Some recent pics

Gotta love those Picture People coupons.

They can't stand me coming in with my coupons saying yes I already used it once,

but this is a differnt child.

They have to take it.

MUHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA

Nate's first day of Pre-school. He loves going & is bummed

when he doesn't get to go on Fridays.

Drea, ya know when you get here you're doing a photo shoot

of my family right?? Right, that's what I thought!

Hasleton quote

We were watching a video "Finding Faith in Christ" on TV.

The part where Mary is dragged to be judged for adultery,

Nate asked why she was crying.

Me: She did a bad thing, & now people want to throw rocks at her to kill her.

Grant: I got hit by a rock once.

Shout out Friday

You remember when you get so excited as your child learns to say mommy?

Then they're able to say it again & again?

How bout when you find yourself telling them to just "STOP"

If there was a baby olympics, screaming mommy mommy

mommy mommy mommy should be an event.

I bet my Charly would win a medal with how many times

she can say it within 30 seconds.

Can't believe they just said that...

So a lady starts a conversation with me,

Lady: Are these all YOUR kids?

Me: Yup. Sure enough.

Lady: You know one of the reasons the environment is endangered is because of children right?

Me: Yup. Sure enough. (I know where this is going & start looking for a way out before I commit murder.)

Lady: The diapers fill up the land fills & all the gas from them is torturing our ozone layer. We're already overpopulated.

What can I do?

Everything that is not Christlike runs through my mind:

Don't you fart too?

Who will take care of you when you're old?

I'd like to put you in the land fill. That would help the population right?

Don't worry, I use clothe diapers (which I don't, too lazy)

Should I leave it up to the drug dealers & idiots to have all the kids?

Ok, you're right, I promise I won't have anymore. Thank you for fixing all that is wrong in my life.

Image in my mind of me punching her hard a couple times. hehehe

I walk away before anything comes out of my mouth.

I think I won't be going to the store anymore. All that ends up happening is me getting angry & barely escaping a fight.

I mentioned before the lady I almost beat with a rack of ribs right? She got off lucky. I only pushed her groceries.

Don't mess with me!

P.S. Even Jared has had people make this comment to him when they find out his wife is on their fourth child.

Shout out Friday

No bad day that a batch of cookie dough can't fix.

Grantman!

Turned 5 in July.

Started soccer!

Picture people has a great online coupon, 6 sheets for $20.

First day to kindergarten! He's loving his class,

& does well in homework.

Isn't she lovely?

I would like to introduce you all to Gertrude.

She's a beauty.

My last machine has not yet made it home from the doctors.

They say the outlook isn't so good. I had bought that machine for $140.

It will cost me at least $125 to have it fixed. I can't stand that kind of math.

It has been several times we have taken machines into the shop

only to pay them more than what we paid for the machine.

They say the machines I get aren't quite meant for all the work I put them through.

For the last year or so, Jared has said we will buy me a nice machine

so we don't have these issues anymore.

What's a nice machine you ask?

Bernina (drool) Pfaff Janome Baby Lock

These names make me dream. Dreams that cost well over $1000.

Or the quilting machines I play with every year at the State Fair.

$8000. That dream ain't ever coming true.

Unless of course we own a house, have 2 decent cars, my children's education,

missions, & weddings are paid for. Oh, & a nice retirement account.

Like I said nuh-ever.

So I was in Meissner's the other day (which I never do cause they're pricey)

looking for something specific.

I glanced super quick at the machines as I had 3 kids

that know how horribly boring fabric shopping is.

Dennis walks up to me & asks what I'm looking for.

"Oh just some fabric & to drool over your machines."

"What kind of sewing do you do?" he asks me.

"I like to quilt" I say

"Well here is the best machine for that" he says pointing to a GORGEOUS

machine that had a price tag of $2300.

I laugh at him & say, "that would be waaaaay out of my price range."

He gets a thoughtful look & says come follow me.

I protest saying I have 3 kids that will soon destroy his nice store

when he shows me HER.

"She was just brought in after 3 months of use. The owner was trying to make heavy bags with it & didn't work out for her.

She returned it for something different. Half price."

Wowser. I sat in front of her & started to play.

So did my kids but with different thousand dollar machines.

I tell Dennis I should go, but asked how long did he think it would take to sell her?

He looks at me, then at my kids & says, "I'll put it on hold for you."

I mention this story to Jared & he said go get it. What?

We can't afford that. It's $795.

Nope, go get it he says again. I'm not buying you another cheap piece of crap.

So I spend all evening thinking about it. Of course I want it.

But I'm usually pretty good at suppressing my wants.

All in all, I went back the next day with no kids, sat in front of Gertrude,

& played, discovered things that I never knew sewing machines could do.

Do you know what a knee lift is?

I now do. Super cool. Anyways, this is getting too long.

I have a year warranty of parts & labor & some free classes.

And an extra $800 on our credit card. I only feel a little bit guilty about that part.

Oh, & a husband I need to give some extra lovin to.

Here are her qualifications.

This is her first project I got to finish.

It was like spreading room temperature butter on tasty toast.

Now on to a few baby quilts & to start some Christmas presents.

Below is record of our garden at the end of it's season. It's been great.

Shout out Friday

Shout out for the times you put your favorite toddler on your lap

only to realize that they've soaked through their diaper

& now your newly cleaned pants are wet.

He doesn't work out here.

Our family is pretty religious. Well, we try hard to be good.

One of the commandments that we take very seriously

is to not use the Lord's name in vain.

It's usually hard to avoid hearing it all around you.

On the internet, TV shows, people around you etc.

I give my Dad a hard time when he does it by

saying things such as, "He's not here,"

"Please don't call on Him, I'm not ready for that yet," "That's not my name."

But this one had me crackin up for a few minutes.

It happened at Jared's work (he works at a gym & overheard this conversation)

Client: This is too hard.

Trainer: You can do it.

Client: Bleepity bleep bleep "uses His name in vain"

Trainer: He's not gonna help you, He doesn't work out here.

Hehehe