in a stew or soup, so I picked all the bones (wings, too) and froze about 1.5 cups. I still had a LOT of meat in the stew.

Next time -

I will use 8 cups of broth (instead of the 6 called for in the recipe) and cut the dumpling recipe in HALF. We ended up with a LOT of dumplings and they soaked up most of the broth! They were a hit with the children, but I like a bit o' soup with my bread!

Overall, this recipe is a winner. The "stew" can easily be doubled (or tripled) and frozen ahead of time. I think it would be great with rice, too!

If you're not familiar with America's Test Kitchen, you can view the current season online for free, as well as access a few recipes for free by visiting http://www.americastestkitchen.com/

Er... none of the above?

2011-04-05T16:06:00.000-07:00

I clipped this editorial cartoon a few weeks ago and promptly lost it on my desk. I found it today and I want to share...

Conspicuously absent from the choices are, in no particular order...

my faith in Christ.

my spouse.

my children.

my friends.

my parents.

my grandparents/aunt/uncle.

Sure, it would necessitate a bit of rewording, but I think it would be a better, more representative statement for MOST people if those choices were included.

As much as I liked Mrs. Hauck, Mrs. Enos, Mrs. Franzone and others, not a single one of those teachers made me "who I am today."

In fact, any good in my life can be attributed to my unforgettable, great and amazing Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, my husband, my children, my friends and my family.

Third Post in a Day?

2011-04-05T12:02:00.001-07:00

Indeed. I couldn't help sharing this image of Gerard offering Catherine a big honkin' spoonful of homemade cookie dough. Too cute!

The way to a Spinner's heart...

In all things, give thanks

2011-04-05T11:04:00.000-07:00

even when you are terribly disappointed.

I spoke too soon... farewell, sunshine!

Sunshine and Happiness

2011-04-05T09:26:00.000-07:00

I opened the blinds to find bright, clear skies and sunshine today.

Thank you, Jesus.

I am quite certain it will not last, but it's a welcome break from the last week or so of constant gray skies and rain. I'm not sure why the rain is wearing on me this year, but it is. Perhaps pregnancy has something to do with it? Gerard is convinced that I'm having a boy because my hormones (in his mind) are making me nutty. I disagree - he's the one who's nutty!

Regardless, we have sun today and I'm glad. It's cool and breezy, too, and reminds me of the beginning of fall when the hot days turn cooler and the first truly "autumnal" day arrives. I LOVE that kind of weather!

Last night I tried a new recipe from last month's Food Network magazine - for salisbury steak. The "steaks" were great but the gravy was nasty. Really nasty. Thankfully, I had a package of brown gravy mix on hand and used it to fix the tasteless sauce. Overall, not a bad dinner but I didn't keep the recipe.

Tonight it's chicken and dumplings from Cook's Illustrated. So far, their recipes and hints have all been winners, so I have high hopes for the meal. Best of all, I'll have something to toss in the freezer! I'm already planning for the weeks after the baby arrives and stocking a freezer full of soups, stews and casseroles is definitely on my agenda.

Ah... rain!

2011-04-04T08:06:00.000-07:00

4/4/2011

Currently

41°F

Drizzle

Humidity: 93%

Pressure: 30.10 in

7 Day Forecast

Monday Cloudy, Rainy Day: 50° Night: 40°

Tuesday Mostly Cloudy, Light Showers Day: 48° Night: 39°

Wednesday Mostly Cloudy, Light Rain Day: 47° Night: 38°

Thursday Partly Cloudy, Light Showers Day: 51° Night: 39°

Friday Partly Cloudy Day: 55° Night: 41°

Saturday Mostly Sunny Day: 57° Night: 42°

Sunday Partly Cloudy Day: 59° Night: 41°

Follow Up

2011-04-04T07:54:00.000-07:00

So you know, the food was just as good (perhaps better?) the next morning for BREAKFAST. We all had it!

If you like Tex-Mex or Mexican food, I definitely recommend the enchiladas. They were wonderful.

The Thing About Cooking...

2011-04-01T19:12:00.000-07:00

is that it involves a lot of mess. Especially when you make enchiladas... and salsa... and guacamole... from scratch... in one night.

