New Richland Prom 2014

Today was New Richland's Prom.

My handsome young Alan attended with his friend and fellow McDonald's co-worker Ash-lee.

What a wonderful looking couple they were!

Ash-lee is so sweet.

And that Alan...well...he is very handsome in his tux.

Joyce joined in on the picture taking

Cyrus did as well.

This is my favorite picture.

The handsome one on the far right...

I call dibs.

He is mine.

If he would ask me to the prom, I would for sure go.

Just saying.

Warmly, A Dragonfrye Mommy

A Little Reflection

This video does not seem like it was that long ago.

The boys made it five years ago.

Wow.

I am a little blue that time is going so fast.

Warmly, A Dragonfrye Mommy

Happy 16th Alan!!!

Wow!!!

How can you already be 16??!!!

I love everything about you!!

Have a very wonderful sixteenth year!!!!!

Love, mom

R.A.N.D.O.M.

For you have been called to live in freedom-not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love.

Galatians 5:13

I have been thinking of this verse the last few days.

I understand that I have been set free from the bonds of sin in my life because of Jesus death on the cross.

I understand that...I do...or so I thought...

Lately, I have been really struggling with a BIG case of

the bad attitudes

the glass half empty outlook

the I have a right to fuss and stamp my feet syndrome

and that gives me the right to (endlessly) crab at everyone doesn't it?

Well, I thought so...

until the Lord very kindly reminded me of the above verse.

A light bulb turned on.

God even set me free from my negative drama I like to carry around.

Like other sins, it follows me around (one could even say my drama precedes me...) like a loud voice but God has set me free from it ruling my days.

It can be hard because in some odd, crazy way it can be kind of satisfying to let my negative emotions all hang out. Even to throw out some wounding verbal wow-powing zingers at others.

But God says that I am set free from needing to carry that all around and in letting it go I am free to serve and love my family without wading through so much emotional muck.

I am still a wee babe in the infant room with my walk with Christ.

I am slow in the learning but Lord I hear. Lord, please do not stop teaching me.

~~~~~~~~~~~

A few pictures of the day?

Josh bought this post-Valentine gift for me.



Lily helping me make a cake.



Alan was taking some pictures for his Facebook but haha he never knew it would also be a Mom's blog picture!



Warmly, A Dragonfrye Mommy

Tuesday What Did You Bring?

Well...just normal-ness, I guess.

Thanks for asking.

Ha ha.

My mind isn't flowing cleaver-ness except in making up words that really do not exist.

I gave Josh, Anya, Naomi, and Ekie had a multiplication fact test today and for a job well done I thought they would enjoy making a special treat.



Melted chocolate, smooshed up pretzels, peanut butter, and mini marshmallows combined in any ratio will never fail.



See, told you so.




Always love the colorful paper route complaint slips. The pretty cheerful colors almost make me forget they are complaints. It is kind of like Marry Poppins when she sings:

A Spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
The medicine go down-wown
The medicine go down
Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
In a most delightful way




Three buds

Zach H. Alan and Josiah



This was my day.

Warmly, A Dragonfrye Mommy

My Thursday

I'll call this post for the lack of a catchy title thinking brain tonight.

It is nice to have a few children working at McDonalds and one of whom that can drive to buy me up a little mid afternoon pick-me-up.

This is what happens when the cats run out of cat food and a child who has an aversion to eating at the table. Hey, no judging, I have 15 children and I found something called parenting liberty...I said it with a song voice...liberty...trust me, Lily will not be eating on the floor when she gets big...but this could be good missionary training...

Odell worked hard and made me this very pretty decoration.

A diorama Joel made today. He wants you to especially notice the apple falling from the apple tree.

A dress I made this evening.

I LOVE it!

I will SO be making more of this pattern!!!!!

Just in case you were interested, the pattern is from this book.

I know it is a nightdress pattern but,gee,doesn't it makes the perfect day dress!!!

Warmly, A Dragonfrye Mommy

Curtains and Bedrooms

Over the last few years we have been working on painting the attic bedrooms.

Things are starting to look real good.

Grant brought home some beautiful fabric from Ghana so I made curtains for his bedroom.

I kind of made them a tad shorter than I wanted. Some child cut up my measuring tape so I only had inches 22-60 left to work with.

Although, for the rest of the population that would not prove to be a problem, my mind was having a hard time measuring correctly.

The fabric is beautiful and was so fun to work with!

Josh and I painted Grant's room a light brown since he had new curtains.

As you can see Grant is a bare minimalist when it comes to room decor.

That is just fine. There is less to clean that way!

Once upon a time Josh shared a bedroom with Josiah, Cyrus, and Nolan down on the second floor but thought the little attic alcove would be just perfect for his own private bedroom space.

I agree.

He uses his space well.

I guess 18 year old young ladies (aka: Elena) do not need to clean their rooms...

Patches the cat does not seem to mind the mess,though.

Alan's bedroom.

He painted it black and dark green.

His room is usually pretty clean so the mess you see is not a common sight.

We just need to:

paint the attic hallway.

On our 'if we ever win the lottery' wish list would be to replace the windows and bring better heat and electricity up there.

and Elena dreams of her own bathroom...

Warmly, A Dragonfrye Mommy

Tuesday Going-ons

Doesn't every kitchen have one of these?

What is it?

It's my grease cup!

I poor grease drippings into it and store it in the freezer.

I just chisel a little out when I need to fry onions or eggs or whatever needs that extra flavoring.

Thank you grease cup for letting us look forward to our breakfast this morning!

P.S. I always think it looks so impressive to show my kids meal plates all lined up like this. Sometimes I stop and think "Wow! I am very blessed!"

P.S.S. The dinner breakfast rolls are compliments of this past Sunday's community Thanksgiving meal. (That seems like an oddly worded sentence,doesn't it?) Thanks CCC!

Grant brought this drink back from Ghana. It tastes very different. It is very ginger-y.

Lily and I walked to Hyvee this afternoon to mail an item for an Etsy customer.

The HyVee customer service area is right by the bakery section and these Turkey guys were at a certain four year olds eye level.

Now, do you think HyVee planned it that way?

And to Alan's great embarrassment I had to snap this picture.

A few years back Alan was very into puzzle books and word searches. That was what he would spend all his paper route money on.

He came across a half finished word search book last week and decided to finish it up.

Way to go Alan!

Hm...now does this constitute as school work?

Warmly, A Dragonfrye Mom

Only a Mom Can Get Away With A Post Like This...

June 2001

" Elena loves to play dress-up. The boys don't always like to pretend to marry her but when they do it makes her feel very special."

~ An entry from from my memory journal on Elena

Alan (4), Elena (7), and Grant(6) spring 2001

Warmly, A Dragonfrye Mom

The Cuteness of it All

The costumes

Naomi, Odell, Ekie

Alan, Josiah

Joel, Grace, Josh, Anya

Lily, Pooh, Dad

Pooh

The candy

Lily

Odell

Naomi

Joel

Anya

Ekie

Grace

The cuteness

Lily, Grace

Lily still smiling. So far no emotional sugar crash...maybe, just maybe, this will be the year...come on Lily keep that smile!

Warmly, A Dragonfrye Mommy