A Freebie to Share

For those of you who appreciate a simpler way to life, you will love this! Perfect if you're new to a homestead way of life!
Homeschool Freebie of the Day

We are sick...again. This is our 10th illness since September..blech. I will say that although we've had many more illnesses than the previous year, I am noticing that the children and I are getting over them quicker. Where a typical cold used to last 7-10 days, we are now 5-8 days with only 1 or 2 being the really bad days as opposed to 3-4 days. What am I doing different? Well, we all take Echinecia drops everyday (1 drop per 5 pounds of weight is what I go by) and we all take pure vitamin C tablets, as well as ditching ALL kinds of antibacterial stuff. I also have been drinking a pure fruit/vegetable juice that has Acai berries in it and another that has Wheat Grass in it. I dream of the day when I own a juicer (I am saving up currently for one) and can make my own! I think one of the main things is changing our diets. Limiting (I haven't been successful at eliminating yet) all refined sugars and gross white flours. I am not being strict with this because I think that would be a major downfall here, not too mention Bill might have a meltdown!!lol I've just been slowly integrating little things into our diets. It's much easier for myself and the kids, but I have to be careful since we are on a food budget. I cannot be buying all natural organic stuff for the kids and I and then on top of that all the regular stuff that Bill likes.

I think it will be much easier once we have our own house and our garden, we are planning a 20'X20' garden area that will be fenced off. I am sooooo excited!! I am hoping that will be when I can order all our groceries from the organic delivery store or even hopefully have joined a food co-op(another dream!!)

I was daydreaming last night as Matthew drifted off to sleep at the breast of when we are living in our new house........It will be so much more energy efficient and will have all energy efficient lighting. The insulation is rated at R40(I think, does that make sense?!?! I'll have to double check with Alex or Bill) at any rate the house is sealed super tight! Energy efficient furnace and water heater, energy efficient appliances. I would like to get Bill to rig the washer and possible the main floor sink from the bathroom to drain it's gray water into a collection barrel outside to use to water the garden/lawn. I also had the fun little thought of if only I could talk Bill into a Composting toilet but he's not quite there yet...lol. Personally, I see nothing wrong with it and think it's perfect and would probably have the best garden around! Bill however, turned a pale shade of green when I told him how it works....guess he needs some work!!lol
It will just feel so much better living in a better, more efficient house.

well, today is cloth diaper washing day!! I can hardly wait until I can have all the tiny ones out again!! I wonder if Matthew will be potty trained by then? None of boys have ever been on the ball with it...we shall see!
Have a blessed day!

oh my!!! Too Funny!!

Totally swiped this from Misty
I am laughing my butt off, and here I thought I was a 1950's kind of wife!!ROFL!!
Go try it out!!!

102 As a 1930s wife, I am Very Superior Take the test!

What did you get???

Happy Friday!!!

Today is the day I get to meet my nephew and I am giddy like a school girl!!lol
I cannot wait to snuggle him and say hello....can this day go any faster?!?!

So for curiosity sake I decided to go and check my pregnancy journal from Matthew (yes, I have a journal for each pregnancy....baby books are sparsley filled though) and lo and behold the height of the fundus is only a smidge bigger now than it was Matthew.(we're talking about one finger width, give or take some room for error since it is just my fingers!!lol)But, I thought it was a good idea to post a comparison pic as Sandra suggested...you be the judge. Perhaps I am carrying higher??

Here's 16weeks with Matthew:


and here's 16weeks with this little one:


and for even more fun comparison, here's my belly with Matthew at 20wks:


Of course all the kids are hoping it's twins, they think that would be awesome! It would be interesting and a new kind of challenge, that's for sure! Talk about a milk machine!!lol my biggest worry/fear would be them being born early and having to spend time in the NICU, I can't imagine the difficulty in having to be here at home and there at the hospital. I know we'd do it, but I'm not sure it's an experience I'd want to endure that's for sure! Maybe I'd be one of the lucky ones who carries to term (whoa, me 38wks preggers with twins!!!lol can you imagine!!) I was reading that woman with twins typically gain double the normal amount they gain with singletons....not so bad if you're on of those mama's who only gains like 15-20lbs.....not I...I gain between 39-42lbs!!!lol The thought of me gaining almost 80lbs is quite amusing....although I am very certain it would'nt be hard to do....food tastes so divine whilst pregnant and I do not restrain self (I do have self control though!!lol big difference) If I want cheeseburgers or lasagna for breakfast, I'm eating it! If I want ice cream, I'm eating it. My favourite fast food to date has been either Harveys or Arby's oh yummmmmmmm!!!!

Anyways, enough of daydreaming and on with the day!!
Have a blessed Friday everyone!!!

More good stuff to win!!!

Oh my!!!! This has me drooling even more!!!
I have wanted to try (quite badly actually!!lol) The Bum Genius 3.0 (heck even the 2.0!!lol) but, they are just a smidge out of my range....unless I bought one a month or something!!lol Go check out this contest too!!!

Beat The Heat Summer Contest

Good luck!!

Win A WHOLE STASH babywearing mama's!!!

Oh WOW!!! I am drooling! This is so awesome and would be so perfect with my having a baby on the way and my sister just having had a baby!!! Check it out!

Win the Essential Babywearing Stash from Along for the Ride (one Beco Butterfly, one Hotsling baby pouch, one BabyHawk Mei Tai, one Zolowear Ring Sling, and one Gypsy Mama Wrap)

Have a Blessed Thursday!!!
Penny

Something Fun......

Saw this at Cheri's
Sounds good to me, especially since I will be 30 on Sept.12th...almost two months!!lol

You Act Like You Are 30 Years Old

You are a thirtysomething at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more! You're responsible, wise, and have enough experience to understand a lot of the world. You're at the point in your life where you understand yourself pretty well. You are figuring out what you want... and how to get it!

