Ladybugs & Stinkbugs

Last Post

2010-03-14T10:52:00.000-07:00

This is my LAST POST on this blog!

Jeremy & I have been working on a new website, and now that we've gotten it up & running, I'm moving my blog as well. I hope you'll join me over at:

http://jeremyandlindsaydowns.com/blog/

Plastic Wrap Door Trick

2010-03-12T20:09:00.000-08:00

Plastic Wrap Door Trick - More DIY How To Projects

Plastic Wrap Door Trick

Couldn't Resist: Corny Jokes

2010-03-12T10:12:00.001-08:00

A church was interviewing a new organist one Sunday morning. The pastor tells her "I'm going to preaching on tithing this morning then at the end I'm going to ask people to stand and pledge to give money to the church. So pick out something appropriate to play."

So the pastor gives him sermon and passionately pleads at the end "so now if you're ready to give your money to this church, I invite you to stand." At which time the organist starts playing The Star Spangled Banner. The pastor looks over at the organist and mouths "you're hired!"
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Where was Moses when the lights went out?

In the dark.
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How many Baptists does it take to change a light bulb?
At least 15. One to change the light bulb, and three committees to approve the change and decide who brings the potato salad.

How many Calvinists does it take to change a light bulb?
None. God has predestined when the lights will be on.

How many Charismatics does it take to change a light bulb?
Five. One to change the bulb and four to bind the spirit of darkness in the room.

How many Mormons does it take to change a light bulb?
Five. One man to change bulb & four wives to tell him how to do it.
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A Christian man was such a good servant that God told him: "Ask me whatever you want and I'll give it to you"
The guys answered: "Make a highway from my house in LA to Hawaii so that I can go on vacation drive anytime I want".
God responded: "well, since you are such a good hearted guy, I was expecting something a little more... 'loving towards your fellow Christians, something less material and more substantial..'.
The guy thinks about it and replies: "ok, since you value marriage and relationships so much, what about you give me the ability to always understand women?"

God responds: "How many lanes do you want on your highway?"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
n old country preacher was visiting his church members one beautiful spring Saturday when he arrived at the house of a younger couple. Their car was in the driveway and the windows of the house were open, so it was obvious the couple was home. The preacher knocked on the door, but no one answered. A second knock went unanswered, and a third. So the preacher wrote Revelation 3:20 on his business card and left it in the door. (Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.)
The next day after church, the preacher was counting the money from the collection plate when he noticed his business card had been dropped in with the offerings. The couple had written Genesis 3:10 beneath the previous verse. (I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.)

Free Digital Mag Subscription

2010-03-10T19:40:00.000-08:00

I thought this was a neat freebie!

Free Parenting: The Early Years Magazine subscription

via Pocket Your Dollars

Calendar for March

2010-03-10T13:01:00.000-08:00

Okay, do you ever think you are just too busy? Here's what my calendar looks like for this month?

Don't you love all the pretty colors? I have to have multiple calendars in order to organize all of our activities, such as:
- Boys baseball calendar
- Household Chores
- General (scheduling)
- Jeremy's
- Work
- Meal Planning

Can you tell our life gets crazy sometimes? People keep telling us we ought to "slow down", but I'm not entirely sure how that can happen with four kids (one on the way), and three of them in different activities. Somebody let me know WHICH child I should tell CAN'T do the activity they want to do?

Happy March, everyone! Hope yours is peaceful...hehe

Ultrasound

2010-03-02T16:48:00.000-08:00

We had our prenatal ultrasound today, and it went wonderfully! Our baby is healthy and growing just like it should be. We also found out (though the ultrasound tech was hesitant to say "for sure") that Annie will be having a little sister!!

She is incredibly excited. So is Andrew, who says, "I put my wish in for a girl, and I got it!" Matthew kept saying he didn't want "ANOTHER girl!" but he's having to work pretty hard to be disappointed.

Jeremy & I are, of course, thrilled. Now we just have to commence the baby name argument. :) We both have different preferences.

Anyway, without further ado, here's our Baby Girl Downs:

From 2010 03March

Too Sweet!!

2010-03-02T16:47:00.000-08:00

Mom, thanks for sharing - this is just darling!

Katie's Birthday Party

2010-03-01T08:20:00.000-08:00

Katie's turning 11! Today is her birthday, but we had her party yesterday. She asked for some houseshoes, so Annie picked out the yarn, and I made her some:

Happy Birthday, Katie - we love you!

Overheard

2010-02-27T14:20:00.001-08:00

Annie: When I move to Canada, I'm going to the moon!

Matthew: You're moving to Canada? [Because THATS what was weird about that comment...]

Annie: Sure! (pause) or Mexico.

My kids are weird.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Latest Crochet Project

2010-02-21T14:19:00.001-08:00

Here's the latest crochet project I've finished:

I started out using this yarn for some gloves, but Andrew begged me to mak him a blanket. I couldn't resist a request like that!! It was a quick turnaround too- only 3 days. Andrew was so excited- he says whenever he takes it to Grannys it will give him something to remember me by. :)

PS- this is a great quick project. Just grab some fuzzy yarn, a HUGE crohet hook, and double crochet only in the back loops. It works up real fast and looks really nice.

PPS- don't ever make Andrew something if he knows you're working on it for him. It takes twice as long because you have to stop every row and show him how big it is!!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Sick

2010-02-20T12:38:00.001-08:00

Today I'm sick. While this is never fun, I think it's LESS fun on a Saturday. It's just a chest cold, but the medicine that I'm taking to break it up is NOT on friendly terms with my stomach, so the nause that had passed with the onset of my 2nd trimester is back with a vengeance.

While I'm laying here as still as possible, I was thinking how grateful I am to live in the same city as our parents. I've said many times, I don't think we would have as many kids as we do if we were very far from our parents!! I know many people don't have this blessing (or do but don't think it IS a blessing, haha), but I'm so thankful our kids have close relationships with their grandparents, and that they are willing and able to help us out when we need them!

Just a special thanks to Mom and Dad, and Danny and Donna. We appreciate you guys!

Free Axe Sample

2010-02-18T17:27:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I don't use the stuff, but Jeremy does sometimes, and you may want to give it a shot. :)

Click here to get your free sample:

http://www.samsclubmemberservices.com/showcase/unileversamplecenter.aspx

Interesting Facts about my Favorite Hobby

2010-02-16T09:20:00.000-08:00

I LOVE crocheting! I enjoy everything about the hobby - EXCEPT unraveling knotted yarn - from picking out patterns, to choosing yarn, to figuring out how to store all my stuff. Oh, yeah, and actually crocheting. :)

I found these neat trivia facts about crochet from Crochet Magazine:

Do you know why most crocheters in times past held the crochet hook in their hand like a pencil? In the 1800s it was thought that it gave the lines to the hand a more feminine and graceful look. Now, many crocheters hold their hook in the palm of their hand, in what is often called the "knife hold," to reduce carpal tunnel.

