Decem-Blur!

Hello.
The family from the Peanut Gallery is alive and well and crawling out from under the "Blur" that was December.
A lovely blur...but still a blur.
Many people ask us if we "planned" on having three December births on account of D-man being born in December.


Seriously?


Who in their right mind would "plan" such a thing?


All that being said, it was a lovely season.
We had delightful family time with relatives from near and far.
I have a quadrillion pictures and was having great difficulty choosing which ones to share.


So I thought I'd give the birthday boys the honor they deserve.


So..without further ado.
I present you the December Birthday Boys in order of their birthdays.


C-boy celebrated his day at Chuck E. Cheese...planned the night before the big event!


L-boy enjoyed his second birthday immensely. The Bakerella's reindeer cake pops were a huge hit!
However, you will never find me slaving over another cake pop in this lifetime.
More on that later.
Oh yes, much more.


The Reason for the Season!


The man who, with the exception of baby Jesus, made all of these other births possible!
I love this man.
Yes I do.
He's one of the GOOD ones!


And last...but never least..our New Year's Eve baby.
Our tax deduction.
Who is not a baby anymore. Boo Hoo.
But I LOVE the boy that he has become!
Including his "bedhead"!


And that is all for today.
I hope that your Christmas Holiday was as "blur-rific" as ours!!

Oh yes..and Happy New Year.

Wordless Wednesday...Books

Books are not made for furniture, but there is nothing else that so beautifully furnishes a house.

~Henry Ward Beecher

The king is on his throne...

Surrounded by his royal subjects.
They loyally support him in all of his "grand endeavors".




At your service your royal highness!
Such devotion is vital if a king is to carry out his "kingly duties".

I'm also linking up with Alicia at A Beautiful Mess for Wordless Wednesday.

Notes from the "fickle" blogger.

"WHAT....She's back??"

Did I take the words right out of your mouth?
Sorry, I have a way of doing that.


In case you don't remember who "she" is....


Hi, my name is Julie.
I'm a mother of four and I just took an extended blogging break for "organizational" reasons.
Call me "lazy blogger" if you must.
It would be true!
And the truth has set me free!
I might add that my home is as organized as it will EVER be!
I'm thinking of having it framed.


Let's see....a little about me....
I enjoy a good laugh.
And when I smile my mouth resembles a boomerang...according to dear sweet J-boy, my exceedingly perceptive 6 year old.
Now, I have been told on occasion that I have a nice smile.
But having it compared to a boomerang is....well...there are no words.
Let's imagine together...shall we?

O.K., I must admit...I can totally see where he's coming from!


Have I mentioned that J-boy hopes to secure a job as a pretzel maker at Wetzel Pretzel when he grows up?
We are so proud of his high aspirations.
Here at the Peanut Gallery we encourage our children to reach for the stars.
Apparently, in my 6 year old's mind, Wetzel Pretzel is located just east of the North star!


Another thing you should know about me is that I am a bit on the random side.
Hence, the Wetzel Pretzel story smack dab in the middle of my re-introduction.
I attribute part of my "randomness" to the ungodly hours at which I write my posts.
I'm really going to work on blogging at a more "godly" hour.
Apparently, after all the children are tucked away snuggly, so are the smarter half of my brain cells.
So, I'm going to make a few changes.


Ah, who am I kidding?
As if I could ever write a coherent post with my children in the awake state.


So, if you enjoy a little of "this" and a little of "that", stop by on occasion.
I've got a boat load of it right here at the Peanut Gallery.
However, I'm taking a lesson from my "fickle" hens who only lay eggs occasionally.
I reserve the right to remain "fickle" when it comes to blogging this  summer!
You never know when you'll get a "fresh egg"!
But who doesn't love a surprise?
Amen.
Sistah.
Friend.


Signed,
The happy yet fickle, smiling like a boomerang, lazy blogger.
(who happens to be camping right now!)


p.s. Did I mention, I've missed you all?




If you haven't yet read my very intellectual review of one of the most enlightening children's stories of our age,then click on over to Laugh out Loud. My review is featured there today. And if you aren't the type of person who laughs out loud when reading, well then feel free to laugh on the inside, chuckle to yourself, or stifle a snicker. But, by all means, check it out. Thanks to Laughy Lady, this site is chock full o' hilarious individuals, all just jumping at the chance to make you laugh!

