You Know...

You know you love your sibling...

when you spend part of your evening eating ice cream cones together as you both text the same friend at the same time.



You know you are a good friend when you don't mind texting two sibling simultaneously as they eat ice cream cones together.

Warmly,
A Patchwork Mommy

Happy Birthday Dear Josh!

Josh.

My sweet Josh.

These past ten years have gone so fast.

Way too fast!

I love you SO much!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Warmly,

A Patchwork Mommy

The Balloon Rival

Grant seeing an opportunity to impress his little siblings whips up (without ever attempting it before) a very cute balloon guy for Joel.




Joel is SO delighted with Grant's finished balloon guy!



Alan wanting some younger sibling admiration as well, attempts a balloon animal for Lily.



Then Alan, finding that it is harder work than he though, relinquishes his balloon over to big brother Grant so as not to disappoint Lily.



And Grant,who with a few twists here and there, produces Lily a cute little guy.



*Sigh*

Sibling competition can be brutal at times.

Hard for this mom to watch.

Warmly,
A Patchwork Mommy

Let's Play Around and Around

Are you ready?

Let's Play!!

Around and around the crown goes.

Where it stops, nobody knows.

Will it be Alan?

Joyce?



How about Nolan?



Surly Lily.

She looks so very cute.

Hopefully not dad.



Why Cyrus is looking too cool in his do-rag.

Can you believe this boy is only 12?

He really needs the crown.




Cyrus is not looking so cool now.

Still does not look 12 though.



Ok. Elena is disqualified for being uncooperative.



The lucky boy is...

JOEL!!!



Thank you to all the Around and Around game players!

To those who were not able to participate for reasons like playing in the basement or having something better to do maybe next time.

That's all for now!!

Catch you on the flip side!

Please remember to do your nightly chores well.

It is the loving thing to do!

Says your mom.


Warmly,A Patchwork Mommy

Wanted

The advertisement read:

*Wanted*

Are you fresh faced up and coming model with a bright future?

Then this job is for you!

Job description:

to model a child's bag for a customer.

Requirements:

cute
spunky
sweet
three years old
willing to have your face washed if needed
able to stay still for a few moments

Does this sound like you?

Payment:

A big hug and maybe a sweet treat

Potential future work available!

If interested see mommy







Warmly,A Patchwork Mommy

Once Apon A Time...

there were two young children who had a great idea.

They shared a vision.

Indeed they did.

A vision that not even the smallest of stuffties or the littlest of dolls would ever eat on the floor again.

They put their skills and talents together.

They sawed and nailed.

They toiled and labored.

Their vision always before them.

Then all the work stopped.

Their vision had come to fruition.

Their hard work payed off.





Those young children.

Those visionaries.

Those hard workers.

They are mine.

My Anya.

My Joshua.

And yes,I am proud.


Warmly,
A Patchwork Mommy

Mommy! Look

at my big muscles!



Warmly,A Patchwork Mommy

Ever have days like this?

Sometimes,I want to get right down with them and throw my own little mom fit.





I was having a hard couple days looking over the fence into the family life of a few of my friends and how kept up, together, organized they were. How much their families were reflecting God's grace and beauty.

Then I look at my own messy, crazy, unbeautiful, jungle of a life.

I was getting pretty down.

** WARNING **

Rambling starts now...

Ha ha as I write this guess what is playing?

The sun is hot and that old clock is movin' slow,
An' so am I.
Work day passes like molasses in wintertime,
But it's July.
I'm gettin' paid by the hour, an' older by the minute.
My boss (read kids) just pushed me over the limit.
I'd like to call him (them) somethin',
I think I'll just call it a day.

Pour me somethin' tall an' strong,
Make it a "Hurricane" before I go insane.
It's only half-past twelve but I don't care.
It's five o'clock somewhere.


Any country fans out there? I'm a big country music fan.

Anyway Alan Jackson's song It's Five O'clock Somewhere put an explanation point on my past few days!!!

Ok, but I will pass on the Hurricane and get a coffee mocha and NOT one from McDonald's. McDonald's coffee drinks are ok and all but I need something better than ok. Make it a Starbucks before I go insane.

End of rambling starts now...

The point of this post is that during my off few days I read this on someones Facebook status. Mary Knox's to give her credit. I enjoy reading her status'

Great ministry tweet: RickWarren : "Never envy a significant place of service. Make the place you serve significant."

So how does this apply to me?

"Tina, stop looking over the fence and wishing your family was like this person or that persons. Instead, focus on your own family and serve God with all your might right where you are with the abilities, blessings, weaknesses you have."

Of course, whether my place in life ever is significant in the world's eyes or not shouldn't be my goal. My goal is to run the race God has set before me well. I shouldn't be running another person's race. So my dear friends, I now step off your track and onto my own. See you at the finish line!


Warmly,A Patchwork Mommy

Valentine's Day Part 2!!

Now on to our Valentine's dinner.

Yes, actual meatballs with our spaghetti! That is pretty special.



My first attempt at shaping french bread. You aren't laughing are you?



Ice cream cones for dessert! Personally my favorite part of the meal.



We let our dinner settle while Jeff and the kids huddled around our teeny tiny portable DVD player. Jeff appropriately rented the Charlie Brown Easter video! I snuck off with the box of Valentine chocolates Jeff gave me. Shhhh. Don't tell.



Very funny! Elena using binoculars to see the video screen. Smart girl!



We hope you are still enjoying the glow of your Valentine's celebration!

Warmly,A Patchwork Mommy

A Happy Valentine's Day From US!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

to my faithful blog readers!!


Today was a whirl-wind of activity!

The kids were working hard on their Valentine bags for part of the afternoon.






Their hard work payed off! Don't these look great all lined up?!



Here is a peek inside of a few of the bags.

A lot of the kids worked hard this past weekend making Valentines for each other so the bags were pretty filled.



Here was my addition to each person's bag.



This past summer Elena and her friend sold cookies and baked goods at our local farmers market to make a little extra spending money. They were there most every Saturday morning and Thursday evening selling their goodies August through October. I thought I would package my Valentine cookies much like Elena and Miranda did for the farmers market.

Not quite as impressive as theirs but they look special anyway!





Tomorrow I will share how we spent the rest of our Valentine's Day evening!


Warmly,A Patchwork Mommy