Here are a few more bits of crochet history you may find interesting:

It is believed that crochet began as a cottage industry in Ireland as a supplemental income during the Irish Potato Famine. You can read more about it here.

It is believed that the earliest forms of crochet were created using a bent finger instead of a hook.

The word crochet is derived from the Middle French word croc or croche, meaning hook.

The earliest written reference to crochet didn't appear until 1812, and it didn't become the highly popular craft that we know it as today until the 1840s.

In the 19th century, before printed crochet patterns were widely available, crochet samplers were a valuable teaching tool and source of creative inspiration. These decorative pieces were handed down through the generations to become not only treasured family heirlooms but important sources of crochet instruction. They were often added to by other family members or joined together into impressive collages or simply preserved in family albums.

The first national crochet contest in the United States was held in 1937. Representing 32 states, 214 people entered the contest.

Ann Orr, one of America's most popular and prolific crochet designers of the early 20th century, became the principal editor and designer for Coats & Clark's needlework publications while still only a teenager.

Crochet patterns have an underlying mathematical structure and have been used to illustrate shapes in hyperbolic geometry that are difficult to reproduce using other media or are difficult to understand when viewed two-dimensionally.

Sweet Moment

2010-02-08T10:11:00.000-08:00

You know, as a parent, those precious moments you have where you just have to stop and cry because it's so beautiful? We had one of those last night when we got home from church.

Normal night, normal business (especially since it was a Sunday). Everybody's ready to get inside and watch the Super Bowl (and eat, cuz we're all hungry!). We park the car, and open both sliding doors. Jeremy goes around to get Jacob out of his car seat (all as usual). As the door opens, Jacob gets this look of wonder on his face and looks up at the sky and says, "Wow! Daddy!" We looked up and saw...stars. Big deal, right? Only, evidently, Jacob had never looked at the sky before, and what he saw amazed him.

Jeremy said, "Yes, Jacob - those are STARS. God made them." Jacob is staring at the sky and says, "Star! Mommy, STAR!" He was completely in awe of these beautiful shining things in the sky. I just had to sit where I was, with a few tears in my eyes, completely overwhelmed at seeing my son LEARN something new - and being overcome by the beauty of God's creation.

It also made me think of Raymond's sermon today about pride. One of the ways, he said, to combat the pride that is inherent in all of us is to simply LOOK UP. We look up at the heavens and are reminded of just how small we are. And I was reminded one more time last night, as I looked at my precious boy, and his wonder at God's creation.

Symptoms of a Crochet Addict

2010-02-08T10:09:00.000-08:00

You know you're a crochet addict when...

You’re proud to be called a “hooker”.
You have a room for your yarn, not a shelf or a draw, you have an entire room.
When someone greets you they start off by say, “What are you knitting?”
You have more crochet hooks and patterns than you can count or will ever use.
You have a designated crochet bag that you carry projects in, and the bag isn’t small.
You always keep a crochet project in your car or at work, just in case you have some down time.
Your hands get fidgety when you go a day without crocheting (as if you would ever do that).
You have a play list of music or movies that’s called, “Play While Crocheting”.
You memorized when the major yarn stores have discounts and coupons.
You crochet with things other than yarn, such as plastic bags, cassette tape, duck tape, t-shirts, etc.
You’ve learned to die yarn with Kool-aid and spin yarn out of your pet’s hair.
You wear one of those necklace medallions that cuts your yarn for you.
Your number of WIPs (works in progress) and UFOs (unfinished objects) keeps multiplying, and you blame it on your cat/dog/spouse.
You are crocheting while reading this post.

Thanks to Crochet Spot!

These Are Sweet

2010-01-22T10:12:00.000-08:00

Pickup in the Rain

One night, at 11:30 P.M., an older African American

Woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway

Trying to endure a lashing rain storm. Her car had

Broken down and she desperately needed a ride.

Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car.

A young white man stopped to help her, generally

Unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960's. The man

Took her to safety, helped her get assistance and

Put her into a taxicab.

She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his

Address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a

Knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a

Giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A

Special note was attached.

It read:

"Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway

The other night. The rain drenched not only my

Clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along.

Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying

Husband's' bedside just before he passed away... God

Bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving

Others."

Sincerely,

Mrs. Nat King Cole.

Third Important Lesson - Always remember those
Who serve.

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less,

A 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and

Sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in

Front of him.

"How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked.

"Fifty cents," replied the waitress.

The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and

Studied the coins in it.

"Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired.

By now more people were waiting for a table and the

Waitress was growing impatient.

"Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied.

The little boy again counted his coins.

"I'll have the plain ice cream," he said.

The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on

The table and walked away The boy finished the ice

Cream, paid the cashier and left.. When the waitress

Came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the

Table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish,

Were two nickels and five pennies..

You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he had

To have enough left to leave her a tip.

Madi's Conversation with Mom

2010-01-14T15:12:00.001-08:00

Some of these you just have to pass on.

Wednesday night at Awana:

MADI: I want to stay with you Granny.

ME: Go to your class; you'll have fun.

MADI: I don't want to have fun. I just want to spend time with you. I love you. You're my favorite.

ME: Go to class Madi.

MADI: I'm hungry Granny.

ME: You can have a cookie later.

MADI: I don't want just a cookie. I want a Rice Krispie treat.

ME: Go to your class Madi. Now I know why the teacher says GO TO THE CORNER MADI

From Granny

Why Didn't I Do This a Long Time Ago?

2010-01-12T15:02:00.000-08:00

Okay, so most of you know that I've been feeling HORRIBLE with this pregnancy. It's a good thing we had a school break for the last month (or so) because either way we weren't doing school, and it's much better if it's planned. :)

Well, the last few weeks have been much better. I've still been feeling very sick, but at least I feel like a human sick person and not a zombie. I've been slowly getting back into the swing of things, but only a little bit of a time. At this point we've added back in doing dishes (yeah), actually getting dressed during the day, school, and MOST of our other household chores. The main thing I have NOT been able to get caught up on is the laundry. (I mean, I barely stay "caught up" even when I'm feeling really well, so a month of misery got me WAY behind.)

This week the kids & I had our "chore meeting". Once a month or so I change up all the kids' chores so they don't get bored (or don't get bored as QUICKLY). They're always ready to do a different chore, so I hear them saying things like, "I hope I get 'vacuum'. I hope I get 'take out trash'." for about 3 days. :)

Well, this time, I took all of the kids' chores and divided them up between Annie & Andrew. I told Matthew he only had one chore: LAUNDRY. (He doesn't realize at this point that it will take as much time as four other chores.) He was very excited. He's my OCD child anyway, so putting him on a job like this - that is never "finished" - was the best thing I ever could have done. I showed him how to work the washer and dryer, how to sort clothes (he still has to ask me before can start the washer), and set him to work. He's even folding. (He's not folding like Momma would do it, but - hey, I'm not complaining.) Within one day, almost all of our laundry is done, and Matthew is as excited as can be - AND SO AM I.