As I reflect on the meal, I must admit that just one yummy bite of all that goodness was worth all the splatters, splashes, dirtied dishes and crusty pans soaking in the sink. No doubt.

This week I tried my hand at enchiladas, using a recipe I found in a recent edition of Cook's Country, a sister publication of Cook's Illustrated. These magazines (affiliated with the PBS program America's Test Kitchen) are becoming my go-to resource for new recipes. My binder is overflowing with recipes torn from the pages of their fine publications!

You have to subscribe in order to view recipes, but I found a blog that lists it correctly - http://lindsaylady.blogspot.com/2009/10/recipe-of-week-grandmas-sarahs.html I followed the recipe as written - no changes whatsoever - and the results were fantastic.

As the meat was bubbling away in the oven, I decided a side of guacamole was in order. I've made it before, but never with great results, so I dug around online to see what I could find. The guacamole recipes seemed to call for the same basic ingredients, so I diced two large avocados, added the juice of a small lemon, threw in a bit of salt, chopped tomato, cumin, cayenne, cilantro and garlic and mixed it all up. Delicious, my friend. As good as any Mexican restaurant we've been to - and we've been to a LOT of them!

Because my kitchen wasn't dirty enough, we decided restaurant-style salsa would be a great addition. We LOVE salsa - restaurant salsa, that is - but I've never found a recipe that seemed "right."

That all changed this week.

Thanks to the wonder that is Pioneer Woman, I found a fantastic recipe for salsa - http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/01/restaurant-style-salsa/ We like spicy food, really spicy food, but I toned it down for the children. If you want a less spicy salsa, use the mild Rotel tomatoes and skip the fresh jalapeno. As it was, I used two cans of original Rotel and found the spice to be just fine. For Gerard's sake I added a small amount of fresh jalapeno. (Pregnancy-related indigestion has made me a bit of a wuss in the hot foods department!)

Not only was the food fantastic, it was far cheaper to make at home than it would have been to buy at a restaurant. Sure, there's a mess to clean up but there's also a great deal of satisfaction for this wanna-be homemaker!

Now, if I could only get them to leave me a good tip...

I think I'll have to settle for their compliments!

A New Orleans State of Mind

2011-03-30T15:57:00.000-07:00

Red Beans & Rice

It's probably more appropriate to say we've been in southern Louisiana state of mind... we miss it lately, and miss it badly. This happens every now and then, even more the last couple of years. I'm not sure what it is about that place - its siren call - that beckons us home... but something does and we are finding it more and more difficult to resist.

Perhaps it has something to do with our growing family and a desire to raise our children somewhere familiar. Sure, things have changed since Katrina but, at its heart, southeastern Louisiana remains the same. It just has to.

Every once in a while we talk about Gerard getting out of the Navy and us moving somewhere for GOOD. Settling our family and putting down real roots. The talk usually lasts a week or two, then we move on. Lately, however, it seems to be all that we talk about. All that we think about. All that we want.

Since we cannot move any time soon, we've indulged our longings by buying music from Amazon and filling our shelves with good Louisiana cookbooks. The cookbooks have led to lots of playing in the kitchen and, last night, resulted in the BEST pot of red beans and rice I have EVER made. Best of all? I tweaked the recipe myself to make it the way *we* like it. Plenty of flavor, plenty of spice. This is the recipe I will teach my children to make and, God willing, they will teach my grandchildren to make.

Growing up, I enjoyed reading the local newspaper - The Times-Picayune. My favorite columnist was Chris Rose. You ought to look him up... he's good!

Here's a wonderful piece he wrote following the storm, to introduce New Orleanians to their new neighbors. I love it and it makes me miss home all the more!

Dear America,

I suppose we should introduce ourselves: We're South Louisiana.

We have arrived on your doorstep on short notice and we apologize for that, but we never were much for waiting around for invitations. We're not much on formalities like that.

And we might be staying around your town for a while, enrolling in your schools and looking for jobs, so we wanted to tell you a few things about us. We know you didn't ask for this and neither did we, so we're just going to have to make the best of it.

First of all, we thank you. For your money, your water, your food, your prayers, your boats and buses and the men and women of your National Guards, fire departments, hospitals and everyone else who has come to our rescue.

