Happy end of 2010!

Lets see...Last January found me a thousand months pregnant (nope...just felt like it) and on January 13 Malachi was born. I had 12 weeks maternity leave and it felt like it would last forever - was wonderful but..it FLEW by!

In one year we've added two little new people to our family :) - Malachi AND Jazmine.
Baby and grandbaby!

Our 19 year old daughter is now being "courted" by a young man in Ohio.
(Dad has decreed that January 2011 is officially "correspondence month" - NO more than 1/2 hour on the phone a day - all other must be hand written letters - this is HUGE!!!)

Our 16 year old played his first year of football for a local private school - he LOVED it and is super serious about getting into shape and practicing DAILY for next year!

Our 10 year old is quite the outdoors kid! He got a moped for Christmas from friends and he is on it NON stop (when he's not out climbing trees or fishing at the end of the road!)

Our 7 year old is the official side-kick for the 10 year old (pete and repeat!)
Although he has NO FEAR and often does things that turns my hair gray! "Does all his own stunts!"

The baby is now approaching 1 year old and is starting to dance when he hears music (love it!!) and thinks he is running simply because he throws his hands behind him.

"Dad" is working on being healthy. Has lost a lot of weight (grrr why is it always so easy for guys?! ;0) and is concentrating on HEALTH not weight!!! Is working with the 16 year old with weight training and reaping the benefits as well! ;)

Our oldest son is still trying to find himself (sigh) and has had a difficult year. I pray that now that he has TWO daughters he will realize his responsibilities and live up to them....not avoid them. He is a hard worker and a smooth talker. We know he is going to be something WONDERFUL as soon as he lets God work through him. His girlfriend (we stress WIFE after having 2 kids together)is a hard worker and a good mama. She is new to all this - so it hasn't been easy. (and she had NO example from her childhood - so she is doing WONDERFULLY considering...)

Nina is 18 months old now - quite the busy little miss :) I love her more than I thought possible. Being a mema is the BEST!!
Jazzy is 1 week. Looks like a little eskimo baby. Can't seem to get enough of her either! "total mema love" I tell you!!!

Our lawn care business is growing very well. This was a venture that was suggested by our 16 year old. Officially owned by he and dad!

I am still at the office job. There are most days when I love LOVE LOVE the job. It is a mission at heart. It helps so many people! But of course there are days when I find it takes minute by minute concentration because my heart is wanting to be home with my babies. Life takes so many twists and turns.....I KNOW that God provided this job and I AM thankful for it.
I hope to learn to make soap this year :) - somewhat worried about it because it requires handling caustic materials (you should have seen me ordering lye!!)
And I guess just the usual - "be a better christian, wife, mom, friend, worker etc.."
- wow you'd be amazed at how many times I had to re-order that list before I thought it was right! -

Oh and I hope to start my book this year. Maybe that's not commitment enough. Maybe I should say I PLAN on writing each week on my book?! better huh?!
And of course blogging - :)

So...as we wrap up 2010...all I can say is WOW time sure flies huh?!?!

Give all your loved ones....well...... LOVE and LOTS OF IT!!
KNOW that we will NEVER regret time spent WITH our loved ones - just the times we missed out on!

With all my heart ~
Michelle

(URP!)

Just had a minute to stop by and zip a blog letter to you all -
The ENTIRE FAMILY is home with the winter sicko olympics!
STOMACH FLU has everyone down and out! - NOT the way I had pictured our Christmas!
(I am the "last man standing" as I have not gotten it yet and please pray that I dont!!)
So I am headed home from work - to nurse the ill oh and also to zip over for x-rays for my 7 year old's hand (he fell out of a tree! On Christmas! - he's a 7 year old boy! nuff said huh!?! :)
We really did have a nice time when everyone wasn't stuck in a bathroom...or perhaps puking into the bushes outside (when a bathroom wasn't available...sorry neighbors! Merry Chrismas!) :}
Yeah..yuck huh?!
Sigh....thus our year ends....hope 2011 begins with EVERYONE healthy and happy :)

Much love to you all - and NO sickness okay?! We got this covered - no need to copy us! :)

With All my heart ~
Michelle

TADA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Could just be one of the bestest Christmas presents ever...EVER!