So, I'm asking myself - why didn't I do this a month ago? I guess it's because I still have a hard time realizing that he's 8 - and that 8year-olds CAN accomplish a lot if they're properly motivated. Why do we assume that our kids can't do these things?

AARP Letter

2010-01-11T09:55:00.001-08:00

Obviously, I'm not a member of the AARP, but this letter is very eloquent, and I wanted to pass it on.

This was sent to Mr. Rand who is the Executive Director of AARP.

THIS LADY NOT ONLY HAS A GRASP OF 'THE SITUATION' BUT AN INCREDIBLE COMMAND OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE!

This has been authenticated by Snopes - http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/aarp.asp

Dear Mr. Rand,

Recently you sent us a letter encouraging us to renew our lapsed membership in AARP by the requested date. I know it is not what you were looking for, but this is the most honest response I can give you. Our gap in coverage is merely a microscopic symptom of the real problem, a deepening lack of faith.

While we have proudly maintained our membership for several years and have long admired the AARP goals and principles, regrettably, we can no longer endorse it's abdication of our values. Your letter specifically stated that we can count on AARP to speak up for our rights, yet the voice we hear is not ours. Your offer of being kept up to date on important issues through DIVIDED WE FAIL presents neither an impartial view nor the one we have come to embrace. We do believe that when two parties agree all the time on everything presented to them, one is probably not necessary. But, when the opinions and long term goals are diametrically opposed, the divorce is imminent. This is the philosophy which spawned our 200 years of government.

Once upon a time, we looked forward to being part of the senior demographic. We also looked to AARP to provide certain benefits and give our voice a power we could not possibly hope to achieve on our own. AARP gave us a sense of belonging which we no longer enjoy. The Socialist politics practiced by the Obama administration and empowered by AARP serves only to raise the blood pressure my medical insurance strives to contain. Clearly a conflict of interest there!

We do not understand the AARP posture, feel greatly betrayed by the guiding forces that we expected to map out our senior years and leave your ranks with a great sense of regret. We mitigate that disappointment with the relief of knowing that we are not contributing to the problem anymore by renewing our membership. There are numerous other organizations which offer discounts without threatening our way of life or offending our sensibilities.

This Presidential Administration scares the living daylights out of us. Not just for ourselves, but for our proud and bloodstained heritage. But even more importantly for our children and grandchildren. Washington has rendered Soylent Green a prophetic cautionary tale rather than a nonfiction scare tactic. I have never in my life endorsed any militant or radical groups, yet now I find myself listening to them. I don't have to agree with them to appreciate the fear which birthed their existence. Their borderline insanity presents little more than a balance to the voice of the Socialist mindset in power. Perhaps I became American by a great stroke of luck in some cosmic uterine lottery, but in my adulthood I CHOOSE to embrace it and nurture the freedoms it represents as well as the responsibilities it requires.

Your website generously offers us the opportunity to receive all communication in Spanish. ARE YOU KIDDING??? Someone has broken into our 'house', invaded our home without our invitation or consent. The President has insisted we keep the perpetrator in comfort and learn the perps' language so we can communicate our reluctant welcome to them.

I DON'T choose to welcome them.

I DON'T choose to support them.

I DON'T choose to educate them.

I DON'T choose to medicate them, pay for their food or clothing.

American home invaders get arrested.

Please explain to me why foreign lawbreakers can enjoy privileges on American soil that Americans do not get?

Why do some immigrants have to play the game to be welcomed and others only have to break & enter to be welcomed?

We travel for a living. Walt hauls horses all over this great country, averaging over 10,000 miles a month when he is out there. He meets more people than a politician on caffeine overdose. Of all the many good folks he enjoyed on this last 10,000 miles, this trip yielded only ONE supporter of the current administration. One of us is out of touch with mainstream America . Since our poll is conducted without funding, I have more faith in it than one which is power driven.

We have decided to forward this to everyone on our mailing list, and will encourage them to do the same. With several hundred in my address book, I have every faith that the eventual exponential factor will make a credible statement to you.

I am disappointed as hell.

I am scared as hell.

I am MAD as hell, and I'm NOT gonna take it anymore!

Walt & Cyndy
Miller Farms Equine Transport

Multimedia message

2010-01-07T11:00:00.000-08:00

Breadmaker Cornbread

Don't we live in TEXAS?

2010-01-06T14:20:00.001-08:00

What's with this forecast?

10.5 weeks

2010-01-05T20:43:00.000-08:00

Well, I've had my first official prenatal visit, and I am 10 1/2 weeks along in this pregnancy. Matthew wants to know how many more we have to go. Though we weren't able to hear the heartbeat yet, it looks like everything is going well, and we will be able to have this baby at home, just like we did with Jacob. It really was the most amazing experience, and, while I would never try to talk anyone into doing it, we thought it was a very special opportunity, and something the we really enjoyed.

I hope to be out of the morning sickness phase of pregnancy pretty soon. It has been bad this time around, but it is getting better...most days. It has been stressful trying to get everything done, though, especially over the holidays.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Years, which you can probably tell since I didn't post ANY during that whole time! Here are a couple of special milestones:

FIRST Thanksgiving at home without Mom & Dad. (They went to Leanne's. I'm glad they got to go, but it was really weird without them here.)
Jacob's third Christmas, but the first one where he really KNEW what was going on. He very much enjoyed it when it was HIS TURN to open a present.
Matthew got a DSi, which I really enjoy playing. :) We also had to tell him "the truth" about Santa because of some attitude issues we were getting into. It marks kind of a sad milestone - he's growing up.
Annie got her ears pierced for her birthday, so all she wanted was to get earrings for Christmas. It is the highlight of her day when she gets to change earrings. :)
Andrew got a scooter for Christmas. It wasn't burnt orange, like he requested (evidently they don't MAKE burnt orange scooters), but evidently it still rides pretty well, and he enjoys it.
New Years was spent with my Mom's family - my cousins, aunt, and grand-mother were here. Dad made tacos (yeah!), and we all had a really great time. It was very special to have all of us together to bring in the New Year. Matthew was very disappointed when his only "boy cousin" (his age) had to go home. I think he'd move to GA if we let him.

Those are just a few of the special things that happened over the past few months. What about your holidays? What are some of the things that stand out to you as special memories?

Twenty-Ten

2010-01-04T12:00:00.001-08:00

Well, it's a new year! A new decade - the second one of this millennium. I'm looking back over the last 10 years to see what's different, and my answer is - Quite a few things!

10 Years Ago...

...I had NO children.

