Friends Come to Visit

We have been blessed to have friends come and visit us. I should mention they are not just any "friends" but, very special friends. My sister Kristin, from Germany, came to see our new little bundle and of course visit with all of us. I love being with her.
Just a wishin' and hopein' and prayin' that one day we will live a lot closer to one another. Germany is just too far away! I miss being with her so much! It has been a fun visit with her and her little son Jannik.

Here are two beauties! Kristin and Rosalia

And sweet little German boy....Jannik! I love this little guy. He is such a cutie! Big ol' eyes and adorable smile!

I couldn't resist to include a sweet little picture of Rosalia....just a little over a week old. Love her!

Wordless Wednesday

1 hour old
---she is already expressing her thoughts on the matter.

A Beautiful Day ---reflections

It was a beautiful day. I am thankful.
The weather was warm and perfect.
With a few bouts of postpartum blues --- I am quickly surrounded by God's love and peace.

He has blessed us immensely this past month. As my DH lost his job a few weeks ago....we were faced with no income, limited budget, a mortgage to pay, mouths to feed.....but in the midst of these circumstances, God is good and faithful.

He has provided us with all that we need. People have generously given of their time and money to us. He has carried us through. Both DH and I are in awe everyday of His Amazing Love!
We have been given yummy meals, money from friends and anonymous people, but most of all we have felt the prayers of friends surrounding us.

So, today as I napped with my precious little girl next to me, I stared out of our bedroom window on to God's beauty outside and pondered about all these things. All I could do was to be drawn into prayer and thankfulness.

I am consumed with Peace.

Monday Menu November 26th

As I am finger picking this entry, I am holding my sweet little girl in my arm. She is peacefully sleeping. She looks so beautiful and perfect. I am so blessed!
Christmas music is playing. The girls and Papa went up into the mountains to get our Christmas tree yesterday. They had a wonderful time and they picked out a lovely tree. Papa put the tree up into our living room tonight and it smells so delightful. Tomorrow we will decorate it.
Papa also put up our outside Christmas lights. I am now enjoying the fun celebrations of Christmas.
My menu consists of items I had prepared ahead of time and froze before Baby's arrival. My mom (Mimi) is here to help while I recover from surgery and adapt to being a mommy of three!
Our church also set up some meals to be brought to us a few times this week to give my mom a few days of rest from cooking.
So...some of the things on the menu my mom may not cook or heat up from the freezer because of the meals brought to us from friends.I have included some recipes from items that I made and previously frozen. Also, note that recipes that contained meat, I replaced with either a soy product or omitted from the recipe to make the recipe vegetarian.







Baking: Muffins, Cookies

1. Pasta: Penne Pasta w/ Veggie Meatballs (Green Salad, Garlic Bread)
2. Mexican: Taco Salad & Refried Beans (Canned Peaches)
3. Soup: Harvest Creamy Corn Choup (Drop Bisquits)
4. FISH: Mahi Mahi 7 Grain rice Pilaf (Frozen Green Beans, Green Salad)
5. Grain: Curry Lentils & Rice (Bread, beets)
6. Asian: Stir Fry Veggies & Tofu (Brown Rice)
7. Other: "Chicken" Quesadillas (I use soy chik and add white corn kernals and red bell pepper) (steamed broccoli)
   

Rosalia Mae

Our sweet bundle arrived into our arms on Wednesday November 21st at 12:57pm.
She was 7lbs 6oz and 19.5" in length. She is absolutely beautiful and very sweet. So far she is a good baby...she hardly ever cries unless she is getting her diaper changed.
The girls love her so much! They are always wanting to hold her in their arms or hold her little hand. We love her so much! Thank you Lord for this beautiful blessing!

Happy Thanksgiving

Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name. -Psalm 100:4

On our way....

We are heading to the hospital....to bring Baby Mae into our arms. Last look at my gorgeous gigantic belly!

