Random Pictures

Okay, for all of you begging for more pics, here they are. I finally uploaded all of my pics onto the computer in the correct location, so now I can keep up with the picture thing. We're not picture taking people in general, so that's why there aren't very many of them to begin with!

The first is of Matthew playing with Daddy. I'm glad I got a smile, because he does not like having his picture taken. Ben, on the contrary, loves it, hence his cheesy grin. The third is me reading "The Poky Little Puppy" and the last one is of the icicles on our house. Those are gone now and a new crop is growing. We also got about 6-8 inches of snow last night and there's more to come next week!

Christmas at the Fulkerson's

We left Normal (yes, Rob's parents live in a town called Normal and yes it is hilarious to drive around and see the Normal Public Library, Normal Waterworks, etc.) in semi-blizzard conditions. We knew we only had 35 miles to drive and we could make it just fine, but it didn't look like it would be much fun. About 10 miles out of town, the weather cleared and was perfect, so the rest of the drive was fine. The kids conked out for the whole trip, so they got in a small nap that afternoon. We arrived to kisses and hugs from my parents and the kids played with all of the fun "new" cars and things my mom had found in the basement. My brothers had left their Micro Machines, Matchbox/Hot Wheels cars, and other various toys, so Mom brought them up.

We went to the Pontiac Buffet that evening and that was probably a bit of a mistake. Or, at least, Rob trying a seafood donut was a mistake. He overate at the place and paid for it in the middle of the night. Both of my parents and myself made treks downstairs to check on him. He slept on the couch in between bathroom runs and I got to hog the bed. The boys woke up that morning around 6am and Rob took over Matthew's bed. I slept in until 8am, which was a nice treat! The boys were pretty good for Mom and Dad (at least, I think so....I didn't hear any complaining.) Mom made breakfast for those of us that were well and we enjoyed ourselves. The boys got to watch Spongebob, one of their favorites, but they were playing with lots of toys as well.

Rob made his appearance at 9:30 and was doing a little better, but still not good. He needed to get out (okay, my hubby gets bored easily and usually my parents have a fix-it job for him, but not this time. If they don't have something for him to do, he helps with dishes and household chores. Isn't he the best??) so, he and I had a little date and went to Wal-Mart and out for lunch while Mom fed the kids and put them down for naps. We tried the McCoy bistro next door to my parents and it was very good. Rob was able to eat by then and did just fine.

It took a bit to get Matthew to nap, but he did sleep for two hours that afternoon, as did Ben. They needed naps pretty badly and it was nice to have a day of doing nothing so they could recoop. Unfortunately, all that extra energy got poured into being extra naughty and they were kind of crazy that night. Grandma did give them baths and Grandpa let them watch Frosty the Snowman, so that helped a little.

I got pretty tired at supper and almost fell asleep eating, so I was banished to the couch right afterwards. I don't sleep well to begin with and I don't sleep well in other beds, so that combo did not help me rest much over the break.

The next day held our last major Christmas event. All of my sibs, their families, and my grandma were coming over. That's eleven adults and five children, three of the women being pregnant. IT WAS FUN!!! Dad picked up Grandma and she arrived around 9. She had a reindeer head attatched to her walker that plays "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer." Explains alot about how I got my sense of humor, doesn't it? Dad and I had a bet going on who the next arrivals would be and I won. My sister Mandy and her husband Chris came in with lots of gifts, goodies, and my new niece/nephew (she's due in July.) Next came Joel and his wife Cara, who is also expecting a baby in July. Mandy and Joel are twins, so it's neat that they will become parents at the same time. Last to arrive was Adam and his wife Melanie, with Kara (4), Kate (2) and Callie (6 mos.), all of them sweethearts. The little girls, that is.

After multiple greetings and much talking and laughter, we settled down to eat our ham dinner, complete with sweet potatoe casserole, hash brown casserole, rolls, a most delicious jello salad made by yours truly, and other various sundries. Mom and Dad declared that they were eating with the grandkids so that the rest of us could visit in the living room. It was funny because Grandma ate with us, so I guess she was keeping us in line. Once again, I would have gone back for more food, but I eat too slowly, so by the time I was ready again, everyone else was done.