Now I have four, with one on the way

...I did not own a house

Now, well - I do

...I was attending a different church, and living in a different city

...I think my hair was longer

...I could go to Walmart anytime I wanted - or Taco Bell - or the grocery store

Now I have to get a babysitter

...Jeremy worked at McDonald's!

...I was going to Lamar and working part-time as a secretary

...I did not have a cell phone, much less an iPhone, and I'd never heard of blogging

That's just a few! But life has changed a LOT since the beginning of this millennium. I don't have any "resolutions" for this year, but I have started a Bible-reading plan. I'll be posting about that occasionally. I need the accountability, since I failed miserably at my goal for reading through the Bible in 2009! I'm praying I will do better in 2010.

Neat tool

2010-01-03T09:11:00.001-08:00

I've been using the M'Cheyne One Year Reading Plan Reading Plan at YouVersion.com. You might enjoy it, or one of the many other plans that are available. Check it out at YouVersion.com.

Lindsay Downs

iPhone

Watch at your Own Risk

2009-12-18T15:07:00.001-08:00

This is some of the most incredibly twisted logic that I have ever heard.

Jesus wore pants - not a dress!

Multimedia message

2009-12-08T11:58:00.000-08:00

Last Chance for November Pictures!

2009-12-07T16:54:00.000-08:00

You can always go here, or click the "November" link at the top of my blog to see these pictures, but the link will be changing to December pictures. I know some of you CAN'T WAIT to see all of my new pictures, but I'm giving you ONE LAST CHANCE to check out the November ones before we move on. After all, why be in a hurry? (Unless you're 8 and CAN'T WAIT for Christmas to get here...)

Free Music Download - the soundtrack to UP

2009-12-03T12:34:00.000-08:00

Hurry! This is available only through today. Click here to download the original music score from Disney's movie "UP". Use the code latimesdisney

November

2009-11-30T08:57:00.001-08:00

What a month! A lot has happened in November!

We started with Annie & Jacob's birthday. We re-painted Annie's room for her, so she now has a "girl room". She was very excited, and now likes to sleep in there every night. (Before, she would cry because she didn't want to be by herself. I guess she's growing up now, and enjoying being a "girly-girl".)

From 2009 11November

We also had her birthday party and Jacob's combined. I don't know how long we'll do that, but right now it works! They both had a wonderful time at their party.

From 2009 11November

After their birthdays, which we actually had at the end of October, we "celebrated" Halloween by going down the street to a church's "Midway". We took 6 kids: 4 of ours, plus two more!

From 2009 11November

They all had a lot of fun playing.

THEN we decided to get a new puppy to replace our 11-year-old black lab that died earlier this year. Dakota is a black lab, too, and is about 2 months old (probably only 6 weeks in these pictures).

From 2009 11November

Later, our favorite band Dear Future dropped into Beaumont for a visit. We got to go to their concert, and they stayed with us for the evening and most of the next day. The kids thought it was awesome to have Real Live Rock Stars in our house. :)

Of course, then came Thanksgiving!!! I don't have any pictures from the actual day, but I do have a picture of Jacob helping me peel potatoes!

From 2009 11November

We had a great day, even IF my parents weren't there - they went to Illinois and spent the holiday with my sisters up there. (I'm jealous.)

We also celebrated something else on Thanksgiving Day - we told our family that we are EXPECTING BABY #5! We are terribly excited! He/she should arrive sometime mid-summer 2010. The kids are already taking boy/girl bets. I bet you can guess how the lines are drawn!

So, all in all, this has been a wonderful and busy month. I'm sure December will be the same, so don't expect too many blog updates - maybe just one big "December" update like this one!

Free Whataburger! (Sorry for all my friends who don't have a Whataburger)

2009-11-28T19:47:00.001-08:00

Free Whataburger Here!

The holidays are all about giving and so is Whataburger. This holiday season, we're happy to share the 12 Days of Whataburger with you.Starting December 1st we'll be emailing you a coupon for free food valid every other day from December 2nd until December 24th, 2009. It could be anything from a shake, to French fries, to a Whataburger®. And it's free just for sharing the holiday season with us.

'Tis the season for giving, right? Share it with your friends by email, Facebook or Twitter.

Go to the link to enter your email address, and they will email you coupons. Enjoy.

"Helping"

2009-11-28T08:42:00.001-08:00

Here's Jacob "helping" me peel potatos for our Thanksgiving meal. Too
cute!

Early bird "sales"

2009-11-28T08:41:00.001-08:00

These gimmicks drive me crazy. If you have something on sale at 12:45,
why can it not be on sale at 1:00?

Yesterday, in line at Toys R Us, I found a couple of movies that were
50% off. When I get up to the register, the boy politely informs me
they are not on sale anymore. (Did I mention I got in line at 12:30?
But that's a vent for another day...)

So, was that a wise move on the store's part? Instead of making $5,
they were trying to make $10. Instead, they made $0. Any thoughts?

iPhone

Psalms 23

2009-11-24T14:02:00.000-08:00

I might have posted this before, but it's too cute not to repeat!

Laminin

2009-11-23T11:09:00.000-08:00

Free $3.00 in Amazon MP3 store!

2009-11-23T09:42:00.000-08:00

Use code MP34FREE and get $3 to use toward anything at Amazon MP3.

Click here to get your $3 at Amazon MP3. I just tried it, and downloaded three songs for free!

Songs I downloaded:

Pachelbel Meets U2 [MP3 Download]
From the album Winter Serenade
By: Jon Schmidt

Love Story meets Love Story (Taylor Swift Remix) [MP3 Download]
From the album Bonus Tracks
By: Jon Schmidt

Last Lullaby (Thomas' Song) [MP3 Download]
From the album Winter Serenade
By: Jon Schmidt

I found this originally Here

Like Country Music?

2009-11-20T13:37:00.001-08:00

Here's a link to a link to some free country music downloads from iTunes.

Free Country Music

Jelly Telly

2009-11-16T08:38:00.000-08:00

Jelly Telly is a daily "television show" online for kids. It's creator is Phil Vischer, one of the creators of VeggieTales. We heard about it at the parenting seminar at our church this weekend, and it really is incredible. It's humorous and silly, and also teaches kids about different books of the Bible and biblical principles.

ALL FOUR of my kids have really enjoyed this show. From ages 8 down to 2, they have giggled and laughed and enjoyed it together. There are also games on the website that kids can play.

There is a 4.99/month fee to watch all of the episodes, but in my opinion, this is very worth it. With the time my kids want to spend on the internet, I feel this will be a good addition (and hopefully a substitution!) to many of the things they WANT to play (like FarmTown ugh) that I don't let them play. :)

"Conversations with God" - Watch out

2009-11-06T21:09:00.000-08:00

(We received this as a forward from our youth pastor and want to pass on the information.)