My Lovely Daisies

Enjoy this beautiful video of my beautiful daisies. (Great Job Papa) Soon I will have three of them! I do love them!




My Daisy Babies from R K on Vimeo.

Smooth as a baby's ----

Today I had a manicure and pedicure....oh, so nice! I suggest that any of you who are pregnant or planning to be pregnant, make sure to schedule a pedicure, manicure, massage or something of this sort to treat yourself before baby comes! It is sooooo worth it! Thank you Emily for the lovely gift of pedicure and manicure. My piggies and fingies look fabulous. I think the baby will love them!
(Ignore the extremely pregnant swollen prego feet....just observe the sparkley nails--okay?)

I also took a relaxing bath tonight. Ahhh! I also attempted the daunting task of shaving my legs. Oy Vey, this is so difficult. I should really just be a true European at heart and never shave.
Well, they are soft and smooth as a baby's little bum now. Now, visitors you can massage my legs at the hospital when you come to see me---ahem, the baby. I will have lotion available girlfriend!

Monday Meanderings November 19th

Baby is coming...Baby is coming...on WEDNESDAY! We are so excited! I am really ready for her arrival. I think I have done all that I can do to prepare for her to come....so, now it is time to enjoy, relax, rest, enjoy, and enjoy this new little butterball turkey!

So for as plans this week, there are only a few things that I am planning to do. Here we go....
Happy Thanksgiving Y'all!



The Five areas:

1. Bible Study/Devotions
2. Must Do
3. Zone / Cleaning
4. Train Them Up
5. Menu Planning

Bible Study/Devotions:
I will continue to read the book of Romans....also I am working on prayer. I realize that my prayer life has been, well shall I say, dull. I have been lacking off in this area. I am trying to remember to be in point of worship in all that I am doing, even while folding laundry, cleaning dishes, wiping little bums, etc. So, I will be pray, pray, praying! One thing that I do want to do, is pray aloud while undergoing my scheduled c-section. I am going to pray for my Doctors while they are working away.

Must Do:

• Clean-up Monday (we are all, DH included, going to be cleaning the house)
• Monday: Pedicure and Manicure (getting them all perty for the baby!)
• Tuesday: last minute Dr. appointments
  
• Mail birthday and Christmas packages
  

Zone/ Cleaning:
Monday is our whole house cleaning day. We will be cleaning floors (vacuuming and mopping), bathrooms, kitchen, dusting, etc.

Train Them Up:
Tuesday we will have some girl time. We are going out to dinner as a family and then we will have time for painting fingernails and toenails (the girls...I am going Monday to get mine done).

Menu Planning:

Menu Plan Monday November 19th

Happy Thanksgiving to you all! I will be celebrating this year from the hospital. I know, I know...it does sound crazy, but I am actually really excited for this baby to be here now. AND...my mom, mom-n-luv, and sis-n-luv, will be cooking the Thanksgiving meal and cleaning (hint, hint) amd I really don't have to worry about those details. I am just going to enjoy being with our new little one!

Here is our menu planned for this week. Also, check out some recipes I posted here. They are yummy!

1. Pizza (Bell Peppers, Onion, Pineapple, Olives, Tomatoes)
   
2. Asian: Terryaki Stir-fry Veggies and tofu over Brown Rice
   
3. Dinner Out (Local Mexican Restaurant)
   
4. Pasta : Butternut Squash Ravioli (Chicken Ravioli for guests), Pumpkin Bisque, Herb Bisquits
   
5. Thanksgiving Dinner
   
6. Leftover Thanksgiving
7. Boca Hamburgers, French Fries, Peaches

Almost there...

Something Extra ---

I found these yummy breakfast recipes in the Raley's Something Extra Magazine. And, they look delicious. I thought I would share with y'all. Some of these would be absolutely delicious for holiday breakfasts.
For Christmas morning, it is always a tradition for me to make a Monkey Bread. I am thinking of adding something else to go along with the bread. So, I am always on the look out for finding a new yummy breakfast recipe....a recipe that is not too strenuous or that takes forever to cook.

