Christmas program...

Rebekah coming in on a donkey. She was Mary in the Christmas program.
"Mary and Joseph"

Lena the "angel"

The "angel" again!

We haven't had a Christmas program at our church the last two years. In 2008, we had the whooping cough and strep at that time of the year and another family in church had whooping cough too and they have 9 kids so that pretty much wiped out the program back then. Last year I'm pretty sure weather had something to do with it and also no-one to direct. We have a few more kids in our church this time around and someone willing to put it on. We have a new pastor and his wife took on the task and did an amazing job. They had one practice the day before the program and it was a very well done affair. I probably enjoyed it as much as I did because my little Lena was an angel (which we all know she is anyway, but she was adorable).

Miscellaneous life...

Here is Dakota who came in one day to take a nap. Lena laid her dolly by him and covered them both up. If the door is opened, in comes the puppy and lays down in the middle of the living room. We think he discovered it's the only way we'll let him stay. Once he starts to wander we put him out.

Lena has learned to dry the dishes. She likes to dry the dishes and did quite a few of them one day. She is never without a cheesy grin when a camera is pointed at her.

This is today. Lena loves feet, especially mine. I was sitting down with my foot under my leg. She came up to it hanging over the chair and hugged it and snuggled her face into it. She has done this as long as I can remember. She frequently holds my toes while she sucks her thumb and I'm preparing a meal. It is strange and endearing.

I have not gotten any cleaning jobs yet but have not given up. Kevin has hung two signs in the town where he works. We will see what happens. I am not that anxious to work anymore than I do but a person does what a person needs to sometimes.

We are studying the Medieval time period in history and are reading a book called Shakespeare Stealer. A boy who has not been treated well his whole life (seems to be a recurring theme of this time period with a setting of England) is expected to steal a play of Shakespeare's by copying down all the words while he listens to the play (he was taught a special kind of shorthand that no-one else knows). He does it but it is stolen and now he's involved in the theater and is beginning to like it and to make friends. We added a bit of geography today to the lesson and it has inspired my boys to make their own maps of the British Isles and label with colored pencils. I love it when learning inspires more learning. Most days my kids put the school away and they are done!

Praise God for a beautiful day, for macaroni and cheese made with Velveeta, for a cleared out driveway (was a little interesting driving on it and the township road yesterday), for kids who want to be up at 6:30 a.m. to get to their school, and for all those blessings that I don't always recognize.

Cleaning needed?...

Do you know of anyone or yourself who needs a little help this holiday season? Emily and I clean once a month but are in need of some holiday money so if you are interested, give us a call. We are available most days until Christmas. Our usual routine involves dusting, wiping down and oiling woodwork along with kitchen cabinets, vacuuming, cleaning bathrooms, and washing linoleum. We can wipe down doors and frames, change light bulbs and wash light fixtures. If you know someone short on time and in need of some extra help, we can do it. We charge $25 per hour. It is a super deal as you get two people working the whole time. Most house cleaners are $20 per hour per person cleaning. It usually takes us 3 hours for a basic house doing the first things I mentioned. A house needing a little more care will take up to 5 hours. You supply the items you most use to clean your house and have your vacuum bag changed and running and we can do the rest! We can come work with you or on our own.

December concert...

Jordan right after the Sr. High's performance.
The Sr. High Symphony

Emily and friend after the Jr. High Concert

The Jr. High Symphony

The girls had their concert on Sunday signalling and end to the first semester and a break from practices until Jan. 12th when the 2nd semester starts. We feel that the symphony has made both girls better violinists. They have a group experience and excellent training with the conductors and guest conductors throughout the year. Emily's experience is a little more varied than Jordan's in that her conductor is more eccentric. He has a different way of handling Jr. Highers. Emily's stomach would be tied in knots before going to practice the first few weeks but now she is used to him and knows he won't call on her or pick on her or yell at her. We look forward to the next semester and even next year. Caleb has enjoyed the tales Emily brings home and wants to be in Symphony now. I hope it motivates him to practice a little more. He has such potential and energy that if it was channeled the right way, it could be to all of our advantage.

Coupon craze...

This was one of my best coupon shopping trips. I actually saved $91.90 with coupons. Again I couldn't imagine paying $90 for all of this let alone $155 which is what it would cost without coupons.

More than free! Five items were more than free. They actually took the extra off my total. Light bulb 4 packs are $2.44 (coupons totaled $2.50 off, bought 2) Airwick 40 hour candles were on sale for $2.99 (coupon for each one $3 off, bought 3). I made $0.15 on these items.