Beware of this book!! Oprah is pushing it. It is scary that someone would be bold enough to write a book from God's point of view that is contrary to His Word. Please send to all with kids or grandkids... These books (and others like it) are being sold to schoolchildren through (The Scholastic Book Club), and we need to be aware of what is being fed to our children.

If you have children or grandchildren, work with children at church, or you have neighborhood children whose parents you know, please take note of the information below and pass it along to others. Schools are distributing this book to children through the Scholastic Book Club.

The name of the book is Conversations with God.. James Dobson talked about this book twice this week. It is devastating. Parents, churches and Christian schools need to be aware of it. Please pass this information on to church/e-mail addresses, Parents, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, friends.

Please pay special attention not only to what your kids watch on TV, in movie theaters, on the Internet, and the music they listen to, but also be alert regarding the books they read.

Two particular books are, Conversations with God and Conversations with God for Teens, written by Neale D. Walsch. They sound harmless enough by their titles alone. The books have been on the New York Times best sellers list for a number of weeks, and they make truth of the statement, "Don't judge a book by its cover or title."

The author purports to answer various questions asked by kids using the "voice of God". However, the "answers" that he gives are not Bible-based and go against the very infallible word of God.

For instance (and I paraphrase), when a girl asks the question "Why am I a lesbian?" His answer is that she was 'born that way' because of genetics (just as you were
born right-handed, with brown eyes, etc. That part, I believe, is true.). Then he tells her to go out and "celebrate" her differences.

Another girls poses the question "I am living with my boyfriend. My parents say that I should marry him because I am living in sin. Should I marry him?"

His reply is, "Who are you sinning against? Not me, because you have done nothing wrong."

Another question asks about God's forgiveness of sin. His reply "I do not forgive anyone because there is nothing to forgive.. There is no such thing as right or wrong and that is what I have been trying to tell everyone, do not judge people. People have chosen to judge one another and this is wrong, because the rule is "'judge not lest ye be judged."
Not only are these books the false doctrine of the devil, but in some instances quote (in error) the Word of God.

And the list goes on.
Our children are under attack. So I pray that you be sober and vigilant about teaching your children the Word of God, and guarding their exposure to worldly mediums, because our adversary, the devil, roams about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). We know that lions usually hunt for the slowest, weakest and YOUNGEST of its prey.

Pass this on to every Believer you know. God bless! And, if you are in doubt, check out the books yourself

Fun Video from a couple of months ago

2009-11-04T10:32:00.000-08:00

Free Music Sampler Album from Amazon

2009-11-03T20:06:00.000-08:00

Get it Here

Of course you have to download their "music downloader" software, but it integrates with iTunes (or whatever you use).

Birthdays!

2009-11-02T11:24:00.001-08:00

Last weekend we had a combined party for Jacob and Annie. Jacob is
turning 2 and Annie is 7. They both had a wonderful time, and had the
bonus of playing with each others presents!

Jacob got this tball set from his Ma and Pa. As you can see, it was a
hit - literally.

Annie and her Earrings

2009-11-02T11:21:00.002-08:00

Annie Got Her Ears Pierced!

2009-11-02T11:21:00.001-08:00

As her birthday present for her 7th birthday, we took Annie to get her
ears pierced. She was so excited, she was shaking before they even
started! When they did punch the first hole, she looked startled,
then immediately started crying. She sat bravely through the other
eat, though, and now says it was worth it!

My special girl! I'll post a picture in a minute. :)

Lindsay Downs
iPhone

Annie & Wii Fit

2009-10-22T18:15:00.000-07:00

Jeremy bought me an early Christmas present the other day: Wii Fit! It is an awesome addition to the Wii, with lots of fitness games, yoga, weight tracking, and tips that I have been needing. I've wanted it for a while, and the "budget supervisor" finally decided it was a good investment.

We have told the kids this is an "adults only" game. What this means in our house is that the kids may only play the game if an adult is playing with them. So this means, right now there is a lot of, "Mommy, do you want to play Wii fit?" :)

After finally giving in to relentless begging this afternoon, I let the kids play. One of the games is a "free run" - it sets the timer for ten minutes, and you run (in place) through the "park" on the screen. It's a really neat way to let your mind wander while you're exercising, but I thought it would be rather boring for the kids.

I was wrong.

Annie picked it because a kitty runs with you, and is your "guide". She ran the entire ten minutes!!! While she's running, Matthew is cheering her on. You can hear her running out of breath, and I'm constantly reminding her that she needs to move away from the TV. Finally, at about 8 minutes, she says, "It's a good thing I'm not really running, or I'd be really tired!"

I was rolling on the floor, while trying not to let her think I was laughing at her. That's my funny girl!

Jacobs Thumb

2009-10-14T21:59:00.001-07:00

I just realized I haven't posted an update about Jacob's thumb. He did
ge a cast put on. The Socorro says 2 weeks is all we will need it on
for! That's a blessing. It still bothers him, though-especially when
he wanted to go swimming, or when we had to put a bag around it for
him to eat spaghetti. He's such a trooper though!

Vacation pictures

2009-10-14T21:50:00.000-07:00

Vacation

2009-10-14T21:48:00.001-07:00

We are having an awesome time on our vacation! I will try to email
some pictures to my blog so you can see what we've been doing, but
it's been basically nothing! It's been wonderful to rest and enjoy
time with family.

The kids hve especially enjoyed playing with their cousins. We are
determined NOT to let three more years go by before they get to play
together again.

Thanks, Jason and Rebekah, for letting us crash your place with all
our noise and mess-it has been a wonderful vacation!

Lindsay Downs
iPhone

Multimedia message

2009-10-09T17:40:00.000-07:00

Broken Thumb

2009-10-07T13:18:00.001-07:00

Jake fell Sunday on his hand. It hasn't been getting better, so we
took him in to minor care, and found out it's broken! We have to try
to get into an orthopedic doctor TOMORROW because we are leaving for
Florida on Friday!

Oh, the joys...

Lindsay Downs
iPhone

Know what I hate?

2009-10-05T11:49:00.000-07:00

I hate it when you get a "free" download, or print a coupon on the internet, but before you can print or download it, they make you install a program to download or use it.

Why?

Just my rant for the day.

AWANA Games

2009-09-24T12:14:00.000-07:00

Having four kids means "divide and conquer" most of the time. So, this year, on AWANA Parent Night, Jeremy went with Matthew to T&T, I went with Annie to Sparks, and Granny went with Andrew to Cubbies. I took some pictures of Annie playing games - she doesn't have a lot of speed, but she sure smiles the whole time!

More Baby Chicks

2009-09-24T12:12:00.000-07:00

Baby Chicks

2009-09-24T12:11:00.000-07:00

Our friends the Hagemiers let us come see their new baby chicks. They kids had so much fun, and didn't want to leave!