May I introduce Ms. Jazmine Leigh G

Over 8 pounds and 21" long

12/21/2010 at 2:40 in the afternoon she made her debut and stole our hearts.

She comes home today and her big sister (Nevaeh Leigh G) is excited to meet her!

It's amazing how much love a heart can hold. Just when you think you couldn't possibly have anymore joy. Any more total LOVE - God proves you wrong :)
and just makes your heart bigger and fuller.

She's perfect I tell you - PERFECT!
(but this is just one mema's humble opinion :)

WITH ALL MY HEART!
Michelle

Pancake Breakfast with Santa - Babywearing style

Malachi was enamoured with Santa. Not afraid. Not shy.
He was delighted (perhaps it was the few bites of pancakes he got to sneak in first)
but I was so very excited that he LOVED the entire day.
The baby sling you see on my arm was the "free" one I blogged about awhile back - I've never had one like it - WE LOVE IT.
(sigh....get to baby #6 and suddenly discover how wonderful they are?!)
Maybe it's the first one that really fit right?
Yesterday we WENT and WENT all day long- He went and went right along with mama - in the sling. He snacked, He slept, he looked and touched the soft material at the fabric store - all from my side.
I LOVED IT.
It was the perfect way to spend the day with him.
PERFECT.

P.S.
I'm gonna be out tomorrow - for the very best of reasons!!!
I'm having a grandbaby girl WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
I'm not totally sure of the spelling I think it' s Jazmine Leigh.
I can't wait to hold her and smell her "fresh from heaven" smell :)
I'll be back with pics!
Merry Christmas dear friends -
Don't forget to leave comments on the giveaway blog of mine!!
The "surprise" boxes are looking super! :)

With all my heart~
Michelle :)

70th post

Okay - for no better reason than this is my 70th post :)
And it's a Thursday
and...I just really want to have a giveaway....
drumroll please..........................................................

THIS IS IT!

The major "I'm from Florida so I don't get snow" surprise giveaway.

There will be three packages. THREE!!

Each one will be fabulous :) (like those wonderful grab-bags I used to beg for as a kid)
So...here's the rules -
1 entry for each comment left here.
3 entries if you or a friend are a new "follower" of this blog (That would be 3 entries for you AND three for the friend if they come here because of you...!)! (just be sure to tell me in the comments :) OH AND TO MAKE IT FUN AND INTERESTING
************REMEMBER TO TELL ME IN THE COMMENTS ONE THING ABOUT YOURSELF THAT MAKES YOU...YOU!*******************************************(like I can't stand ink on my skin - pet peve big time! I'd never deal well with a tattoo :)
3 entries if you blog about this super duper fabulouso giveaway and link back here.

Okay I'm a bit worked up now :) lol
YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!

So.......once again......for your chance to win....
I will be giving away 3 separate surprise boxes to three lucky winners!! full of fun stuff!

can you hear the holiday party music???
:)
Drawing will be December 22nd at noon!!!

(so packages should get to you by the new year!)
GO GO GO!!!!!

With all my heart~ :)
Michelle

and the crowd goes wild...................

Okay

For the FIRST TIME EVER
I have my Christmas stuff wrapped and packaged and sent BEFORE CHRISTMAS!!
EVER!!
I've been married 25 years!
EVER!!

This is BIG stuff people!
Now...the christmas cards are an entirely different situation and YES many may not get them until January...
(it's the thought that counts right? lol)

Sigh...
It only too me 25 years to master one thing....
By the year 2035 I should be an ace at cards too :)

Merry Christmas!!

With all my heart ~
Michelle

Anniversary Celebration & Giveaway right...over...here....

greentwiggy.blogspot.com (I can't get it to link!)

Is having a 1st anniversary celebration today!
With....A GIVEAWAY!!!
Be sure to go over and check it out! (I'm sorry blogger isn't working with me...It shows as a link when I'm editing..but disappears when I "publish" grrr)
Please go over there and check it out......You'll be glad you did!

I'm thinking of having a giveaway here!..... Something fun. Something fabulous....
Something from Florida (sorry - no snow...although it WAS 32 here last night and let me tell you - that RARELY happens here!!!)

