Wishing you a safe and happy New Year’s Eve and a wonderful and relaxing New Year’s Day!  Blessings to you from our family to yours!

As we loom on the ledge that will drop us into 2008 I can’t help but look back over this past year.  The first big event of each year is the birthday of our precious twosome on February 1st.  It’s funny that I remember their party so clearly because the first half of last year was still a bit of a blur . . . a clearer blur, but still a hazy blur.  So in addition to the first birthday of Baby Bug and Little Monkey, we had our typical 4th of July bash, several more birthdays and parties and here we are. 

There was much sickness in our home this time last year.  We actually had a total of only about 3 healthy weeks between last Thanksgiving and April!  That statement is absolutely amazing to me now as we have been abundantly blessed with good health ever since then!  As I write this hubby is fighting off a cold and The Salesman (9yr) has been having a bit of a battle with some sinus crud.  Honestly though, that is so minor compared with the issues we have encountered in the past.  Bouts with croup, nebulizer treatments, antibiotics, etc.  have all been a common occurence through some of our childrens’ lives. 

All of that to simply say it has and could be much much worse!  The fact remains that the dynamic duo technically is still at an elevated risk for an RSV simply becuase they were preemies and are under the age of 2.  But instead they are blessed with magnificent health at the moment and I can only pray for more!  Trust me sickness times 2 or more is no walk in the park!

I think that I can really sum up this year in one word . . . Blessed!  Sure, there are obstacles, some large that we have had to and still are trying to either go over or forge a path through, but overall we have been terribly blessed. 

What would I like to have done better in 2007?  Get away with our kids more!  The thought of going away with 1 year old twins can be overwhelming.  Pair that with the fact that there aren’t many options for lodging for a family our size and suddenly you have a bit of a conundrum.  Insurmountable?  No, but definitely one of those things we are trying to go over . . . the search for the perfect (affordable) travel trailer for our family continues and we are praying that the Lord sees fit to send the perfect one our way!

What do I look forward to in 2008?  Simple, more time with my kids!  Time away, unplugged, enjoying the gifts in life and the magnificent beauty all around us!  Spending more time outside with them this summer.  For as small and decrepid our house is our property happens to more than make up for it.  Between the creek and the “forest” our boys have it made! 

They absolutely love it here, especially in the summer.  Not one of them would say that they like the house in any way shape or form . . . poor things!  But the land?  That’s an entirely different matter.  Suddenly the house may not be worth giving up if it means they have to move from their precious forest where so many battles have taken place.  Away from their creek where they love to dip their toes, toss in a few rocks and pretend they are fishing. 

It is a very difficult thing for our boys to even consider moving away from their land, but they would all love to move away from the house . . . ugh!  This would be change number 2 I would like to make for this year.  To be able to build a house here that would actually suit our family would be a miracle and dream!  My sons would be in heaven and if I were to take my guard down long enough to admit that this house really is difficult to live in I would have to say that it would be a dream come true for me as well!

So there you have it a look back at the year 2007 and a brief look ahead to the things I’d love to see in the year 2008.  If you have posted on your blog about this please feel free to leave a comment so that I can come visit you too!

Wishing you a VERY happy New Year and the best, most blessed year in 2008!

I don’t get to say that often, but when I do it is heavenly!  All is quiet for the moment at my house, lately about this time of night Baby Bug has been waking up fussy, occasionally getting into our bed to go back to sleep.  Last night though it was little Monkey Boy who joined us in the wee hours.  The ever present vigil continues toward a child-free bed. 

All is quiet on the homefront, but things are also fairly quiet around the blogosphere.  I for one am busy with all 6 boys at home and all their post-Christmas craziness.  They all want to play with all of the new things all at once.  Sound familiar?  Our children really don’t get tons of gifts . . . I prefer it that way.  Sure one reason is because we just don’t have room, but frankly I would rather keep the focus elsewhere. 

I have a great story regarding one of the big family gifts we received that I’m going to share soon.  Just one of those fun stories about one determined grandparent with one particular impossible to find gift on their list for a bunch of crazy boys.

Until then I truly hope that you are having a wonderful post-Christmas/preparing for New Year’s week!

I just wanted to take a moment out of these supremely busy days to make sure to extend all of you a very merry Christmas!  I truly and wholeheartedly pray that you all have a beautiful, safe, loving, peaceful and blessed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. 

Remembering Christ’s birth and the gift we were all given through Him is such an amazing thing!  I pray that my own family finds valuable and frequent opportunities to incorporate this into EVERY part of our celebration! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

We have a winner!!!!!  Our fun candle contest has come to an end and the winner is . . . .