Andrew and the Dreaded New Class

2009-09-24T12:06:00.000-07:00

Andrew is so much like his daddy. He HATES transitions. He doesn't like moving from one class to another - once you get things settled, he doesn't understand why you don't stay there FOREVER! Why mess with what works, right?

So, here is Andrew the FIRST WEEK OF Cubbies:

Eventually, he does adjust, though (which is good for Mom's sanity). Here is Andrew's SECOND WEEK of Cubbies:

Thanks, Gale for taking these pictures!

FaveCrafts.com

2009-09-22T15:12:00.000-07:00

Here is a website I've been visiting for a lot of free patterns lately. FaveCrafts.com is an awesome site with 1000's of free craft projects, home
decor ideas and DIY tips. They add new projects and tips every day. Some
of the free crafts projects that I've enjoyed looking at include Christmas Crafts, Free Crochet Patterns and Crafting with Kids. You can sign up for their free daily e-mail newsletter Quick & Crafty and they have a lot of good free eBooks like "Creative Crafting all Year Round: Crafts to Celebrate the Holidays eBook".

Christmas Crafts, Free Knitting Patterns, Free Crochet Patterns and
More from FaveCrafts.com (Linked to home page, http://www.favecrafts.com)

Browsing

2009-09-17T08:38:00.001-07:00

I'm just browsing the internet today, with not much else to do while the spaghetti cooks. (I know, it's only 10:30. But when you run out of eggs, bread & milk all in the same morning, what else do you do?)

One thing I've realized is that the internet is like cable TV. There's hundreds of "channels" and NOTHING ON!

So, I think I'm going to go play with my kids. See you!

These are NOT my kids

2009-09-16T12:34:00.001-07:00

But it's still awesome, even with that significant drawback. :)

"Downs Clowns" (Behind the Scenes)

2009-09-16T12:23:00.000-07:00

The kids have formed a band, and we're calling them the Downs Clowns (it was between that and "Upside Downs", and the kids out-voted me). I've already posted a video, but I thought you'd like to see what they are REALLY like, when they're not in front of the camera and making major productions. It may surprise you.

Green Alert

2009-09-16T12:16:00.001-07:00

I have no idea where this came from, but the kids have written a song (complete with choreography) and titled it "Green Alert". See if you can sing along by the end of the video...:)

Matthew & Jacob Playing the Piano

2009-09-16T11:48:00.000-07:00

Jacob stayed around while Matthew started up playing, and if you can't tell, he's saying "Cha cha cha" because that's what all the kids say when they finish singing a song.

Andrew & Jacob playing the piano

2009-09-16T11:45:00.000-07:00

My music lovers were putting on a show! The video kind of cuts "around the corner" because I was TRYING to get them without them knowing I was recording them. They're too observant, though, so that didn't work.

Still, I love to listen to them, and my favorite part is Andrew reacting to Jacob. :)

Videos Coming

2009-09-16T10:35:00.000-07:00

YouTube is not being very friendly today, so I'm not sure WHEN the videos will be up - but I'm working on it!

Giveaway

2009-09-15T10:39:00.000-07:00

Check out this link for a contest giving away

The Dressmaker’s Technique Bible
By Lorna Knight

Publisher: Krause Publications
www.MyCreativity.com

Enter for your chance to win!

http://www.favecrafts.com/sweeps/Dressmaker-Book-Giveaway#

Crochet Update

2009-09-15T09:46:00.000-07:00

I posted earlier about the project I'm working on, and here is an update. The back is complete! Now I'm working on the front, and then the sleeves, then we'll put everything together.

I know you're on pins & needles to see how it progresses, so I'll keep you updated. :)

Enough Said

2009-09-12T20:08:00.000-07:00

Bible Bee

2009-09-12T08:35:00.001-07:00

Matthew is participating in the National Bible Bee today. It is a
contest all across the country where children prepare for and are
tested on Bible knowledge and memory. It has been a lot of hard work
for Matthew and many other children for months.

It is kind of strange sitting here thinking about Matthew being tested
on his Bible knowledge. It's kind of like the job all parents do: we
spend time teaching them, working with them, and praying for them, and
there eventually comes a time when they are tested on their knowledge
and what they have learned. But then, the stakes are much higher than
a contest.

It makes me wonder if I am doing enough to preprare them for that
Test. It definitely drives me back to my knees-praying for God to work
in their hearts.

From my iPhone

Free Calendar

2009-09-07T14:42:00.001-07:00

I'm not a big "conservationist", but I do like free stuff, and this Wildlife Calendar for next year (2010) looks really nice! They're sending them out free if you sign up by September 15.

Rifqa can remain

2009-09-07T10:49:00.000-07:00

Please pray for this lady.

ORLANDO, FL - A 17-year-old girl who says she ran away from her Muslim family in Ohio because she feared she could be killed for converting to Christianity can remain in Florida for now.

An Orlando judge signed an order Thursday sealing a police report for at least ten days until lawyers for Rifqa Bary, her parents, and child welfare officials can read it. The report contains the results of a two-week investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement into Bary's family and home life.

The attorney for Bary's mother says the report shows that the teen's fears are unfounded.

The case is headed for a trial in which the judge will hear testimony and decide whether Bary should be returned to Ohio. She has been placed with a foster family in Florida and wants to stay with them.

The judge set a pretrial hearing for the end of this month.

Pregnant Christian Dragged Naked Through Pakistani Police Station

2009-09-07T10:28:00.000-07:00

This story is tragic and really leaves me speechless when I consider the extent of what happened to this woman. The Assyrian International News Agency and International Christian Concern are reporting on the story of a pregnant Christian woman who was beaten and dragged naked through the Pakistan police station. The police knew she was pregnant and still treated her this way.
Her crime? She was accused of theft, along with a Muslim woman, by their employer. However, the Muslim woman was not treated harshly in the same manner as the Christian woman, despite there being nothing proven to convict the Christian woman of having stolen from her boss.

The woman, Farzana Bibi, worked as a maid in the house of a wealthy Muslim. During a wedding held at the house, some jewelry was stolen from some of the landlord's female relatives. The police were called, and when they arrived at the scene they arrested two maids: Farzana and a Muslim woman named Rehana. Nazir Masih, Farzana's husband, said, "Police registered a fake theft case against my wife and Rehana without any proof."

Nazir went on to say that the police tortured his wife even though she told them she was pregnant. He told ICC, "Sub-Inspector Zulfiqar and Assistant Sub-Inspector Akhter subjected her to intense torture. They stripped off her clothes and dragged her naked around the compound of Cantonment Area Police Station in Kharian. They humiliated and tortured my wife, but did not do anything to Rehana." Read the full story.

Please pray that God would comfort Farzana and Nazir and that justice would be carried out. Please also call your Pakistani embassy and ask them to defend the rights of Christians.