You Know you're a mom when....

{Delight: a high degree of gratification, extreme satisfaction. Something that gives great pleasure}


{Pleasure: a source of delight or joy}


{Blessed: Bringing happiness, pleasure, or contentment}


{Love: A profoundly tender, affection for another person}



You know you are a mom when these words describe to a tee..the way you feel about your children. I am truly blessed, indeed.









Click on the above link for more You Know Your a Mom When-sDaze.
You'll be glad you did!

Mom n' Me Monday

Mom n' Me Monday was created in an attempt to make myself get in the picture with my kiddos. When my kids are grown, I don't want to look through my photos only to find that I am not in any of them! So, I'm on a mission to "capture" these memories.
********************************************************************************

Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid; one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory.

Build me a son whose wishbone will not be where his backbone should be; a son who will know Thee….Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort, but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenge. Here let him learn to stand up in the storm; here let him learn compassion for those who fail.

Build me a son whose heart will be clean, whose goal will be high; a son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men; one who will learn to laugh, yet never forget how to weep; one who will reach into the future, yet never forget the past.

And after all these things are his, add, I pray, enough of a sense of humor, so that he may always be serious, yet never take himself too seriously. Give him humility, so that he may always remember the simplicity of greatness, the open mind of true wisdom, the meekness of true strength.

~General Douglas MacArthur

C-boy captured the above photo!!

He has showed quite an interest in my camera lately.

I decided it was time to give him the very first point and shoot digital camera that I owned.

All 2.3 megapixels of it!!

Wow...you should have seen him go.

Of course, he wants me to "blog" his pictures.

Inspite of the brightness of the sun and the darkness of the shadows,

and noise galore,

I love this picture.

Captured by my C-boy.

*********************************************************************************
I can't wait to see your pictures. You can grab the code under the button below and paste it into the body of your post. Then add your link into Linky tools below.

To use Linky tools, be sure to link your Mom n' Me Monday post, not your main blog url.

To do this, go to your blog. Click on the title of your Mom n' Me Monday post. The url in your browser window will become a direct link to that post. Copy that url and paste it into the Linky tools window, along with your name, or your blog's name.

If you don't want to grab the Mom n' Me button, just link back to the Peanut Gallery so other's can join in if that's what their little heart's desire :)!












<a href="http://peanutgalleryexithere.blogspot.com/search/label/Mom%20n%27%20Me"><img src="http://d.imagehost.org/0530/Mom_n_me_meme.jpg" alt="BWS tips button" width="125" height="125" /></a>

Mom n' Me Monday

Mom n' Me Monday was created in an attempt to make myself get in the picture with my kiddos. When my kids are grown, I don't want to look through my photos only to find that I am not in any of them! So, let's "capture" these memories.
******************************************************************


This is J-boy.
He is our second son.
This kid is a gem.
He has a tender, kind heart.
He loves to "chat".
He is a complete snuggle-bug.
We've affectionately called him "Gentle J".
He loves his siblings.
Defending them, even if they are in the wrong, trying to explain to me the why of their behavior.
"I'm sure they didn't mean to do it, mom".

They, too, are thankful for a brother like him.

At the 20 week ultrasound, I found out he was a boy.
I cried.
I'll just be honest here.
Shortly before I became pregnant, I had been told that I had about a 1% chance of a pregnancy.
So imagine our complete and utter joy the day we saw the two pink lines.
I had "girl" on the brain.

But God didn't.


And I am so thankful.


God knew exactly what we needed...

When He sent us this precious BOY.


***********************************************************************



I can't wait to see your pictures. You can grab the code under the button below and paste it into the body of your post. Then add your link into Mr. McKlinky below.

To use Mr. McKlinky, be sure to link your Mom n' Me Monday post, not your main blog url.

To do this, go to your blog. Click on the title of your Mom n' Me Monday post. The url in your browser window will become a direct link to that post. Copy that url and paste it into the Mr. McKlinky window, along with your name, or your blog's name.

If you don't want to grab the Mom n' Me button, just link back to the Peanut Gallery so other's can join in if that's what their little heart's desire :)!