We're a fiercely proud and independent people, and we don't cotton much to outside interference, but we're not ashamed to accept help when we need it. And right now, we need it.

Just don't get carried away. For instance, once we get around to fishing again, don't try to tell us what kind of lures work best in your waters.

We're not going to listen. We're stubborn that way.

You probably already know that we talk funny and listen to strange music and eat things you'd probably hire an exterminator to get out of your yard.

We dance even if there's no radio. We drink at funerals. We talk too much and laugh too loud and live too large and, frankly, we're suspicious of others who don't.

But we'll try not to judge you while we're in your town.

Everybody loves their home, we know that. But we love South Louisiana with a ferocity that borders on the pathological. Sometimes we bury our dead in LSU sweatshirts.

Often we don't make sense. You may wonder why, for instance - if we could only carry one small bag of belongings with us on our journey to your state - why in God's name did we bring a pair of shrimp boots?

We can't really explain that. It is what it is.

You've probably heard that many of us stayed behind. As bad as it is, many of us cannot fathom a life outside of our border, out in that place we call Elsewhere.

The only way you could understand that is if you have been there, and so many of you have. So you realize that when you strip away all the craziness and bars and parades and music and architecture and all that hooey, really, the best thing about where we come from is us.

We are what made this place a national treasure. We're good people. And don't be afraid to ask us how to pronounce our names. It happens all the time.

When you meet us now and you look into our eyes, you will see the saddest story ever told. Our hearts are broken into a thousand pieces.

But don't pity us. We're gonna make it. We're resilient. After all, we've been rooting for the Saints for 35 years. That's got to count for something.

OK, maybe something else you should know is that we make jokes at inappropriate times.

But what the hell.

And one more thing: In our part of the country, we're used to having visitors. It's our way of life.

So when all this is over and we move back home, we will repay to you the hospitality and generosity of spirit you offer to us in this season of our despair.

That is our promise. That is our faith.

Spring Break

2011-03-28T10:15:00.000-07:00

The old schoolhouse... i.e., our kitchen table

Children in the local school district are enjoying spring break this week and, although we don't follow the district schedule... ever... I did decide to pare down the subjects for the week so Em and D can get out and play (in the rain, unfortunately) with their neighborhood friends.

Here are two shots taken moments ago as they wrapped up their work. Notice that Catherine is right up there with them - learning to write the letter "O." Of course, she's way too young and I do NOT push (or advocate) so-called "early learning" but I'm certainly not going to stop her from sitting with Em and D as they do their work!

My youngest student

Signs of Spring?

2011-03-25T17:03:00.000-07:00

From my back porch looking out...

Could it be? Really? I hesitate to get my hopes up... living in western Washington the last four years has taught me that (a) the forecasters are always wrong (unless it's summer) and (b) no season is the same from one year to the next. These truths aside, hope springs eternal - at least for me - and the last three (consecutive!) days of sunshine and mild temperatures have me hoping for the best. It's so pretty, in fact, that I broke out my camera (for the first time in more than a month) to take a photo of the space behind our house!

We're also seeing the crocus push through the soil (in purple and gold, no less!) and the cherry blossoms beginning to bloom. The grayish-brown branches of scrappy trees are putting on green buds... can you blame me for having spring fever?!? I want to start a few seedlings, too, but I don't want to jump the gun. Last year we started a bunch, only to have them die when an unusually late cold snap hit us. Ah, the joys of gardening.

Gerard came home early Wednesday and, once we wrapped up our studies, we all made our way to one of the many neighborhood basketball courts. It's a lot of fun to play with the children like that and I couldn't help but smile as I watched Gerard play with Em and D, as Catherine brought me pine cones and kissed my "baby" (belly.) What a sweet, wonderful life we have been given!

Buds on the "mystery tree" outside our fence

A Special Place in Hell

2011-03-25T13:48:00.000-07:00

I know - don't judge, right? Thankfully, Christ Jesus calls us to "judge righteously" and gave us this beautiful thing called reason. These are sick, twisted bastards. The sooner we quite pussyfooting around with evil (of all kinds) and call it what it is, the better for us all.

Even so, come Lord Jesus!