We opened up gifts afterwards in our traditional Fulkerson way. Dad sits near the tree and takes a gift, reads the to and from, hands it out, and the person opens it. I like this method b/c you get to see what everyone got and it takes longer. Kara and Matthew helped pass out presents, although Kara did more of the work for sure. The boys got some more nice stuff, with favorites being the bowling set (good job, Uncle Joel) and Cranium Hullabaloo (very fun, Aunt Melanie!) At least, those are the things they were playing with today. :) Rob and I are set with lots of restaurant gift certificates and I received a book that will become a fast favorite. It's called "Taking care of the Me in Mommy" by Lisa Whelchel. Good stuff! Oh, and Rob finally got his white socks that he asked for on every list this year. :)

After presents, we had a good time relaxing and chatting with family. Rob started packing up around 3pm, only because he has a hard time staying in large family settings. It's just an introvert thing, seeing as he loves my family and enjoys spending time with them. He just has to step out for a few minutes to breathe. Matthew and Ben did pretty well playing with their cousins until it was time to leave. By that point, they were both in full meltdown mode. We left around 4:30 and they were both out within the first 12 miles. They slept until we reached Rochelle, where we ate supper at a nasty restuarant (only thing open) and then headed on home. Ben fell asleep again about 40 minutes outside of Watertown and never woke up. Rob put him in his crib and he poked an eye open, then relaxed when he saw his own pillow. :) It was good to be home.

So, we had a very nice time visiting with family and would like to see everyone again soon, but I'll be at that "no traveling" stage within a few weeks. I guess you'll all have to come and see us!

Christmas at the Litwillers

I've decided to divide our extended weekend in Illinois into two posts so that a) people acutally finish reading the thing and b) I can get a nap in this afternoon!

Rob came home an hour early on Friday (thank you, dear) and so we were able to start our adventure earlier than planned. The kids and I had spent our morning attempting to stay alive (the kids made that part pretty hard on themselves) and cleaning so that we didn't come home to a dirty house. We at least got the living and dining rooms done, but I still had to do dishes when I returned. (Mom--I heard that!) Rob packed up the car while I made two quick phone calls and we were off....to run a few errands. Matthew kept asking if we were going to Grandma's yet. "No, dear, we have to go to MBBC/the bank/Wal-Mart/Arby's..." and by the time we were on the road, he had fallen asleep! He woke up around Milton and said, "When are we going to Grandma's?" not realizing that we were on our way! Ben slept a little longer than Matthew, so Rob and I had a nice time to ourselves for a bit. Our trip went well with no unusual events occuring (except that we kept passing the same speed boat about twenty times).

We got to Rob's parents' home around 6pm, so we made good time. His mom had white chicken chili waiting for us, which is one of Matthew's favorite meals, but he was too excited to eat much of it. We had a nice evening of visiting, until it was time to go to bed. Between the three of us that tried to keep the boys in their beds, it took two hours for those monkeys to calm down enough to sleep. Problem one was that Ben was in a toddler bed instead of his crib, so he kept getting out just because he could. Problem two is that we all stayed upstairs. The boys are used to going to sleep upstairs while Mommy and Daddy go downstairs. Rob and I didn't figure that one out until we were on the way home on Tuesday.

Anyway, the kids did eventally sleep and I headed for a nice shower. We did some laundry (Ben's binkie was overdue for a washing) and headed to bed. I haven't slept well for weeks and that night was no different. In the morning, Grandma made snowman pancakes for the kids, which they loved, and bacon (yummy!) for the rest of us. We had a good morning and Rob and I even ran out to Target for a few moments to find our traditional first picture outfit for Anna. Both boys were in blue Winnie-the-Pooh onesies for their first picture so we needed a pink one for Anna. They didn't have them in 0-3 month size, so we got her a sleeper instead. It's still cute!

Around 10:30, Rob's brother, sister-in-law and nephew came over and we call cooed over Baby Jamie. Matthew held him for a little bit, but dropped him onto the chair once Jamie started to wiggle. We packed up the adults and children and went to Ming's Chinese Buffet for lunch. It was very yummy and I love feeding the kids at a buffet b/c they usually eat alot. Matthew comes up with me now to make his own selections. He did get a nasty brownie and his comment was, "Mommy, that brownie wasn't even good!" I was just about ready to get up for more food when the clan decided to leave. I guess that's what happens when you're a very sloooooww eater. At least I didn't gorge myself like some guys I know that ate with us that day (**cough, cough** Rob and Andy **cough**)!