(From Voice of the Martyrs)

Latest Crochet Project

2009-09-06T14:52:00.000-07:00

Here's the latest project I'm working on! (Or, one of them, at least.) I'm excited about this one.

[Click the picture to see the pattern]

Tim Hawkins - The Government Can

2009-09-05T08:22:00.001-07:00

Last one!

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO2eh6f5Go0

Lindsay Downs
iPhone

Tim Hawkins-Tech Support

2009-09-05T08:19:00.001-07:00

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkLq1j1kOaU

Lindsay Downs
iPhone

Tim Hawkins - A Homeschool Family

2009-09-05T08:14:00.001-07:00

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VM6uqj0_jQc

Lindsay Downs
iPhone

Co-Op and Making Music

2009-09-04T15:23:00.000-07:00

Today we started a very informal, low-key homeschool co-op that meets once a month. The kids get a chance to do some "music theater", and give presentations. Today was "show & tell" day.

Matthew got up and spoke about his pet hermit crab "Crazy" (named thus because of the 8 on his back - get it, crazy eights? *that's the way Matthew described it to me*). He enjoyed speaking in front of all of us, and telling about his crab:

From 2009 09September

Annie told us all about her favorite bear: Goldie. This was a gift given to her by Granny when she got her root canal and teeth pulled, and we NEVER let this bear out of our sights. (You can probably tell that it's seldom washed.)

From 2009 09September

Andrew was very excited about getting up in front of everyone and speaking. He brought his tiger (whose name is, appropriately, Tiger). When his turn came, he jumped up out of his seat, and ran eagerly to the front of the room, turned around, and promptly burst into tears. I couldn't get him to say another word. This is him just starting to tear up:

From 2009 09September

It was pitiful, but also kind of funny at the same time. :)

Later that day, the kids put on a "play" for us. Matthew just had his FIRST piano lesson ever, so he was playing the piano, Annie was dancing, Andrew on the guitar, and Jacob....well, you'll see Jacob. Enjoy. :)

Our friends the Hagameiers and their animals

2009-08-31T16:58:00.000-07:00

I posted some pictures of the kids and the baby chicks the other day, and our friends also posted a lot of other pictures of the kids with their goats & horse. Pop over to the Hag Ranch and check them out!

I Love

2009-08-28T22:23:00.001-07:00

my kids and my husband - they are so much fun to be around.

my dog - he's so sweet & snuggly!

my house - God's blessed us with a cozy place to call home.

my church - what a wonderful place to worship & serve God.

That's all for now. Go on about your business.

Article: American Thinker: 'Apostate' Girl's Father: The Unreported Story

2009-08-27T10:46:00.001-07:00

Please take a minute to read this story.

American Thinker: 'Apostate' Girl's Father: The Unreported Story
http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/08/apostate_girls_father_the_unre.html

(via Instapaper)

Lindsay Downs

iPhone

Another Walgreens Coupon - ONLY GOOD TODAY

2009-08-26T10:15:00.000-07:00

For just today, August 26, you can use the coupon code "FUNDAY" at Walgreens to get a free collage print. Make sure you choose in-store pick up so you don't have to pay for shipping.

I've used this coupon, and it worked for me! Have fun!

Free 8x10 Scrapbook Page at Walgreens - Today Only!

2009-08-21T09:27:00.001-07:00

(Originally posted at Frugal Girls)

Today only {8/21}, you can receive a Free 8x10 Photo Scrapbook Page from Walgreens! I just created a "School Days" page, and it turned out really cute!

Go here to place your order, and use this coupon code at checkout: SCRAPIT

To avoid shipping costs, be sure to select in-store pickup.

John Foxe

2009-08-21T08:24:00.000-07:00

(from Voice of the Martyrs)

John Foxe, a young teacher at Magdelen College, pleaded in prayer, “They call themselves your priests and ministers, but they worship themselves and their political power. Help them realize that there is no need for another mediator between God and man but Christ Jesus and his Word.”
Someone overheard John and immediately reported him to the college administration. They accused him of holding beliefs in rebellion to the government and against the state church. When he refused to deny his convictions, the council expelled him from the university.
Because of this, John had great difficulty finding work as a teacher. One day, exhausted with hunger, he sat praying in a church. A man John had never met suddenly appeared and thrust a sum of money into his hand. “Cheer up,” he said. “In a few days new work will present itself to you.” A few days later he was hired as a tutor.

Under the reign of Henry VIII, Christians like John were tolerated. When Mary I came to power, however, she executed any who defied the religious edicts of the state. Three hundred people died during her five-year reign. John and his pregnant wife fled England to Belgium, barely escaping being apprehended.

In defense of those who died for their faith, John wrote Foxe’s Book of Martyrs.

It is one thing to read about persecution, yet quite another to experience it. In the same way, many people read about the lives of committed Christians and admire their courage from afar. Yet they have no firsthand experience of faith to call their own. While they extol the martyrs’ courage, they cannot relate to its source: a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. They may read the gospel message, yet they do not respond in faith. Martyrs lived and died calling others, even their oppressors, to faith in Christ. Could they be calling you toward Christian commitment even now as you read their stories? Don’t merely extol their faith when you are invited to experience it firsthand.
If you have not yet purchased your copy of Foxe's Book of Martyrs, please click here and support VOM.

Recommendation - 20 free prints at Walgreens!

2009-08-20T09:33:00.001-07:00

(originally posted on the Frugral Girls website)

TODAY ONLY you can get 20 free prints at Walgreens! Just enter the coupon code "20Free4Me"

when you checkout. This won't pay for shipping, but if you pick them up at the store, they are $0.00! That's a pretty good deal.

I rarely actually print pictures, but I will take advantage of opportunities like these, and can print almost all the pictures I actually want to have hard copies of, and usually get them free.

Try it out at Walgreens!

Jacob won't leave my computer alone!

2009-08-20T09:21:00.000-07:00

I had hoped when we moved the computers into the office (with a door...and a lock...) that Jake would stay off my computer. Somehow, he manages to get in anyway, though - either by sneaking in, or waiting til the kids go in there...He loves to play with my mouse and push buttons on my keyboard.

The other day, I came into the office, and this is what I saw on my computer screen:

Yes, you are seeing that right. He had somehow turned the entire screen sideways - not the monitor, he hadn't physically moved it. He just changed some random setting to output the entire monitor sideways! It's a good thing Jeremy's friend Michael was here because he knew how to fix it; I wouldv'e been up a creek otherwise!!

Some people's kids...

Jacob's a Hoot

2009-08-13T16:19:00.000-07:00

We can't get this kid to talk for anything! He's 20-some-odd months old, and the main words he says are "Mama", "Mine", "Dada" and "Guys". "Guys" refers to ALL of the kids. Evidently it's much easier to call them all by one name than to bother learning their names individually! We usually hear this when he is tattling because someone has something that he wants or is doing something he wants to do. The other kids don't realize that they are only here to help Jacob get candy, or go outside when he wants to!

