The Adventures of Rosebud

Imagine!

Kirk Cameron says that even in movies, "I'll only kiss my wife."

Down with the "REPUBLICRATS!" Hail the Constitution!

To All Patriotic Americans:
Since the "Republicrats" have completely lost their ability to distinguish between communists, socialists, and capitalists....please take time to read the link below to see what the newly proposed $700 Billion "bailout" (translation: WELFARE FOR THE RICH) would mean to our nation.

My Answer to the President

Pat-a-Cake with Brother

"Pat-a-cake, Pat-a-cake"

"Baker's man"

"Bake me a cake as fast as you can"

[Hiccups] Oh well, maybe later

Seth: "Oh, Mama, isn't she cute? I just love her!"

Peach Cobbler

Here's a couple of great recipes for the weekend. Of course every Southern cook has her favorite peach cobbler recipe, and I have two. The first was shared with me by my friend Rhonda, and it is made in a cast-iron skillet with peach pie filling. It is a real treat! The second recipe is great for fresh peaches. I like it because it isn't as "gooey" as most cobblers, but more cake-like in consistency. Enjoy!

SKILLET PEACH COBBLER

1 c. all-purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 c. real butter (softened)

4 Tbsp. butter, thinly sliced into 12 pads

1/2 c. white sugar

1 c. milk

1 tsp. vanilla flavoring

1 apple, diced

1 - 21 oz. can peach pie filling

12 Tbsp. brown sugar

dash of cinammon (optional)

Preheat oven to 375. Mix flour, b. powder, and salt in small bowl. Seperately, mix 1/2 c. butter and white sugar. Add milk and vanilla, and mix all moist ingredients. Add flour mixture and pour batter into a 12" lightly greased cast-iron skillet.

Arrange diced apple on top of batter. Spoon peach pie filling over apples. Place brown sugar by tablespoons onto the peaches, then add the remaining 12 pads of butter on top of the sugar. Sprinkle with cinammon if desired.

Bake, uncovered, for 35 minutes. Serve warm.
(Note: You can also make this with cherry pie filling in place of peach.)

COBBLER WITH FRESH PEACHES

3 c. pitted, peeled, and sliced peaches

1 1/2 c. sugar, divided

1 c. all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 c. butter (softened)

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1/2 c. milk

1/2 c. water

Preheat oven to 350. Arrange peaches in bottom of a greased 9 x 13 pan. In a mixing bowl, combine 1/2 c. sugar, flour, b. powder, butter, vanilla, and milk. Mix just until smooth. Pour over peaches. Combine 1 c. sugar and water until sugar is dissolved. Pour evenly over batter. Bake, uncovered, for 1 hour. Serve warm.

Smile!

Happy Birthday to my Little Man!

KK has been my Little Man since he was born. He has certainly lived up to that nickname. Caleb loves to play, but the serious issues of life are always in the back of his mind. When I used to tuck him in bed, at only age 2 or 3, he'd say, "Mom, will you tell me about when Jesus is going to throw the devil in the Lake of Fire and there won't be any more sin?" (so much for Jack and the Beanstalk!)

The truth is, I should have nicknamed him Mama's Little Guinea Pig. From schooling to discipline to child training to life, I have made so many mistakes with that poor boy, it's a wonder he even loves me now! As we watched his home movie yesterday, I kept looking at that little girl holding the new boy baby doll. I didn't have a clue what I was doing, but I loved that little boy, and I prayed for him, and the Lord just took that little girl and turned her into a mother.

Caleb is a very serious young man, and very conscious of the world around him. (The poor soul can't even vote yet, and he's so upset about this presidential election!) He prays for the salvation of his brothers and sisters, and dresses and carries himself like one of the men at church. Of course at home, he's still young enough to grab a sword, gun, and his Confederate cap, and go out to change history in the back yard.

It's a different phase of life when your children grow to be as tall as you are. I suppose at 5'2 1/4", that was bound to happen to me sooner than later, but it is a strange feeling looking eye to eye with your offspring. I didn't have brothers, and it's been fascinating to me watching this slow, daily transisition of a boy into a man. He's only 11, but he takes another step toward manhood every day. For me as his mother, that means he's moving away from me and toward his daddy. I wouldn't have it any other way, but I struggle hard to resist the urge to hold on.