Note: Some of these recipes, I altered to fit vegetarian household!



Herb and Potato Pancakes








Cranberry Cream Cheese French Toast







Creamy Vegetable Grits








Tuscan Polenta and Eggs

Thoughts on a situation....

Sometimes there are bumps in the road. There are difficult times. Transition is not easy. We do not know the mind of the Lord or why He allows certain things to happen, but we do know that He will not forsake us or allow us to go through anything too hard to handle. He has us under the shadow of His wings. He is Sovereign and does love us. He has plans for us. It is because of this, we know we will be in good hands....His hands!

Countdown ---7 days

Sophia, Lydia and I made a chain to countdown our days.....

When we reach purple ring, Mimi arrives! (6 days)

• We plan to go out to eat for dinner that night (a tradition that we have done for each pregnancy), and then all the girls will paint fingernails and toenails to get pretty for our new baby sister coming the next day.

When we reach the pink ring, this will be the day for Baby Mae's arrival. (7 days)

• In the morning, we plan to have breakfast for everyone (probably pancakes), except Mama because I am not allowed to eat or drink after midnight the night before.

• We will open some presents from Mama and Papa to the girls. They will be getting cute shirts that have their names on them. Sophia-- "I am the Biggest Sister". Lydia --"I am the Middle Sister". I also included some homemade burp rags for their babies, some cute tights, and hairties, and a book called "I am the Big Sister".

• Then, it will be off to the hospital for Mama and Papa. The girls and Mimi will have time to get dressed, do whatever, and then after awhile they will get to come to the hospital to greet their new little sister.

Exciting....the countdown has begun.....unless for some reason this baby wants to come out early....It is almost time.....Hooray for Baby Mae!

Monday Menu November 12th

(Happy Birthday to my brother Dave! If we lived closer, I might of baked you a cake. But, we don't soooo....maybe you can go somewhere to have cake and blow out a candle for us! Love you!)

Only 1 1/2 weeks until our new little one will join us. I am really looking forward to holding this little blessing in my arms.

I am also getting tired of cooking. Actually, I am tired most of the time now...to put any effort into anything is so much work. I can't bend over, I run out of breath quite easily, and my pillow is just way too comforting!

So, thankfully I have a menu planned and I don't have to think much. And, my DH (Papa) is home all week. He loves to cook....so more power to ya honey!

DINNERS:
Baking: Muffins

1. Pizza
2. Bean Soup w/ homemade bread
   
3. Mexican: Lentil Tacos
4. Pasta: Spaghetti & Marinara
5. Soup: Autumn Harvest Soup
6. Asian: Terryaki Tofu Bowl w/ brown rice (Edamame)
7. ???
   

ABCs ---Thankful

It is a beautiful Sunday afternoon and while Lydia is inside taking a nap, the rest of us are outside talking about things we are thankful for. Papa and I thought of things we were thankful that started with each letter of the alphabet. We only made it to the letter "M" before it was time to go in and take a little nappie too! Sophia joined in on the ABC thankful fun and I listed her things that she mentioned she was thankful for at the end of our list.

A --
Papa: Apple Pie
Bella: Autumn

B-
Papa: Berry Pie
Bella: Beauty

C-
Papa: Cobbler
Bella: Christmas

D-
Papa: Daughters
Bella: Dawn --- a new dawn every morning.