We went back to open presents and I am amazed by how patient Matthew was. Melissa needed to feed the baby and Matthew was perfectly fine with it all. Then the rip-fest began. I must say, I have much less time to enjoy my own gifts when I'm dealing with the kids. Rob and I went through them last night making comments like, "I didn't know you got that?" and "Where did that gift come from?" I won't list all of the presents, but Matthew received some cool toy power tools that he loves. He also got finger paints, and I can't wait to try them out. Ben received a garage with ramp (which Matthew loves) and a shape sorter. He likes to put in the shapes, but I'm trying to teach him how to do it without him getting completely "bent out of shape." They received many nice things and it's been fun to see them bounce from toy to toy this morning. Rob and I were particullarly fond of the Barnes and Noble gift cards, the generous gift his aunt and uncle, and I liked my book from my mother-in-law: a busy mom's devotional.

After presents, I had just about had enough of the day. I didn't quite feel human anymore, so I went down for a nap. I got up in time for the appetizer supper (go figure) and the boys played for a bit more. Ben was so tired that he went to bed at 6:45. We let Matthew stay up to watch The Santa Clause with us and then he went to bed. Unfortunately, Ben kept waking up screaming. Rob took him out while I got Matthew to sleep, and then we both worked on Ben. He would not be consoled. I think he was just too worn out. He woke up two more times in the night, doing the same thing. It was like having an infant all over again. Poor little guy...he just can't skip a nap!

We went to church the next morning and Matthew decided to stay with us. He did pretty well in the service but was constantly on my lap. I took him out with about 15 minutes left and we walked around. We went past the nursery and Ben spotted us, so I had to pick him up. We went into the auditorium afterwards and the boys took that chance to run around. Thanks to Uncle Mike for peeling Ben off the stage. We left for Chili's (Matthew said, "We already went to a restaurant!") for lunch, which was good, but the kids were being crazy, especially Matthew. We visited Rob's grandparents after lunch and had a nice time, but the kids, as Great-Grandpa Jim put it, seemed to have taken onrey pills that morning. They were totally wound up and ran everywhere, getting into everything! We left after an hour to pack up our things and head to our next destination: The Fulkersons. I'll talk about that later.

Rob's one regret from that time is that he didn't spend more time with his three grandparents. He loves visiting with them, but it never feels like enough time to him. At least he got some time during this visit because at Thanksgiving, he barely got to see them let alone talk to them.

Tomorrow (or later tonight) I'll put up the next half of our journey.

Smart alec or smart kid???

I'm going to blog about our Christmas fun later, but I had to post this goofy thing that happened this morning. Ben knocked off a bunch of Christmas cards from his Grandma's table and I said, "Benjamin Joel!" He added, "Litwiller!" Hmmmm........

"Christmas" morning

We decided to open our little family's gifts early this year rather than taking them down to Illinois with us for Christmas morning. Less stuff to pack and then bring back up! Rob and I put the presents under the tree and in the stockings after the boys were asleep last night (which was about an hour after they went to bed...crazy kids!)

This morning, Matthew woke up first and was surprised to find the gate locked at the top of the stairs. He has this morning ritual of going downstairs to turn on all of the Christmas lights before we all get up and we wanted him to wait today, since there were presents to be ripped into. Rob got up and went downstairs to light the tree while I changed Ben and then we all went down the stairs, pausing mid-way to grab our stockings off the railing. Matthew was so excited to see his candy cane full of Sweetarts that he dropped his stocking and didn't dig further for the Hot Wheels fruit snacks. Ben was also far more excited about his candy cane full of M&M's (I don't think he ever found the fruit snacks!) Rob and I had given each other our favorite candy (his was dark chocolate Rocher and mine was carmel-filled Ghiradelli squares...yummy!) We then sat down to pass out presents.

Rob passed out the presents, beginning with the youngest. Ben received a large, spinning top which he has already cracked. (I think the Litwiller theme this next year will be stewardship....all four of us need the lesson!) He also got a bag of Mega Blocks. So far he has played with the cards inside, the bag they came in, and he might have built one little thing. Typical kid! Matthew got school supplies. I know, it sounds like a goofy gift, but he was thrilled. He's been begging me for his own scissors, so I got him some, along with pencils, a sharpener, a writing tablet with lines, and glue sticks. It comes with a promise that he and I will do more schooltime together. He put it all in his backpack and has been carrying it around the house all morning, pausing to cut up tons of scrap paper (thank you, Grandma Litwiller, for all that paper!!) He also got the game Hungry, Hungry Hippos. It's a perfect little boy game. It's loud, crazy, and doesn't require parental prompting to play it right. He even plays it by himself, feeding the hippos. The orange one gets fed more often, as that is his favorite color.