Happy Birthday, KK! Mom loves you, and I'm so proud of what the Lord is doing in your life.

The Lord's Day

The Lord blessed us with a wonderful day. Jason preached his heart out, the fellowship at church was so encouraging, and we had a new family join. At home, we had a much needed restful afternoon.

KK reading with his new Robert E. Lee mug full of chocolate milk!


Sis patiently playing a game with Seth. He's 5 years old now, which at our house means he doesn't have to take a nap!!

Nanna and PawPaw got the boys new suits for their birthdays! Aren't they handsome?

I woke up from my nap and panicked for a minute when I couldn't find Seth. This is where I discovered him, on the floor between the stool and chair.

"Mama, I'm 5 now. I don't need a nap!"

Daddy's girl

Party!

With Seth and Caleb's birthdays only a week apart, we always combine a birthday party for them each year. The Lord has blessed us with a small circle of family and friends that come to help us celebrate.

Caleb with his best buddy

Sis dressed as "Arwen" for Seth

Frodo and Sam

Of course I did a cake for each of them

PawPaw with Rosebud

From the looks of her face, Jenna liked the Confederate flag cake best

Thanks to all our family and friends who helped us celebrate. It was a wonderful evening for our boys

Happy Birthday, Sunshine!

or should I say, "Mt. Doom Frodo". I can't believe my little Sunshine is 5 years old today! Seth has always been true to his nickname. He really does light up every room and every life he enters. He gets so excited about the little things in life. He's jumped in my lap and squeezed and hugged me with all his might already a dozen times this morning.."Thank you so much, Mama!! I just love you so much! I can't believe I'm 5!"

Here he is with Bub eating his birthday Monkey Bread breakfast, watching his home movie of when he was born.

Here he is modeling his birthday present: hobbit pants and SUSPENDERS just like a real hobbit!!

We had a lot of fun making him look like Mt. Doom Frodo (Frodo almost at the end of his journey). Notice the wound from the ringwraith's blade, and of course his hair is messed up, and he has bruises and scratches on his face. He wanted me to cut his finger off, but I drew the line there!!

And of course it wouldn't be complete without hobbit feet:

He even got a Star-glass (the Phial of Galadriel), a "light in dark places". (It sort of resembles a tyke light....)

It has been challenging, raising a child with so much spirit and will, learning as we go how to shape that will into something God can use. As we celebrate his earthly birthday today, I pray for and look for the day when he will experience his spiritual birthday.

Does anyone hear me?

My little Summer Rose is NOT coon hunting!

I'm putting my foot down! This girl is going to play with baby dolls and Strawberry Shortcake and tea sets, and she's NOT going to come in smelling like a wet dog every night!


(I seem to remember that I said all this about my little Madelyn Audrey as well.....)

The Daily Routine

We've been busy getting all our ducks in a row for the new school year (we go 4 days per week, year round from September 1 to August 31). I have a new student this year, Seth, so things are going to be quite different than they have been. He is proving to be a much more attentive pupil than I thought he would be, although he does talk nonstop. He's so cheerful and lighthearted, it helps me to try to maintain that mood too. He draws a Frosty the Snowman hat on top of his "8"s, and thinks that "M"s look like Mt. Doom. He's already learned an "F" because that's what Frodo's name begins with. He's a lefty like his big brother and tends to do everything backwards. He even says words backwards like "paper toilet", "spray nose", and "rinse mouth". He's always saying something hilarious, like yesterday when he asked to watch "Little House on the Aquarium". (LOL) I'm so glad I'm not sending him off each day to entertain someone else. Honestly, I'm not looking forward to another round of fractions and multiplication tables down the road, but I'm willing to endure if it means I can have my children close by.

Since I have been greatly helped and encouraged by reading other mom's school, home, and chore plans for their own families, I decided to post ours. We've been on an organized schedule since 2004, and now we wouldn't have a clue how to operate without it. I am working on how to incorporate Seth and Bubbie more into the routine, but here's how it stands now:

I'm posting "blue week". These charts hang on the refrigerator, and the reverse side is "red week". During red week, we do Science instead of Geography/History, and the children's chores are also completely switched. (I do this so they won't get bored and chores are fair and even, and also so that they can't easily memorize their charts and have to actually read them....otherwise there are too many "Oops! I forgot!" moments.) Obviously, the school subjects change as our studies change. I use breakfast and lunch as times for Bible devotion, Bible Study Guide lessons, and Scripture memorization. I keep a notebook with these resources on my china cabinet next to the table.

I suppose some people might be inclined to think that the kids have too many chores. First of all, let me say that my children have tons of play time. They quickly finish their morning chores and lessons so they have time to go out and play before lunch, and the same in the afternoons, in which they are free until supper time. Secondly, it's a great concern of mine that my children not be lazy and shiftless and irresponsible, just because they are with Mama all day long. I'm afraid this is a common pitfall of homeschooling, one that I see quite often. Thirdly, we have a large family, and Mama is much happier and easier to live with when the house is not in constant chaos. The house isn't near as clean as it used to be back when I took care of everything, but at least it's presentable (MOST of the time) and the kids are learning. Plus they are inclined to "maintain" more, instead of creating unnecessary messes, when they are the ones doing some of the cleaning. And fourth, it's good for the kids to build their confidence in their abilities, and they feel like a useful part of our family - and believe me, I miss them when they are gone. Not to mention, when you have a functioning family unit, the kids can see that the family itself is as important as each member; in other words, "You aren't the center of the universe!"

One other useful training tool that I came up with several years ago, is our "Half Done" jar system. The kids each have a jar with their names on them, and the poem "Work While You Work" taped to the side, and a $5 bill taped underneath. Inside the jar are paper slips with unpleasant chores written on them...things such as "scrub the bathtub", "vacuum the van", "clean off book and toy shelves", "windex the appliances", "dust the chair rail", etc. (I also include one "mercy ticket" with a Bible verse in each jar.) When one of the children does a chore half way, or insufficiently, or takes too long (twice as long is half done!), he has to immediately draw a slip and may not do anything else until that chore is completed. Then, when a jar is emptied, that child has to give the $5 bill to the other sibling. (As a true capitalist, I know that COMPETITION breeds QUALITY!) Each time one jar is emptied, we start fresh with both of the jars. That way, if one child is consistently lazy, the other is getting rich. I've found the Half Done jars to be a way for me to cut down on idle words and nagging, which makes the house more cheerful.

My house nor my family is even close to perfect, but at least we do get a little accomplished. And during times of sickness and interruptions, at least there is clean underwear and the sink isn't piled to the ceiling with dishes. My sister was sick recently, and Madelyn went to stay with her for the day. My sister later told me that Madelyn offered to wash her dishes and straighten up, and asked if she had any laundry that needed washing. Madelyn is 8 years old, but thanks to a little time spent in training on my part, she's not just hanging around looking for the next good time; she is a sweet, hardworking, handy young lady who is a blessing to those around her.

Anyone who says that homemaking is a mindless, worthless way of life, says so in ignorance. It takes a lot of time, skill, planning, guts, discipline, and determination - and prayer - to run a home and homeschool. And although I don't have a 401K, I am laying up treasures in heaven, and doing my part in preparing little souls for eternity.

And remember...
If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

Seth's First Dove Shoot

Since before Jason and I were even married, he and all the men in our family have gone Dove Hunting together on the first Saturday in September. It is a family tradition that, even through two September babies, Jason has never missed. It has become sort of a "rite of passage" as all our young boys grow up, and this year Seth got to go for the first time. Just look at that proud grin!

Can you believe anyone could be that happy at 5:00 in the morning?

(Dad doesn't look quite as lively!)

Here they are after a long, fun day:

The kids are growing up so fast! Look at how tall KK is! Below are a couple of older pictures from previous years. There is KK's first hunt in 2002, and then another in 2003, with Sis giving him a "good luck" kiss.

(Melanie, take a look at Sis's Doodle!)

Boring!

(Yawn) (Sigh)

"Couldn't you at least update your blog once a week, Mom?"