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/262130/dead-jews-no-news-mark-steyn

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4041106,00.html

Rain, Rain, Rain

2011-03-18T11:01:00.000-07:00

My sister walking Catherine along our raised bed last year

We've had non-stop rain for the last month - or so it seems - and if it continues like this, I have very little hope for a good summer. Last year it started late and ended early... leaving all my big, fat tomatoes green on the vine.

To be honest, I doubt we'll have much of a harvest this year regardless of the weather. The rich, worm-filled soil of last year's raised bed is a distant memory, replaced by a small, cluttered concrete porch with limited exposure to the sun. I will probably use a combination of old pots, buckets and bags of soil to grow a few things. Perhaps my attempt at a patio garden will pay off. We'll see.

Regardless, I intend to try my hand at using a pressure canner this year. I've moved into this slowly... starting with making my own bread, then homemade yogurt. Next was homemade jelly... every batch was lovely. A water bath canner was more than sufficient for my jelly but I want to can my own sauces and fruits this year, as well as try prepared meals such as chili and spaghetti sauce. This necessitates a pressure canner.

Add this to something I never imagined I'd be doing, let alone interested in doing!

We've managed to collect an impressive number of canning jars in all sizes. I'm set for a decent amount of canning this year - relishes, pepper jelly, tomatoes and cucumbers should be no problem. My biggest obstacle will be not taking on too much and getting overwhelmed. I have a bad tendency toward that very thing! I still need a few things - a food mill, a good sieve - but those should be easy to find. All I need now is fruits and veggies at the peak of freshness!

Daddy and Catherine

I finally washed the chrism from Catherine's hair a few days ago. I was sad to do it, but her hair needed a scrub. My next opportunity to sniff an anointed noggin doesn't come until early August Baby Spinner arrives, so I'm thinking of stalking baptisms - even if they're the baptisms of folks I don't know - just to get the high! Nah - I'm kidding - but the smell is so wonderful.

Gerard went back to work this week and, although I miss him during the day, it has been easier for me to get things done around the house. When he's not here, I manage to keep everything moving along. When he's home? I just want to sit on the couch and talk to him! Great for our relationship, not so great for getting dinner cooked or laundry washed!

Godmommy Maddy, Catherine and me (not pictured - Li'l Breezy!)

Speaking of dinner, we were privileged to have Catherine's Godmother, Maddy, over for dinner this week. She dropped off a box of donuts after work and we asked if she'd stay. We always enjoy talking to her - the last time she was here, to babysit, she kept the children for about three hours and stayed five hours more to visit with US! It was a late night - she left around 1am - but worth it.

Maddy is among a select group of amazingly mature and intelligent teenagers/young adults in our parish and we are fortunate to know many of them well. Baby no. four (to be called Li'l Breezy from this point forward) will have two of these wonderful youngsters as his or her Godparents! Gerard and I often remark that we are able to have better conversations with these teenagers than we are with people our own age.

It's been a slow morning around here. I haven't slept the last few nights and when I do finally doze off (around 4 or 5) I have unsettling dreams that cause my heart to race. If I could, I'd crawl back into bed and sleep the day away! Of course, that's not a possibility, so once the chores are done, school begins. We had SUNSHINE the other day, so the old schoolmarm (that's me) decided to call off studies and get the children OUT to play. We're playing "catch up" today and for about thirty minutes tomorrow so we can finish off the week. We "school" all year, so it doesn't really matter if we get everything on the schedule done today BUT it is nice to have five continuous days of learning, particularly when this is the week we introduced Greek and Latin roots!

My eyes are starting to go cross, so I'm closing out. I hope everyone has a lovely weekend!

The Sweet Smell of Sanctifying Grace

2011-03-14T11:10:00.000-07:00

Fr. Lappe pours the cleansing waters of baptism

The heady scent of chrism has overwhelmed our senses the last two days. It is a wonderful reminder that our little pagan baby has been brought in to the Body of Christ through the glorious sacrament of baptism, which - from the earliest days of Christianity - has been known to be the entrance of sanctifying grace into the soul, removing all trace of original sin. This truth was pivotal in my initial stage of conversion to Catholicism, although I didn't realize it at the time.

Our growing family.