But for today - go see what green twiggy has to show ya! - 2 neat prizes to choose from! :)

P.S. I'm better today than yesterday. I was just venting you know. block it out. forget it - I'm trying to! :)

with all my heart~
Michelle
>

a whiny kind of venting post (be warned....)

Sigh...I can feel it - it's that feeling of a crack starting....you know the kind that runs along and gets bigger and bigger whether you pay any attention to it or not?
I feel it happening.

I am gonna crack.
Work has been draining (this is the understatement of the year...and next person who says "be thankful you have a job" is gonna get it! I AM thankful....that's not the point! ;0)
I have VERY sick kiddos at home (and perhaps even worse...) a sick husband...
My stove went out (a while ago but it's really bothering me now that its cold out)
There is tension at home
tension at work
it is the holidays (sorry..not tension free)
my boys went into a closed up cement plant's property this weekend and played on the "mountains" and equipment (of course pretending....but they were trespassing (and YES they know better) now we have to deal with that....
My daughter (who is 19) is currently being courted by a guy all the way in Ohio - which means a LOT of cell phone time and texting..and it's wearing on all of us - especially her dad who has said ENOUGH and taken the phone during the daytime. TRAGEDY!!
I'm the "middle man" between their (seemingly non stop)disagreements right now.
I HATE IT. Have I mentioned I HATE it?
I don't know what to say to either of them when they start the "why does she...How come he..." and it just messes everything up!
I keep getting disgruntled calls at work - things Iam not even remotely involved with - and having people yell at me (or even yell TO me) about someone elses mistake.
I'm gonna crack.
(One time I got really mad and told my kids "don't talk to me...I'm gonna snap like a cracker!" to which my kids at the time got very quiet (smart) but later laughed like crazy about..because do crackers really snap? really?)
So..
I'm gonna snap like a cracker people.
Just a warning.


withallmyheart..................
m

fun and cheap - continued....

http://sendacallfromsanta.com/

Now this is fun stuff - I sent one as a joke to all my girlfriends :)
Imagine their faces when they answer their phone and santa's talking to them.
LOL

it's free and good for a laugh.

Merry Christmas all!

With all my heart ~
Michelle

Merry Christmas

or should I say MARY Christmas?
I often think of Mary at Christmas time (especially last year when I was about 28 and a half months pregnant)
What a good mama
What a sacrifice
All who once loved her then looked with scorn, or at best just pity.
No one to talk to about what she felt, nausea, heartburn, braxton hicks....
No baby shower no family celebrations.....
Just knowing that this beautiful moving, kicking baby of love inside her was going to come....to grow..to love...to die.
To SAVE
The very thought makes me cry.
As a mother we do our best.
We never know how long we have with anyone... with any of our children - all who are precious to us...
We pray it all goes well.
She KNEW it would end with his death.
She KNEW that tiny baby suckling at her breast was the savior of the world.
That as much as any mama would die for her child....this child would love so much that He would die for EVERYONE.
Even the ugly unlovable sinful hateful violent....me
Every boo boo she kissed....she KNEW
Every flower she received as a gift from her little boy
Every drawn picture
Every celebrated holiday...

Please Please God let me be a good mama - Please let me love unconditionally and teach my children to do the same.
Please let me always remember what a blessing each child is and to value the TRUE message of Christmas.

The ultimate love.
in a manger....
swaddled and loved...
come to love.
even me.

OH COME LET US ADORE HIM.


Mary Christmas.

With all my heart!~
Michelle

WHO KNEW!!!

http://babystam.blogspot.com/">
Is having a baby leg warmer give away :)
The link is to the most fascinating site -
Why had I NEVER heard about the benefits of amber OR the benefits of hazelwood?
WHERE HAVE I BEEN??
It was fascinating to read about and I am looking forward to recieving the items I ordered (more christmas stuff check check off that list!)
Make sure to stop by and check out the Stam Family blog and zip over to the Finn Online shop!
The following is just some info copied from the Finn site...fascinating!


Hazelwood
It relieves or prevents ailments such as ulcers, acid reflux, heartburn, skin problems (psoriasis, eczema, acne), arthritis, constipation, migraines, sensitive & bleeding gums, helps reduce dental cavities and more. These necklaces are a great remedy for heartburn and nausea during pregnancy!
Hazelwood necklaces are made from the branches of a hazelwood tree alternated with glass and/or gemstone beads for ornamentation. They are handmade - from the gathering of the wood to the stringing of the beads.