E -
Papa:Errands ---running them w/ Sophia and Lydia
Bella: Emergency Vehicles

F:
Papa: Faith of our Fathers
Bella: Frilly Girls Dresses

G:
Papa: Guiness Beer
Bella: Grandparents

H:
Papa: Hats and Harmonica
Bella: Home

I:
Papa: Inga Sweargin
Bella: Instruments to make music

J:
Papa: Justice for all
Bella: Jesus Christ

K:
Papa: Kisses
Bella: Kindred Spirits

L:
Papa: Lemon Meringue Pie
Bella: Laugther and Lydia

M:
Papa: Marriage
Bella: Music

Sophia's List:
Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa, Mimi and Poppie, beautiufl home, beautiful sister, handsome Daddy, a lovely neighbor and backyard, God, pretty dresses, American flag, nice Cubbies and Awanas, and church that teaches me about God, eyes, Blue-J bird, jelly bellies, Kisses and Hugs, Love, lollipops, little stuffed toy lion...

Thankful ---for this day....

Psalm 118:24
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.



It is a drizzle rain outside today. Calming.
Today I lit a candle. Soothing music playing in the background. Made my bed. Cleaned the kitchen. Vacuumed the floors and swept. Helped girls to clean their room. Drank some Hot Chai tea. Cleaned with Pinesol again!
Now, I am about to do some sewing at a friend's house while sipping on some Hot Cider and some homemade Minestrone soup. Beautiful time of fellowship with friends.

About a week left before this next Lil' Daisy arrives. I am excited to hold her sweetness in my arms and not have her kicking my ribs out of whack anymore.

Sweet, sweet Saturday. I am enjoying this day.

Sweet Lil' Daisies

Craftiness

I want this book. Now, that I am learning to sew, I am loving all sewing ideas. Fun!












I enjoy reading this blog. She is so sweet and crafty. I would love to be her friend and attend all her little crafty homespun parties!
I think it is amazing that she is able to do this while pregnant with her 3rd child and her oldest just turned three!
Wow!








I would love to learn how to knit. My grandma taught me how to crochet ( a little)...but, to master using two needles at the same time just seems fascinating. Plus you can make cute stuff. I actually have my Grammie's knitting needles.

5 year old photographer

( A Wordless Wednesday ) ---Find more at 5 minutes for Mom.

Self Portrait:

Sweet in the Hammock

Tweety Birthday

My laptop is back and working....so I have downloaded my pics (finally---yeah!) and can now share some lovely moments of the lil' daisies with y'all.

Sophia celebrated her 5th birthday in the beginning of October. She had planned for a Tweety Bird birthday all year. When she had first mentioned it, I was like really? Tweety Bird? But, You have never even seen the show? But, she had seen her Mimi's Tweety Bird Jammies and loved them. So, she had it set in her mind that is what kind of birthday she wanted.
When I set out to plan her party, I was very thankful that I came across some Tweety Bird decorations on-line that were discounted and that were pink.

We made a cake and some cupcakes. Here is the picture of the cake. I think I did pretty darn good on that Tweety bird in the center, don't ya think?

Here is birthday girl---reading her cards. And, she read everyone! Notice her shirt. I found it at Wal-mart. Perfect!

Monday Meanderings November 5th

The Five areas:

1. Bible Study/Devotions
2. Must Do
3. Zone / Cleaning
4. Train Them Up
5. Menu Planning

Bible Study/Devotions:
I will continue to read the book of Romans....we are in the midst of studying Romans at church...and I love it!

Must Do:

• Set-up Baby's room w/ clothes, etc. (DONE)
  
• Clean master bedroom (DONE) and set-up co-sleeper
  
• Homeschool Planning
  
• Sew some burp clothes (DONE)
• Mail birthday and Christmas packages
  

Zone/ Cleaning:
AAACK! My house is disasterous. I did a great job organizing the baby's room and our Master bedroom this week. But, my regular cleaning chores got pushed aside. So, it is off to cleaning toilets, sinks, tubs, and loads of laundry this week.

Train Them Up:
Reading and devotional time with the girls this week. I want to have some special one on one time with them as well before this baby arrives in the next couple of weeks. So, I am planning to have some date nights/day with each of my girls one on one. They need it as I do too!

Menu Planning: