Wow, it’s been a while, huh?  So, what’s new?

The kids are great.  We just finished recital — my camera batteries died, so no pics til another mama sends me some — but trust me, they were adorable, and danced wonderfully!  I just loved the music their teacher chose.  “Praise You with the Dance” was the grand finale and it ROCKED!

We’re going to have to take another homeschooling break this fall.  The schedule dance we’ve been doing for the past year is just not working to keep the kids busy and learning consistently.  We tried to get them into a fine-arts charter but the girls’ classes were full, with long waiting lists.  Duncan got in, since his class is just starting up,  and that does move the girls up on the waiting list.  We’re hoping they’ll be able to start there in the spring.  So it *may* be public school — blech! — for a semester.  They think they’ll love it, even while griping about the clique of girls already on our block.  I’m absolutely dreading it!

Jim’s still working at the TV station, though as photog now.  He’s loving being in the field and has the added advantage of being able to edit quickly and well in the field as well.  Plus, he can still work in the newsroom if they need him.

I’m still doing the church secretary gig.  I love the ministry of it, don’t love so much some of the behind the scenes stuff, but it’s not a bad job at all.  They are VERY flexible and understanding of childcare issues, although that should be ironing out as we have more teen sitter options during the summer and then the kids in school in the fall.

They were also very understanding when I suddenly had to leave Tuesday — Jim’s grandmother who had a stroke Friday night and was in a coma all weekend passed away Monday night.  She was a lifelong Christian, and knew where her home was, so it wasn’t as sad as it could have been.  She was a curmudgeon, tho, and Jim did an awesome job with the eulogy, considering she wasn’t all sugar and spice, lol.

It was nice to see some of his family we haven’t seen in years.  Taeryn and Duncan ended up going home with his sister; we’ll probably get them back in a week.  Moira is going home to Texas with Nana and Papa (Jim’s mom & dad); I’m not sure when they’re sending her back.  A couple of weeks, I’m guessing.  I miss them all already — but Fiona’s getting some nice one-on-one with Mama and Dada.

OK, some pics to catch you all up are probably in order.

OK, Ill stop for now. More later!HELP ANDREA MY PARAGRAPHS KEEP DISAPPEARING!!!  I’m using the wysiwyg editor, but when I save, it’s all run together again.  I’m  trying different templates to see if that’s the issue.

OK, male readers, or those who are squeamish about TMI, move along.

While journeying my cloth diapering adventure, I kept coming across other ways to re-use things we generally enjoy in their disposable form these days:  un-paper towels, sandwich bags, lunch bags, grocery bags, and more personal items like Family Cloth (yep, cloth you use in place of TP) and even more personal like Mama Cloth or Moon Cloth. 

EWWWW says I.  No Stinking Way.  Of course, that was my opinion of cloth diapering 4 kids ago, and look where I am now!  So, like the cloth diapers I figured what they hay.  I’ll buy a couple, try it, and if I don’t like them I’m not out much. 

I. Love. Them.  They are a little more work, rinsing and washing — and making sure I have them clean and, more importantly, KNOW WHERE THEY ARE come AF time — but no chemicals, and no running to the store to buy them on that surprise day of the month.

I’ve tried several styles.  Like cloth dipes, they come in AIO (all-in-one) styles with a waterproof backing, or a 2-piece style with or w/o a waterproof backing.  My favorite so far are those at Domino Pads which are backed with windpro fleece — waterproof but breathable.  And the bamboo velour is soft AND naturally antimicrobial.  Cool, huh?

OK, so that’s enough with the TMI.  And I’ll be blogging more about other stuff again.  I’ve recently realized that I’ve spend WAY too much time at Farm Town on Facebook and way too little time here!

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I used to just be baffled at parents who could let this happen.  I would have been right there with Doc (read the comments) lambasting those irresponsible parents.

Until last Monday night.

I had planned to take all 4 kids to a church event with me — a church event I had been to before without the kids.  The childcare arrangement was new.  Then, just before we left, my oldest 2 decided to stay and play at a friend’s house.  I mean, literally on the way I stopped by, talked to the mom to make sure it was OK (the kids had cooked it up), and left them there.  So, to start with,I was totally out of my routine.  Not an excuse, but just explaining where my mind was.

I got to the church 5 minutes later, and got my son out of the car, running just a tidge late, and hurried him into the building.  I said hello to a couple of people, and headed to the nursery where he was being babysat.  I explained to the sitter that the girls were at a friend’s.  Then she says (Have you counted?  The total now is 3, not 4) “So, where is Fiona, did she stay home too?”  I was actually stunned for a second.  Where WAS Fi?  Did I leave her at home?  What the . . . ?  OH YEAH she was still in the carseat!!!  I was so embarrased, chagrined, humiliated, you name it!  I hurried out and got her, fully expecting her to be sobbing.  She giggled at me and we went in with no tears at all.  The thing that keeps running thru my head is what if the sitter hadn’t asked?  Would I have remembered?  I sure hope so!!! 

But it can happen to anyone. 

wow.  What a well-spoken, self-aware young lady.  I’ve subscribed!

Twilight: To Read, Or Not To Read?

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From Fox News.com:

So help you got homey — just makes me laugh. I know it’s solemn and all, but bwahahahaha!

We just were given a kitchen nook like this one, and moving everything around to fit it in has inspired me to de-clutter and actually DECORATE for the first time since we bought the house in 2003!  I’ve been putting it off because the whole thing really needs to be gutted and completely re-designed, but we just don’t have the funds for that at all.  So I just want to put in some curtains, rip down the wallpaper, paint, repaint the cabinets (they are just awful, I’ll post pics tomorrow), and really spruce it up so we enjoy sitting around in there.  Here’s my idea:

IKEA Alvine inspired kitchen design

Start with this collection for inspiration (click the ‘ALVINE Vintage’ tab).

These curtains (perhaps re-cut into this style?)  (you can look at the detail of the fabric in the collection link above, click on the ALVINE Vintage tab, then the center pic in the second row)

 Alvine Blom duvet cover for cushion covers.  Again, you can see the detail so much better in the first link, under the ALVINE Vintage tab, then the first pic in the second row).  Maybe the throw pillows for accent – although they will probably just get in the way and get spilled on.

So, questions – what the heck should I paint the kitchen to go with all this floral?  Should I paint the cabinets white or navy or red?   White with navy and red accents?  Our linoleum is hopeless, it’s just gonna have to clash.  Any and all suggestions are welcomed!!!

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Yep, I’m still here, the kids are still great, baby’s still adorable.  I’ll be back to blog some more, but she’s sleeping so I’m going to try to get a little snooze in before she wakes up again!

LOVED it!

One think I always liked about GWB was his ability to laugh at himself.  Maybe that made him seem a buffoon to some, but I don’t think so.

Yep, Fiona will be 1 in less than a month!!!  Anyway, you guys know I’m on a cloth diaper craze.  Yes, I admit it’s crazy, but her little fluffy bum is so cute!  Wouldn’t it be adorable in one of these?:

or one of these?:

Or these longies (wool pants) over a diaper?  So warm, and so waterproof!

(No link on this one, they’re from a work-at-home mom, $35)

Not super-cheap, but so cute and with the one-size fit, she’ll be wearing them for another couple of years — definitely $25-$35 worth of disposables!!!

Anyway, if you were looking for ideas, there are some!!!

And, just as a reference, cloth-diapered cuteness:

*UPDATE*  I received a comment from Pamela today (not sure who that is, but she must know the family).  Jessi passed away this morning.  Please pray for this  sweet family who is now missing their wife and mother; and if you have a little to spare, please consider sharing with them.

I got this email from my church today. I feel like I need to share it with anyone who has a buck or two to spare. This is just unimaginable — facing not only a preemie baby, but imminent loss of wife and mother. Please pray if you can’t do anything else.

ANDY and JESSI WILSON live in
Cookeville, TN. Jessi is 30 years old and has 2 boys,
ages 5 and 2. She is 32 weeks pregnant with her 3rd
child. Last week, she was diagnosed with non-
operable Colon Cancer. The prognosis is
unfortunately not good. Her baby will be delivered
prematurely on Thursday, and she will begin
aggressive cancer treatment right away. The doctors
hope that the chemotherapy and other treatments will
buy her time to enjoy her children and family for a
while.

Jessi’s family is ill equipped financially for the
expenses that lie ahead of them. They have no
insurance and the costs of care for a preemie baby,
coupled with the cost of cancer treatment will be
immense. Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville,
Tennessee is where Jessi will be taking her
treatments and also where her tiny premature baby
will be delivered and then cared for. It is an hour drive
from Cookeville. With gas costing so much right now,
twenty dollars is just about enough gas to make one
trip to Vanderbilt.

Please consider helping in any way you are able.
First and foremost, they need your prayers… for peace,
for healing, for the baby, for support of the family, and
for the children. Of course, donating anything you
possibly can toward their expenses would be a huge
help.

A fund is set up in Jessi’s name at the Community
Bank of the Cumberlands. Donations should be
made to:

• • Jessi Wilson Benefit Fund
  • c/o Community Bank of the Cumberlands
  • 744 South Willow Ave
  • Cookeville, TN 38501

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. . . where Tinkerbell came from?  How are fairies and pixies created?  What was she like when she was first formed?  Are there more pixies somewhere, maybe a whole pixie world?

Disney has created an enchanting backstory for Peter Pan’s petite sidekick.  From the baby’s laughter that brought her to life through a number of adventures and mishaps, Tinkerbell is fun and captivating.  My girls had already read Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg, so they knew a bit of the story, but they were excited to see the characters onscreen.  As each pixie appeared in the story, they raced to see who could name her first.

Just as in real life, there is a hierarchy in Pixie Hollow, and Tinkerbell learns that tinker fairies are pretty low in fairy society.  There are a few fairy snobs, and some quite endearing characters.  Tinkerbell makes the  journey most of us do, trying to figure out what she is uniquely suited for — quite certain that it’s NOT tinkering.

Overall it’s a sweet story about being proud of who you are and becoming the best you can be at that.  Definitely worth purchasing as a Christmas present for a special fairy-loving little girl.

There are some fun bonus features as well — hubby and I clicked through a few of them ourselves after the kids went to  bed!

Tinkerbell is available on DVD and BlueRay October 28, 2008.

I was provided this movie by Click Communications for the purpose of review.

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tinkerbell, disney, movie, dvd, blueray

This movie was provided to me by Click Communications for the purpose of review.

You know, I was watching this with the kids and realized — I don’t know if I remember ever actually watching this movie as a child.  I knew all the elements — Maleficent, the dragon (didn’t remember that she WAS the dragon), the godmother fairies, the kiss — but I don’t think the movie’s been out of the vault since video,  has it?  I tried to explain to them that there didn’t used to be video and you only got to see movies like this on The Wonderful World of Disney every once and a while, but they almost couldn’t believe it.  I sounded like my mom explaining to us what it was like to listen to radio shows!

I enjoyed watching as much as the girls did.  It has been beautifully remastered, and released in its original wide-screen format.  There are some great bonus features as well — a rockin’ new version of “Once Upon a Dream” sung by Emily Osment and a story of Tchaikovsky I never knew!  It is a 1950’s era Disney television special that details his life, his incredible talent, and how he came to love composing for ballet.  I had to explain to the girls why “stereophonic sound” would have been such a big deal and why they had to watch TV and tune in to AM and FM radio in order to get it!  It was an education for me as well as for them.

It’s an awesome classic, with some great new features.  THIS is Disney before franchising and marketing ran it into the ground.  It’s a sure pick for Christmas or birthdays coming up.  It has already been released, so go grab you one now!!!

Do you know someone with diabetes?  If not, you probably will before long.  Diabetes affects 8% of the population in the United States, and the number is growing.  Please join my friend Windy in raising diabetes awareness by petitioning Google to make a Doodle for November 14, World Diabetes Day.

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From My Supernatural World:

I understand that children play together in ways adults can’t comprehend, and that children, when playing together, reach levels of imagination unfathomable to adults. But aren’t they already getting more time at imaginative play than their public school counterparts with their siblings at home? A neighbor kid or two? Can they not learn they can’t always have their way from their parents? From the fact that they’re all out of blueberry pancakes at the diner today? From the car repair that prevents them from going to the amusement park? LIFE doesn’t let you have your own way all the time. Can they not learn about rules and how to follow them from their parents? From the “No Running” sign at the swimming pool? From watching Mom get a speeding ticket? LIFE shows you there are rules that must be followed. Interacting with other children, in school or in homeschool group playdates, does not teach kids about the real world. Interaction with the real world does.

In other words, who needs it?

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Yay Fiona!, originally uploaded by jewelmcjem.

Here’s the proof. Well, almost. She keeps wanting to grab the camera, so she won’t get far enough away from me for me to get her legs in the picture. So you’ll have to take my word for it — she is not leaning on the couch at all!!!