Ordinarily, a baby is baptized within the first few weeks of life outside the womb. The Spinners never do anything the correct way, of course, so Catherine was baptized at approximately sixteen months of age. Fr. Lappe commented on how heavy she was when we posed for a photo after the ceremony. Ironically, he would have made the same comment had we baptized her the day she was born! Compared to the three itty bitty, teeny weeny babies also being baptized yesterday... well, let's just say "delicate" is not a word you would ever apply to my big girl!

As is typical for Miss Catherine, smiles were difficult to come by. We jokingly call her "Sybil" after the famous multiple personality case - when she's happy, she's VERY happy... when she's not happy, she's miserable. You can see where she was yesterday by looking at her dour expression in all these photos!

Despite her unwillingness to smile and say "cheese," the day was wonderful. It was all I could do not to weep the whole morning. God has been so gracious to our family and, as we obey Him, we are blessed more and more. Thanks be to God, our life is everything we never wanted.

The lanky lovely on the far right is Catherine's Godmother, Maddy. To her right, her wonderful parents,
Tim and Theresa. They were instrumental in helping us into the Church and continue to be a source
of grace and inspiration in our lives. We are so thankful for them and for their beautiful family!

Farewell to Facebook. For good.

2011-03-12T10:06:00.000-08:00

I deleted my Facebook account back in February, only to "reactivate" the account at Gerard's insistence. Facebook is a great way to share photos and it takes much less time to load them there than it does on my blog. Plus, I can only share so many images on a blog entry because of the time it takes to upload them into an entry.

So, I was back "on" Facebook after a few days away and found that I rarely logged on. It also occurred to me that I could simply log on to Gerard's account (yep, we know each other's passwords for everything... and we even share bank accounts!) and upload images there. My visits to Facebook the last few weeks have been brief and, on the one occasion that I posted a link to an article on Planned Parenthood and brief thoughts on the significance of the article, it erupted into the ugliest "thread" of conversation I have ever "hosted" on my profile.

That "conversation" (if you can call it that) consumed me and brought me to tears. It also drove me to increased prayer for two days, as I avoided Facebook and heard only snippets through Gerard. Ridiculous.

I do not believe the Internet is - on the whole - an effective way to debate. Take a quick look at the comment boxes on a news article or popular blog and you'll see what I mean... we are more apt to "say" something in a comment box or message thread than we'd ever dream of saying to a person in a real conversation.

As we prayed our family rosary Wednesday night, my mind was distracted and consumed with - of all things - Facebook. How ridiculous! I tuned in to EWTN late that same evening to watch an archived episode of EWTN Live, in which host Fr. Mitch Pacwa interviewed Dr. Ray Guarendi, and the answer was abundantly clear.

Delete it.

So I did. And I don't miss it a lick.

I will go back to uploading "batches" of images to Gerard's Facebook page, albeit sporadically. I'll also post my favorites here for all six of you faithful readers to see!

You can expect a new post soon, probably on the subject of Lent. This Lenten season started off with an emotional bang for me... and I'm so glad it did.

Block City

2011-03-11T11:13:00.000-08:00

This poem, by Robert Louis Stevenson, has always reminded me of homeschooling. It's especially lovely when set to music - CLICK HERE to have a listen.

WHAT are you able to build with your blocks?
Castles and palaces, temples and docks.
Rain may keep raining, and others go roam,
But I can be happy and building at home.

Let the sofa be mountains, the carpet be sea,	5
There I’ll establish a city for me:
A kirk and a mill and a palace beside,
And a harbour as well where my vessels may ride.

Great is the palace with pillar and wall,
A sort of a tower on the top of it all,	10
And steps coming down in an orderly way
To where my toy vessels lie safe in the bay.

This one is sailing and that one is moored:
Hark to the song of the sailors on board!
And see on the steps of my palace, the kings	15
Coming and going with presents and things.

Now I have done with it, down let it go!
All in a moment the town is laid low.
Block upon block lying scattered and free,
What is there left of my town by the sea?	20

Yet as I saw it, I see it again,
The kirk and the palace, the ships and the men,
And as long as I live and where’er I may be,
I’ll always remember my town by the sea.

Into the Mountains

2011-03-05T14:40:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry for the delayed post on our trip. We had something of a stressful and busy week, so better late than never, right?

What a weekend!