#21 - Sara! 

Congratulations Sara! I truly hope that you enjoy this very fun after Christmas present!  I used www.random.org as usual to draw the winning number and I have sent an email Sara’s way. 

Never fear though!  If you didn’t win, don’t forget about the offer Jarmelia has given to all my readers!  Just go to her website at www.SouthernCandleLady.com and take a look around, when you email her to order just mention frogsoup and she’ll give you 10% off the order!  I highly recommend these candles, but beware, once you’ve tried them you are likely to never go back to any other brand!

More Contests on their way! We have more great contests already planned for the first 2 months of the year!  Ok, I can’t resist . . . a little glimpse . . . anyone want another chance at a free blog design?  YUP!  Another one of those is coming along as well as a contest for a fabulous children’s book and much more!  If any of that sounds good to you I encourage you to sign up for updates so that you are the first to know about all the fun contests that we are so honored to be able to offer you!

Merry Christmas!

With the approach of Christmas and 6 boys all cooped up in the house we have some very interesting dynamics.  I am forever trying to come up with ideas and project to keep them busy and entertained and for this simple mom that is a feat that is sometimes completely beyond me!  I find myself refereeing far more than directing!!!

One idea I have and would like to do (hopefully tomorrow or Saturday) is Flour Clay Ornaments.  I don’t know why, but this one sounds very fun to me this year (maybe I am crazy after all?).  Want to give them a try?  Believe it or not it is quite probable that you already have everything you need for this project! 

You’ll need 4 cups of flour, 2 cups of salt, 1 teaspoon of baking powder, 1 and 1/2 cups water, poster paints (don’t have them? - just be creative ), clear shellac (optional and you can always have hubby pick some up on his way home), decorating items (glitter, sequins, small beads, etc), food coloring (again, optional), Christmas shaped cookie cutters, fine sandpaper (again, something hubby may have laying around or he could pick it up), a plastic straw (I personally think this is optional as you can use a knife to cut the hole for the ribbon).

How to make them: Mix the flour, salt, baking powder and water together by hand (if it seems to try add a little water).  If you want colored “clay” now is the time to add the food coloring.  Once this is mixed roll it out on a lightly floured surface until it is about 1/8 inch thick.  Cut out the shapes with cookie cutters.  If they are to be ornaments make sure you put a hole in each one (using the straw or????) for hanging prior to cooking.

Cook in a 250 degree oven on an ungreased baking sheet for about 30 minutes.  Remove them and turn them over, then bake them for about another hour (or until they are hard). Remove them from the baking sheet and let them cool.  Once they are cool smooth each one with fine sandpaper.

Now they are ready to be decorated.  You can begin by drawing designs on them with a pencil and then paint them using the poster paints.  Once the paint dries you can shellac them to protect the paint and you can even add other decorations like sequins, glitter, ric rac, tiny beads, etc.  String a ribbon or cord through the hole and how fun is that you have your own ornament!

What kind of holiday activities do you and your children enjoy doing this time of year? 

Taking advantage of the last WW before Christmas to show you the picture we chose for the Christmas Cards! 

Don’t forget to click here to visit our contest post and leave a comment to win a wonderful candle basket!

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

I think this is simply too funny!  There’s a website where you can type in your real name and voila . . . you are given your elf name! Here’s mine (I’m a little shocked by it and think it’s awful, but keep going to sis the one my sis got, I love that one):

Get your Christmas Elf Name

Get your Christmas Elf Name

I don’t know a parent out there who isn’t familiar with the “What to Expect when . . . ” books.  So when I was contacted to review the newly released What to Expect Guide to a Healthy Home I simply HAD to read it! 

Thankfully it is a short and simple book that gives you clear and easy to follow information and instructions for keeping your home, and family healthy!  On the heels of the Flu conference I told you about I am thrilled to have yet one more resource!

I love that it breaks the house down into rooms and walks you through easy to follow instructions for daily or weekly maintenance that can make all the difference in the world for the health of your family. 

Anything that I can follow in just minutes per day is definitely something I want to try!  I struggle all day every day to simply maintain certain things, getting any deeper than that can be a nightmare.  I think you’ll all agree that as a mom it’s all about the tools and this time of year one more day with a healthy child is a miraculous day!

I am thrilled to tell you that you too can get this guide RIGHT NOW and FOR FREE!  Woohoo!  All you have to do is visit www.clorox.com/healthierlives to download it ~ you know you want to so stop reading this and just go do it!