<a href="http://peanutgalleryexithere.blogspot.com/search/label/Mom%20n%27%20Me"><img src="http://d.imagehost.org/0530/Mom_n_me_meme.jpg" alt="BWS tips button" width="125" height="125" /></a>

Doesn't everyone need a camera strap cover?

Ahem...there just might be be a give-away involved.

It happened yet again.
I call it my "craft urge".
On Sunday, my sister and I made our way to the brand new Joanne's Fabric Store. We were armed with about 15 coupons each.
Why, you ask?
Because it's coupon commotion week, of course.
However, this visit was different.
I knew exactly what I wanted to make.
I was not going to be drawn in by all the bells and whistle's.
I was not going to buy fabric to make an apron. (I did)
I was not going to buy baby onesies with the cutest little iron-ons you've ever seen. (I did)
I was going to buy material to make myself two, padded, camera strap covers.
If you own a larger camera, you know that those camera straps DIG.
Yeah, that's right, DIG!
I didn't want fabric that was too cutesy.
I don't want to come across as the complete amateur that I am.

So, I settled on these two textiles.
Don't these just have "I'm serious about taking pictures" written all over them?
Or not!
But, it don't matter.
I like em'.

I used this simple Simon tutorial from Cluck.Cluck.Sew.



I sewed those babies up. I guess I thought I might like "different occasion" camera straps.
I named them "Paisley" and "Shasta".
Boy, do they ever feel luxurious on my neck.


But after I slid Paisley on. I realized, I wouldn't be changing her ever again!! It was a bit of a snug fit. That being said, "Shasta" is looking for a home.


And that is where YOU come into the picture. (no pun intended)
I had this great idea to give one to you!
No, I never plan on selling these.
I am not a seamstress.
I do not guarantee my work.
But, hey, who would turn down a lovely little camera strap, padded with a fleecy soft baby blanket.

O.K., you might if you hated the color.
Or, if you don't have a camera strap to cover.
Or, if you like naked camera straps.
But other than those reasons, I can't see why you wouldn't want this.

It fits a camera strap that is 22 inches long and no more than 2 inches wide.
The red on the strap is quite a bit deeper than it shows in the picture.

So go ahead, leave a comment and you will automatically be entered into my very first give-away.
I might add, that your chances are very good!
Being that this is just an eensy-weensy baby blog, just barely born!
You have through Thursday to enter.



And because this is the "Peanut Gallery". I must add a picture of this peanut!


Something about it is deeply disturbing.
I think I'll name it.."The calm before the storm"

p.s.
Don't all families own a machete?

p.s.s.
I'll be adding a Mr. Mcklinky to next week's Mom n' Me Monday post.
So get in the picture, mamma!
I'd love to see them!

For where your heart is...

The other night after dinner, we were reading in Matthew 6.
After reading Matthew 6:21, D-man paused.
"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
He said something deep like, "Whatever you think about, talk about, dream about...shows what is most important to you."
I don't know...he may have even sort of mentioned a few examples. Like, C-boys Nintendo D.S. games. I mentioned his small infatuation here.
So, the other day I walked by my refrigerator and saw this TO DO LIST posted.


**names blurred to protect the innocent! wink wink
Wow..do you think he got the point?
Or maybe this "Valentine's love fest" is getting to him!
Please forgive the spelling.
Hooz this kidz teechr anyway? (snicker)





No, I'm thinkin' this is definitely the face of a boy who's "treasure" is in heaven!




And now, just for "kicks and giggles!"


J-boy commented the other day that he thinks he can see just as good without his glasses as with them!

YA THINK??

6..

J-boy turned 6!

On new years eve that is!

This picture was taken yesterday.

He was crowned with this on his "classroom" birthday celebration.

Apparently, the celebration lasts all week!

He came home from school on Monday and informed me that the whole class would be celebrating his birthday on Tuesday. Therefore, I was responsible for sending a special class treat!

Jed often comes home with interesting ideas about what is going to be happening at school. So I wasn't completely sure if this was one of those interesting ideas!

A call was made to his teacher. A message was left. No response.

So, to avoid ending up being the DUD parents who don't bring their kid the cool treat on their birthday celebration day...

We brought a treat...JUST IN CASE!

D-man dropped him off that morning and privately mentioned to the teacher what Jed's hopes were for that day.

She smiled and said.."Good to know, I guess we will be celebrating Jed's birthday today!"

Bless her!