First things first, I did NOT bring my big camera, so we have few photos to share. I didn't feel up to dragging it around and taking a chance of it falling in the snow or being left in the car. Gerard brought his, however, so we do have a few photos of our weekend adventure.

Before I fill you in on our weekend, I must remind you that we, as (Gerard) Spinners, are subject to "Spinner's Law." Much like that of Murphy, Spinner's Law is simple - anything that can go wrong, probably WILL go wrong... and it will happen to us.

Every
stinkin'
time.

We decided Wednesday to call and reserve a cabin - buy one night, get one free. At a cost of $55 per night, that's quite a deal. Granted, we had to cross the Sound and pay for a ferry, as well as gas, but Gerard always likes to get away after a patrol and this was a great opportunity. Plus, we just LOVE the mountains and jump at most any chance to be in snow!

Thursday arrived and we planned to take a leisurely approach to packing, including a late afternoon trip to the grocery store to buy food for the weekend. Our plans were routed, unfortunately, when Gerard received a call from a guy on his boat who had been in an accident...

in Cle Elum.

"Can you come and get us?" he asked.

Gack.

This call came around 2 pm. Gerard left within minutes and drove through snowy Snoqualmie pass and arrived home after NINE that night. So much for grocery shopping.

I'll spare you the details, but sufficed to say I did NOT react to this development in the most godly and righteous way. I was torqued, I'll admit it, and quite vocal about it all.

We woke early Friday morning and started packing. It didn't take me long to get very frustrated and a bit overwhelmed. Double gack. So much for me to work on. So, so much!

We finally made it on the road, however, and took the ferry from Kingston to Edmonds. We arrived to a snowy wonderland at Jim Creek Recreation Area, in Arlington. We checked in to our little cabin in the woods and got settled. A cozy cabin, a wood burning stove and snow... perfection.

Once we were settled, we took off for Deception Pass on Whidbey Island. Gerard had seen it once before and my mother, who is wrapping up a long visit with us, wanted to see it, so off we went. It's quite pretty and the drive was lovely. I'd really love to see all the tulip fields in bloom when the season comes! Whidbey is a place we certainly want to check out in the future.

We came home and the children played outside for a good while. The snow started falling that evening and we settled in for the night. When we awoke Saturday morning, the snow was still falling... and heavily! We ate breakfast and then took off for the North Cascades Highway, the northernmost road through the Cascades.

It was quite a drive and we went as far as we could - passing old towns and Diablo, Gorge and Ross lakes and dams along the way. We had to stop right when the scenery was the most spectacular, however, since a good portion of the road is closed in winter due to avalanche danger.

We drove a different route home, cutting across the Skagit River and along the Sauk. When we got back to the cabin, we were ready to stretch our legs, fill our bellies and take a nap!

Unfortunately, we came home to a room FULL of termites.

Shudder.

They were everywhere.

Evidently, we chose the ONE cabin on base that is not entirely constructed of logs. The termites had set up shop in the walls and we were able to identify where they were entering the room. They were in our linens, our clothes... the curtains.

Blech!

Gerard went to see the camp host, who promptly came to the cabin to check things out. He asked how he could fix things and we asked to be moved to a nearby cabin. Instead, he gave us accommodations in the most expensive lodging on base! The "Bobcat Den," which is a two-bedroom apartment, complete with living room, FULL kitchen and FULL bathroom and laundry facility!

Say WHAT? That is definitely NOT typical for the Spinners!

We gladly accepted, not realizing how fantastic the lodging would be. We settled in and SHOWERED, did laundry and started preparing dinner in the oven. There is something to be said for electricity and indoor plumbing!

We opted to stay Sunday, too, and the manager graciously gave us the room at the cabin price, which is less than half of the den. Pretty great.

We drove into Everett the next day, played in the snow and had a nice, relaxing day as a family. A great way to spend our weekend. We had pizza in town that night, then back to Jim Creek for one more night before leaving Monday morning.

For my local military friends, you'd do well to check out Jim Creek, especially this winter if you like a more rustic experience, although "rustic" in this case includes heat... showers... toilets... and beds! (Not very rustic, is it?) They are running a weekend special through the end of April - $55 a night for the cabin, buy one night, get the second consecutive night free. All you pay for is your fire wood (which I suggest bringing from home if possible!)