So, earlier today I was encouraging him to say their names. The conversation went something like this:

Me: Say "Momma"
Jake: Momma!
Me: Say "Dada"
Jake: Dada!
Me: "Down"
Jake: Dow! (can you tell everything ends with an exclamation mark?)
Me: "Up"
Jake: Uhhh!
Me: Say "NeNe" (we're trying to get him to call Annie that - it's easier, and less confusing when paired up with "Granny", which he pronounces "GaGa!")
Jake: Neeee
Me: Say "Matthew"
Jake: Muuuu - Guy!

We also feel like we're living in Finding Nemo because he walks around the house saying "Mine?! Mine?! Mine?!" like the pigeons:

Too Funny

2009-08-13T16:11:00.001-07:00

A man and woman had been married for more than 60 years.
They had shared everything. They had talked about everything.
They had kept no secrets from each other except that the little
old woman had a shoe box in the top of her closet that she had
cautioned her husband never to open or ask her about.

For all of these years, he had never thought about the box, but
one day the little old woman got very sick and the doctor said
She would not recover.

In trying to sort out their affairs, the little old man took
down the shoe box and took it to his wife's bedside.
She agreed that it was time that he should know what was
in the box. When he opened it, he found two crocheted dolls
and a stack of money totaling $95,000.

He asked her about the contents. 'When we were to be married,'
she said, 'my grandmother told me the secret of a happy marriage
was to never argue. She told me that if I ever got angry with you,
I should just keep quiet and crochet a doll.'

The little old man was so moved; he had to fight back tears. Only two
precious dolls were in the box. She had only been angry with him two
times in all those years of living and loving. He almost burst with
happiness.

'Honey,' he said, 'that explains the doll, but what about all of this money?
Where did it come from?'

'Oh,' she said, 'that's the money I made from selling the dolls.'

(Thanks, Rebekah - that was hilarious!)

Sewing/Craft Idea

2009-08-13T15:58:00.001-07:00

So, I was browing the other day and found a bunch of ideas for making crafts with "trash". One of the items was old jeans. Now, I just happen to have a pair of old jeans lying around, and thought I would give this craft a shot.

I had so much fun with this, and it was really simple! I did it in about an hour while the kids were doing school. Here's my final product:

From August 2009

This was a lot of fun, and will be a cute apron to wear around the house and hold important items (like my phone, so I don't miss it when Jeremy calls me...).

So, there ya go!

My Boys

2009-08-10T11:05:00.000-07:00

Matthew's Jersey

2009-08-10T11:03:00.000-07:00

Jacob loves it. :)

Petting Zoo

2009-08-10T11:00:00.000-07:00

Last week, the boys got to go to the new Petting Zoo in town, and they had a blast. They really enjoyed feeding the animals.

From August 2009

This little lamb LOVED Andrew...

From August 2009

...and followed him around...

From August 2009

...and I'm SURE this is why! :)

Coolness

2009-08-10T10:58:00.000-07:00

Granny went to Preteen Camp last week, and brought the kids back sunglasses (which they all thought were very cool). Jacob especially LOVES his!

Snuggling

2009-08-10T10:56:00.000-07:00

This first picture is what Jacob will do when you tell him to close his eyes. Evidently, he doesn't realize they will close on his own!!

I love it when they will fall asleep while you're holding them. This stage doesn't last very long, and I'm trying to enjoy every second I can! :)

Dear Future

2009-08-10T10:55:00.000-07:00

My nephew's band, Dear Future, was in town last week, and we got to see them at the Barking Dog. It was an awesome show, and they ended up having a pretty decent showing, so maybe they'll come again! They stayed at our house, and we enjoyed getting to visit with them. Matthew was very excited because "Dear Future" slept in his bed. They kids really enjoyed having an "audience". It was lots of fun.

Check out their music when you get a chance. :)

Look what I did!

2009-08-10T10:51:00.000-07:00

Okay, so now I'm actually learning how to use a sewing machine!!! This tank turned out really cute. :)

Lego!

2009-08-10T10:50:00.000-07:00

He's getting so big, but he doesn't know it yet. You know how lots of little dogs don't know they're little? Well, Lego still thinks he's the same size he was when we brought him home. He still wants to get up in your lap, and he loves to be carried around. He's also very snuggly!

Gettin' pretty

2009-08-10T10:44:00.000-07:00

Annie with her hair braided - she wants it to curl!

Recommendation

2009-08-09T20:13:00.000-07:00

I am using a new note-taking service called Evernote. It is an excellent resource for keeping track of notes of all kinds. You can organize things into notebooks and search your notes. It has online access, or a desktop version, and (as always) an app for your mobile phone. This is why I like it so much - I can take notes on my phone, and they are automatically synced to my desktop, so I don't lose anything in the transition.

Just passing along another good product.

July Photos Re-cap

2009-08-09T20:10:00.000-07:00

I'm putting up a link to August's pictures in the sidebar, so I thought I'd do one last recap of all of our pictures from July. Enjoy :)

Help Free Gao Zhisheng

2009-08-07T16:32:00.000-07:00

Help Free Gao Zhisheng

From Voice of the Martyrs:

Christian human rights attorney Gao Zhisheng, disappeared February 4, and was last seen being taken away by a dozen police officers. Gao Zhisheng has been repeatedly kidnapped, arrested, imprisoned and tortured by Chinese authorities, because he has defended the persecuted and has been an unyielding voice for justice in the Chinese courts.

Click on the link above to see what you can do to help!

Recommendation

2009-08-02T08:16:00.000-07:00

I have come across a neat service called "Instapaper" that I have enjoyed reading. It's kind of like a bookmarking service for articles/pages you want to read online. You install their bookmark, and when you are on a page you want to read later, just click the bookmark (creatively named 'read later'), and then you can go to their website anytime you want, and read all the articles that you have bookmarked.

They also have an app for iPhone, or a mobile site, in case you want to read it from your phone (which is what I do). Pretty neat, so I just thought I'd pass it on!

July 2005

2009-08-01T17:00:00.000-07:00

Looking through some old pictures, and I found these:

Annie & Jessi!

Leanne

Matthew caught a ball at the ball game

AJ!

"TJ" (He used to be "little Jeremy" but now he's "Tall Jeremy")

Jess again

Aren't they sweet?

Katie!

THIS WAS ANDREW!!!! I cannot believe he was ever that little!

Madi asleep

All the grandkids that were there

Matthew

Andrew again - so tiny!

New Room & Monkeys

2009-08-01T16:55:00.000-07:00

We've recently re-arranged some in our house. We moved the office into the boys' room and the boys' room into the office/game room. So they now have one huge room! They really love it. They'll lose a little bit of privacy, but, since when did boys care about that??

They are all little monkeys!