Rob and I were just going to do stocking stuffers this year because we couldn't come up with anything either of us really wanted. I got him some Coke bottles from Wal-Mart that are replicas of the 1899 bottles to add to his bottle collection, along with some fun chips. I tried to find Planters Cheese Balls, but I think they stopped making them. He got me a huge box of Hershey's Pot of Gold (eating chocolate while pregnant makes for happier babies, you know!) and a blender! Not exactly a stocking stuffer, but he said he was making up for my birthday :)

We had a nice breakfast together and played with the kids until Rob went to work. Just before he left, he asked me if we gave the kids their new video. Yikes! I had forgotten all about it! We bought the Little Einstein's movie way back in July and had saved it for Christmas. I pulled it out and the kids had fun watching it and playing with their toys.

We got a nice family surprise this afternoon. After the children were in bed (and with Mega Blocks and bits of cut paper scattered all over the floor) some strangers knocked on our door. A man, his wife, and two girls explained that they were from a church in Wisconsin and every year, they call up Maranatha and find out who some of the "non-traditional" students are. Their church takes up a collection and brings these students presents. They brought in two tubs, a box, and a bag full of food, kleenex, wrapped presents, and all kinds of stuff. There was even some money and a couple of gift cards! Praise the Lord! I'm still pretty floored by their generosity and that a church would remember married college students. What a wonderful surprise.

Tomorrow we take off for Illinois to visit with our families. We're looking forward to seeing everyone again. I have all of the presents made, the cookies baked, but I haven't even opened my green and red paper to attempt making cards yet. I usually make cards during naptime so that two little boys don't "help" too much, but I've been napping myself recently. I'm just too tired otherwise. So, the cards won't get done this year, which is too bad, but maybe I can start early for next year :)

If I don't post again before Tuesday, Merry Christmas to all of you who read this blog. May your season be filled with love, laughter, joy.

Praises Come In All Shapes and Sizes

A few posts ago, I moaned about my Tupperware Open House that did not go over well. Turns out, that was a very good thing. Their warehouse in South Carolina had a fire and they lost almost all of their inventory. I won't be getting this order in until Christmas Eve. I'm so thankful that only four people ordered...otherwise I'd have alot of unhappy customers to deal with. Two of them did order presents, but all for adults, so at least they can explain the situation. I almost ordered presents for my nieces, but I'm so glad I didn't now!

So, I guess that every cloud does have a silver lining.

Silly Boys

Ben has been doing much better about not touching the Christmas tree lately, but yesterday, Matthew hung up two teddy bear ornaments that Ben could not resist. He kept wanting to take them off the tree. I told him no, then explained that we don't touch the tree, we look at it. He bent over and started staring at the tree intently. I was laughing so hard I had to leave the room!

Tonight at supper, I decided to teach the boys some etiquette. Matthew keeps trying to wipe his hands on the table, his shirt, his jeans, his mommy, wherever, so I decided it's time to learn about napkins. (Probably a little later than I should have, but oh well.) I gave both boys a paper towel and explained that we place it on our laps. Matthew took me very seriously and was so intent on putting it on his lap that he fell right out of his chair! I couldn't help it...I just started laughing at him. He laughed, too, and got up and tried again!

Silly little boys!

Puppy Love

The boys have found a new source of fun...playing with their puppies. No, we did not get a dog (and there is no way this momma wants one). They love playing with their stuffed dogs. We put up a lot of stuffed animals into the closet simply because the boys weren't interested in them yet, but Matthew found this dog in the closet, dragged him out, and named him Charlie. Charlie goes all over the house with Matthew. Charlie likes to be thrown over the couch, down the stairs, eats dog food, and poops inside of Daddy's wrist braces. (Thanks, Aunt Mandy, for teaching my son how to get a little puppy to poop by massaging his bottom!)

Charlie has to be present for all naps and at bedtime. He occasionally rides in the car with us, but is not allowed in the stores. We might take him to Tiny Trackers because he looks a bit like the dog, Tiny.

I was informed the other day that Ben needed to join in the fun. So, I found another little dog in the closet for him. That dog is named Abbie. (Hmm...Charlie and Abbie...sound familiar to anyone on the Litwiller side???) Abbie is now Ben's buddy and goes with him everywhere (except when Matthew swipes her and puts both doggies in their "cage.")

I can handle this. It's pretty cute and it keeps them from asking for a real dog. I really have no use for a dog or cat in the house, so a stuffed substitute is just fine with me!

Random Stuff

I haven't posted anything really funny or interesting about the kids recently because, well, I've just been too tired whenever I get at the computer! I'm usually on here during their naptime (which is also my naptime) or before bed, so my brain has not been functionally well enough to type all of the funny stuff they've been doing recently. But, I'll give it my best shot!