So....now that you have a taste of what I'm referring to - go go go! :)

With all my heart~
Michelle

It's beginning to look a lot like....

Did you ever get all geared up to post a NEW POST and then stop short because you wonder....What in the world do I have to say that anyone needs to hear?!

Well I don't blog because I think my opinion is so important that you MUST hear it :)
I don't blog because I think I know anything - and whew...the older I get the less I know believe you me! :)

So...why do I blog?
Maybe because I read several blogs and I think...I AM NOT ALONE!!! :)
So...maybe that's what I'm hoping for you (me) (you know what I mean)

So....I wanted to do the MUCH LESS COMERCIAL CHRISTMAS this year...and I'm failing miserably.
I want people to know how loved they are with home-made stuff..but then I get panicky when I don't have a "GIFT" to give them.
I KNOW KNOW KNOW the REASON FOR THE SEASON.
I just can't get over the "TOTAL BAD PARENT...F.A.I.L.U.R.E" feeling that I KNOW I'd feel if I gave them a sparkly glitter pinecone and told them "It's your gift - because I love you and I'm not crafty enough to make a GOOD gift" lol.
I'm sure that somehow makes me a bad person.
I'm not hand-crafting all my presents.
I'm not giving only gifts like.... a goat for an village.... or a well....
I'm baking like a lunatic (and I'm on this fabulous yet STRICT diet)
I'm buying even cheap stuff so that the kids will have "stuff" (no they don't need stuff...but somehow I worry that they do)
I'm taking off a few afternoons because of my mom guilt of working full time...to do things with the kiddos.
I DID try to order things from my blogger friends who WERE making stuff :) That felt good :)



I thought I could do it differently this year.
I did. (think so)
I'm just having a hard time pulling it off any way other than the way we've always done it.
"family traditions"
maybe if I start with just ONE new family tradition.....

What do you suggest?:)
Are you too having a tough time reigning in the "christmas madness"
I keep thinking...two ways...1.) it's only the 7th OR 2.) OH my goodness it's only 18 days till Christmas!!
:)

With all my heart~
Michelle

More Christmas ideas :) HOT SNOWFLAKES!

Oh these were on the Martha web site too - and I have to admit - I love them :)

http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/snowflake-quesadillas

these fit all my holiday ideals - cheap easy fast oh and they look really really yummy :)

I have a friend who is celebrating advent by having red and green food tonight....
I'm gonna zip over an tell her to do these and ad in bits of red and green pepper!
:)
(Way better than my red and green m&m idea since I'm hungry! :)

I think I'm gonna tell my kids we're having "HOT SNOWFLAKES" for dinner - they'll have NO idea! :)

Enjoy!
Much love this holiday season!

With all my heart ~
Michelle

p.s. the picture is a lifescience PHOTO of a real snowflake - please take a moment to notice the heart that God put there in the middle :) This of course was JUST because He loves us so!

Delicious and super easy recipe!!

Okay - THANK YOU to allrecipes.com for the "official recipe" for these....
LET ME TELL YOU....these are our family FAVORITE! :)
It's insane how easy they are - but for us that meant that even the little ones could help!
The "chocolate covered caramel" we use are "rollos" candy (I even saw them at the "everything's a dollar store" the other day!!
and we have used whatever nut we have on hand (almonds - yum - peanuts - yum - walnuts - yum...you get the picture :)

PRETZEL TURTLES

Ingredients:
20 small mini pretzels
20 chocolate covered caramel candies
20 pecan halves

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
2. Arrange the pretzels in a single layer on a parchment lined cookie sheet (**you can just use tin foil..we do!!**)
Place one chocolate covered caramel candy on each pretzel.
3. Bake for 4 minutes. While the candy is warm, press a pecan half onto each candy covered pretzel. Cool completely before storing in an airtight container


VIOLA! You're done!
SO easy - SO yummy....These make a nice gift for neighbors and friends too!

So...that's my "cheapo fabuloso" Holiday idea for the day!

Don't forget I'm still posting comments about the cheap/fun craft ideas!!

With all my heart~
Michelle