What Age Do You Act?

Blessings!!

I'm Baaaack!!

Hey ya'll!! Did ya miss me?!?!?!

Soooo much to catch up on! First and foremost though....I'M AN AUNTIE!!!!!!!!! My sister had her baby on Sunday July 6th at 5:42pm. He was 5.5weeks early and weighed 4lbs 9ozs and 17 1/4" long....soooo cute! He's doing really good and will hopefully come off of the machine that is helping him breathe and hopefully his Mama can hold and snuggle him today and maybe, just maybe, get him to latch on for a first nip at the boob!!! HURRAYYYYYYY!!! Yes, I am VERY happy and excited!!
I'm really hoping I'll be able to go visit him on Friday evening!! Oh, his name is Henri, they are not sure about a middle name just yet though.

Our holidays were fabulous!! It was wonderful seeing Bill's side of the family, the kids really loved seeing them too. I will put pics up in the Flickr and some on here too, soon.

My pregnancy is going really good! I'm at about 16w3d and still haven't gone to the doctor, but I will be in the next few weeks. I'm just trying to decide whether I want my initial appt to be with my family doc or just ask for a referral right away (my fam doc doesn't do deliveries). The morning sickness is completely gone and I feel fabulous!! Oh how I love this phase! I can quite a bit of movement, mostly like a bunch of butterflies flickering in my belly! I do get the occasional 'bump' here and there, but not strong enough to be felt on the outside, that should happen by the end of this month though. I did a 16w belly pic today, although if you had to guess you would probably assume it's a 20-24w belly!! Of course there is the ongoing banter that it's twins. Interestingly enough, I typically joke right along side the jesters and have questioned the possibility before. This time however, there is a funny 'feeling' in the bottom of my tummy......I'm not sure if it's fear or nervousness or what. I DO know that feeling has never been around before. I haven't noticed a huge difference in symptoms with this pregnancy....morning sickness seemed to hit much stronger and last a bit longer, but my hunger has been INSANE. I feel as though I have gained 20lbs (I don't own a scale so this is just purely a guess based on what clothing does and doesn't fit).

Of course, this could all just be because I am still nursing Matthew (who has no desire to wean at ALL at this point in time LOL) who loves his 'boobie' and still nurses approx every two hrs during the night right now.(he's cutting all four molars and all four eye teeth...owie!) There has been some 'pressure' for me to wean him. A few, who shall remain anonymous, are not all that comfortable with the prospect of my having a nursing 2yo AND a nursing baby...heck, even just a nursing toddler has a few shuddering. Alas, they are my boobs and this is a relationship between myself and my toddler and he is still obviously in need of his boobies...I refuse to deny him that.

Having said all that, here's the pic!


Well, time to get back to sprucing up the blog site and all the good stuff that I've put off around here!
Blessings!!
Penny

A Photo Kind of Meme

Totally stealing this from Cheri Since I am taking a small break from working Packing losing my mind. So here ya go! Keep in mind that we are heading out for holidays...so in actuality, this is the perfect time for one of these!!
My Fridge

A little empty!!lol
A Closet

My closet! All of Bill's stuff hangs on a roll-a-way and is in drawers!
Kitchen Sink

There are dishes piled on the left hand side to be washed!
A Toilet

This is the main bathroom.
My Favourite Shoes

My NEW sandals!!Woot!! They're soooo uber comfy!
My Favourite Room

The master bedroom! especially right now because all I can think of sleep!Ha!
What My Kids are Doing Right Now

Matthew had just spilled his cereal on the couch...guess I'll be vacuuming when I get off here!

Kayla and Mariah are busy playing with Alyssa's barbies. Alex refused his pic, he was sitting beside the girls watching a show and the other two are at the dentist!
Laundry Pile

This is the basket that stays upstairs and gets filled with the laundry from the day and then dumped downstairs at bedtime tidy up. It's a bit blurry because my camera batteries were dying.
Self Portrait
No pic!! Boohoo! My batteries completely died on me! Which sucks because I was pumped to show off my new hairstyle!! Whaaaa!!!
If I can find the pack of new batteries I bought before I go, I'll snap a pic and post it!!
Dream Vacation
I don't care much for travel, so where we are heading and the people we get to see.....yup, that's my dream vacation! Although, I would love to take the kids to see the ocean...we can drive there!!lol

I'm not tagging anyone in particular, but if you do this...leave me comment so I can come see!!! errrrr, when I get back!

Have an awesomely blessed rest of the month!!!
Penny

A Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY...
Outside My Window...So far, it's sunny! Although it's supposed to get cloudy and rain soon!
I am thinking... about how I should really be finishing up laundry and packing!
I am thankful for...friends and family who are helping to make our holiday happen
From the kitchen...for dinner..teryaki porkchops, rice and steamed veggies
I am wearing...jean capris, pink t-short and a zip hoodie
I am creating... some nifty ways of packing clothing!
I am going...to get all the packing done, really I am!
I am reading...nothing at the moment, but I plan on bringing books with me to read on the drive
I am hoping... that we can fit everything in the van!lol
I am hearing... a magic show taking place downstairs
Around the house... total chaos! The kids are hyped, the house is a mess, coolers and 'stuff' are everywhere!
One of my favorite things... besides the KFC that I am craving (oh I know, isn't that gross?!?!), the vacuum sealing packing bags that I am using to pack the clothing in...major space saving!
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:
-finish packing
-get last minute stuff done
-load up the van
-finish making snacks to eat(got the 'dry' ones done, just need to get the fresh fruit and veggies done.
-try to keep my sanity!
Here is picture thought I am sharing...
Nothing yet!

Now, back to work!!!!
Have a blessed Monday!
Penny