Let's start with Benjamin: He has been talking up a storm recently. He pretty much starts babbling when he wakes up and doesn't quit until he's asleep. Now that he can speak in sentences (some 8-9 words long!) it's like the dam has broken. I'm glad that he can speak better now, because he's been whining and crying a lot less. He will tell me, very calmly, when he needs help with something. He has also been taught to say, "May I be excused, please? when he's finished eating. Politeness at the table is big with Rob and I and if a child can speak in sentences, then they can ask for things politely.

Ben has also taken up the hobby of singing. He can sing the theme songs to Bob the Builder and Winnie the Pooh. Okay, not the entire thing, but enough that anyone could understand it. He has added Jesus Loves Me and Away in the Manager to his repetoire as well. He usually wants me to sing Away in the Manager and he does the motions. It's like I have my own little interpreter! He is quite the charmer and smiles a big, cheesy grin at everyone he meets.

Matthew is still my little sweetheart and I think he always will be. He's so much like me in personality that it's hard not to adore him :) He has been amusing me quite a bit here lately with his "raised eyebrow" face. It makes me laugh everytime! We've had some interesting conversations, like when he asked me what to do when you love a girl. I decided to just go through the whole thing and told him to pray about it, get to know her, talk to Mommy and Daddy about her, and if he wants to marry her, he needs to ask her Daddy. He took it all in and then I asked him if he had anyone in mind. He said that he didn't yet. That's a relief!

I've enjoyed seeing their senses of humor develop as well. Matthew finds situations and people very funny. An example: Yesterday, we were at the library and Matthew usually climbs up and down the stairs while I check out books. Then we meet right near the entrance so I can re-winterize them. While I put on his gloves, he told me that a lady going up the stairs looked at him and said, "Oops! Wrong kid!" He found that very funny, that she mistook him for her son! Ben's sense of humor involves teasing people. If I tell him not to touch something, he'll get near enough to it to almost touch it, and then he'll look at me, grin, and run away laughing. I hate to admit it, but I think that my sense of humor got split in half and each of my sons has a piece! Poor Anna will have to suffer with Rob's sense of humor.......j/k!

Speaking of Anna, she's doing well. I had an appointment today and everything is fine. I take the glucose test at my next appointment. This time, I get to drink the stuff at home an hour before the appointment rather than doing it there and waiting for an hour. I'm sure I'll have the diabetes again, but at least it will only be for three months this time around!

And that's my little guys. Oh, the big guy is finally done with school for the semester. So far, it looks like he passed everything, even the class that he thought he had failed. Praise the Lord!

O Kissmasmee

That's right: The Litwillers have finally decoracted for Christmas. I put it off for quite awhile only because I wanted the mininal amount of time possible to keep little fingers off the tree and other decorations. We also don't do much (my wonderful husband detests Christmas decorating) so I knew it wouldn't take long when we started. Matthew kept asking and asking and asking, so we finally got out the decorations on Saturday night after the Christmas Cantata at church. (We went to work in the nursery.)

The tree went up first. Our tree is leftover from the apartment days, so it's pretty small. It's also very scrawny. I really must post a picture of it. We're afraid that the neighbors might take up a collection for a new tree for us so we don't disgrace the neighborhood (we live in a nice, historic district with houses that do those house tour thingys.) Anyway, Rob took out the top part (it's in four parts) and said, "Well, boys, this is it! How do you like it?" Matthew made a face and immediately looked in the box for the rest of it. What was funny was when they kept looking after the thing was up!

Rob put on the lights and red beads while I sorted through the ornaments for all of the indestructible ones. That's means only 1/4 of the ornaments went up, but since that's all the tree will take, it's okay! The boys put them on with my direction. Matthew did very well and has since then been fussy about the tree being perfect. Ben couldn't figure out how to get them on the branches so he gave up and just handed me ornaments. Since then, he has been taking some off and managed to tip the tree over yesterday. ***Sigh*** Now you know why I waited so long!

Rob put up the star on our Charlie Brown tree (the first time the star went up, it tipped the whole tree over, hence the nickname) and plugged in the lights. Next, we took out the stockings and put them up, along with my decorations that go on top of the piano. The boys went to bed shortly afterwards and we collapsed.

The next night, the boys and I went back to church for Cantata Round 2 (again, working in the nursery) and while we were gone, Rob surprised us. He hung up lights in the window! I'm so proud of him...getting over the trauma of Christmas decorating in childhood (what did you guys do to him, Leanah???) They look nice.