More than 1/2 price! Scott toilet paper (cost $3.99, coupons for 2.50 off each), TGIFridays skillet meals (loaded with junk but nice when mom is gone and kids need a meal) (Cost $6.29, coupons for $4 off each), Seventh generation dish soap and 2 Seventh Gen. disinfectant sprays (cost $2.49 each, coupons for $2 off each one making them $0.49), Vaseline intensive moisture lotion (2.99 each, coupons for $2.50 off each one), Ritz crackers (on sale for $2 a box, coupons for $3 off making it $0.50 a box), Glade candles, spray, and candle holders (5 of them at $2.50 each, coupons and gift cards totaling $8.50 off, final cost $0.80 each), Suave men's shampoo (cost $1.84, coupons for $1.50 off x3), Energizer 4 packs (cost $3.54 each, coupons for $2 off), Duracell 4 pack (cost $5.39, coupons for $3 off).

A really good deal! Diapers ($6.50 in coupons) Triscuit ($2 in coupons) Qtips ($1.30 each in coupons) Ziploc containers ($2.50 off both) Hershey's kisses ($3 off all three), Duracell 20 pack ($3 off)

Some of these things I'm putting in Christmas gifts. Isn't this just great! I love saving this much money!

This is time-consuming at times but I feel it is worth it. My kids are loving watching me save so maybe it'll make them frugal someday. I got the coupons from www.target.com, www.coupons.com, www.valleydealseekers.com, www.redplum.com, www.seventhgeneration.com and from the coupon inserts from the Saturday morning edition of the Sunday Minneapolis Star Tribune (I buy three of them at $0.75 cents each per week) I bought all these items at Target. Remember Target takes a target.com coupon and lets you use a manufacturer's coupon with it, usually doubling the amount off. Also, I stock up on certain things if they are a really good deal and then I don't have to think about them for a very long time. In our house, we consume, consume and consume! I wish is were so much less than it is.

Food issues anyone?

While my hubby enters his 7th week of avoiding bread, sugar and anything containing these things, he finds himself much improved in health yet always hungry! He'll try adding it on again by eating a cookie here or a bite of something there but usually regrets it within two days. I have joined him in his fight against eating such things though without the diligence he has shown. This morning, because I was quick to get out the door, I ate turkey with a bit of mayo (not really allowed but gluten-free) and piled with homemade sauerkraut. Surprisingly, I felt great afterwards. Lunch is a bowl of veggie soup and a large hamburger cooked with onions (with mayo again) and piled with even more sauerkraut (I LOVE this stuff). It is not your ordinary sauerkraut! We have eaten a five gallon bucket of it since August 23 this year. I am in the process of making another. I got some great, large heads in my Azure order this month. I ordered a case pack and am hoping it makes a 5 gallon bucket plus a few heads for our eating enjoyment. Kevin eats sauerkraut nearly every meal too.

Remember some months back when I said I wouldn't make the mistake and buy another case of avocados?!? Well, we are hooked on them so we order them most every month and the first thing Kevin says when he gets in the house after I got home with the Azure order is: "Did the avocados come?" He likes them that well too.

I did enjoy a couple pieces of cheesecake at a friends party last night but not without some discomfort after. They sure tasted good :) While at this party another person I know who can't eat gluten products was saying how she thinks her husband and son may be sensitive to bread stuff too. It seems to be such an epidemic with many people; finding out your health issues are related to bread and other wheat products! I always bemoan the fact that why do we have to eat like this and why does it seem other people can eat whatever they want!?! Kevin thinks most people do have issues but mask them behind medications and such.

Meanwhile, you will still find us in McDonald's once in awhile and you'll still find a frozen pizza in our freezer once in awhile and chocolate of some kind :) We are not completely bonkers but for this week my kids have eaten rice cooked in home made turkey broth, dried black beans soaked overnight and cooked with a bit of salt and garlic (mmm) and home made veggie soup made with home made beef broth, yogurt from our goat's milk, soaked oatmeal with raisins and honey, apples, pears we canned this summer in apple juice, natural peanut butter and home made jelly on home made bread, etc. When I make rice and beans that way it makes about 5-6 meals of food so lucky kids, huh? Only a couple mind the beans otherwise they are great about eating it especially if a piece of fruit follows behind.

Recipe for those who might be interested: We had this recently at a get-together and Kevin and I liked it. It would taste good frozen. 1 bag of cranberries, 1 orange. She put the cranberries in her blender and blended them, added the whole orange (peeled and seeded) and added 1/4 of the orange peel and blended that with it and it was tasty. I was surprised it was raw cranberries. It tasted like a jello salad. I thought there were raspberries in it. She may have added a bit of honey. She also grated a few beets, added apple cider vinegar and honey and served that. Kevin and I ate it but not the kids. She puts in twice as much honey as apple cider vinegar (2 TBSP vinegar, then 4 TBSP honey etc.). Good eating to any of you health nuts out there or health nut wannabes. It can be done, it just takes diligence, prayer and denial of self.

Side note on a long post. Kevin had to come back for his cell phone this morning. He heard a preacher say that what would happen if we treated our Bibles like we treat our cell phones; always looking at it, doing things on it, turning around to go get it if we forgot it at home or someplace? Something to think about.