You know, as I've sat back and looked at that sad little tree, I realized something. It's grown on me. I actually like it now. I don't think I could ever get rid of it. It's perfect for the boys, it doesn't overwhelm them, and it's just plain cute. They think it's a big tree and that's all that matters. I'd have to say that was $20 at Target well spent.

Back in Business...Sort of

On: Our modem! Rob bought a new one today, spending twice as much as we anticipated, but it was "needed." I guess we're paying for the conveinience of not going to MBBC every day to check our mail.

OFF: Today's Tupperware party. I had only one person show up in two hours time. I know that I have some orders coming in, but it was a little disheartening to pack up the kids and ship them out with Rob for 2 1/2 hours, only to have most of the time to myself to pick at the huge amount of snacks I made (anybody want brownies and punch) and play Spider Solitaire. The kids were pretty good for Rob, and he even took them to McDonald's for their lunchtime. Brave man.

Other news: We have about a foot or so of snow and we're getting more this week. Yipee!!! I just love the snow! It makes everything look so beautiful and peaceful, especially just after it has fallen but before people shovel. I will admit that I'm glad it's finals and Rob will have the time to shovel it properly. He did try to go out there on Saturday morning and clean it off better, but it had frozen and he couldn't get it to do much. We need to buy some sand or something. I'd go out there and shovel it myself, but Rob won't let me. He wouldn't let me last year b/c it's not a girl job (we have very strong opinions on what are girl jobs and boy jobs around here....which is a pretty funny subject and source for playful arguments between us) and he won't let me this year b/c I'm pregnant. (I'm telling you what, though...if we had a lawn mower, I'd be out there next summer! I love mowing lawns...especially barefoot!)

An Update

Our modem is actually working right now, so I'll leave a quick update. We're getting a new one on Saturday, so everything should go back to normal. It's weird how disconnected we've felt from something that is, quite frankly, completely unnecessary. (I'm also a cell-phone hater...don't get me started on that one.)

We've had lots of snow in the past few days, starting on Saturday. We got six or so inches, which partially melted on Sunday, then the slush turned to ice by Monday morning. Rob did not get out to shovel the slush on Sunday, so our sidewalk was a sheet of ice for a couple of days. Then we got another five inches or so on Tuesday night (that covered the ice and made it safe to walk.) We're getting some more right now.....it's just a Wisconsin winter wonderland!! The boys tried to help Daddy shovel on Saturday, but it was sleeting, so Matthew complained that his face hurt and Ben wouldn't leave the porch (smart kiddo.)

Rob's been buried in papers this week. He's had two due each day. He has managed to keep the late one's down to two (one that was due in October which he can acutally still turn in and one for the class he doesn't like very much.) He'll get those done soon and then have finals to study for next week. He's very exhausted right now and has been shaking and not thinking clearly from the lack of sleep. I drove him to school and work today, so that helped.

I had two cookie exchanges this week, so we have plenty of goodies at our house. I need to post Rachael's recipe for her chocolate galaxy cookies--they are to die for!!! I find it humorous that I drove in snow storms either to or from both gatherings. Anything for homemade cookies!!

We had another Second Harvest at Maranatha this week and got lots of staple items. We also got some other things that turned out to be VERY expired, so those went out with the trash. Most expiration dates are not really when the items expire, but these things were WAY past their prime. Oh well, at least most of what we got was usuable and you really can't look a gift horse in the mouth.

We do have a big praise--Rob got another grant and since he didn't need the money this semester, we have taken it out and are able to pay a bunch of bills, including some medical bills for my trip to the ER back in October. Praise the Lord!!

I'll put up another post on Saturday after our modem is switched. Just wanted to let y'all know we're still alive!

Modem Mayhem

We are experiencing technical difficulties....please stand by......our modem died the other day, so we have no internet access at home right now. I'm typing from the computer lab at MBBC (thanks, Rach, for keeping the kids a little longer today). We're hoping to have a new modem soon, but in the meantime, if you need to contact us by e-mail, use Rob's school address. Or call us...I like to hear adult voices!!

I'm having a Tupperware open house this weekend, so if you're interested in buying anything, go in through my website and e-mail me using my Tupperware address (which is the contact on my personal website.) It's a mystery hostess thing, so you could win the chance to be the hostess (or some other fabulous Tupperware prizes!!)

And that is all. I'm very tired, so I might fall asleep typing..zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz