Awwww....

We recently got together with some extended family members for a fun trip to Cedar Point and a cookout the next day. We all sat down for the obligatory family pic and then snapped a few others, including this family pic. Aren't we so sweet??!! Isaac is looking down, but with four kids, well....it's pretty darn hard to get *everyone* looking the right way with a smile.

In other news, I got a bread maker!! From one of my mom's frugal buys (thanks Mom!). I've only made one loaf of bread - and now I'm trying to make banana bread. I don't think it's going to work though. I'm thinking it's not the kind that makes quick breads. It has a "fruit/nut" selection, but not "quick or sweet or batter". It's "rising" as we speak (type, whatever) - since a quick bread doesn't have to rise, well......we'll see....

But I'm excited nonetheless. I'm going to work my way through some basic bread recipes, find a few that my family loves and then use my breadmaker EVERY SINGLE DAY!! Seriously. Homemade bread is MUCH better for you than regular ol' store-bought, preservative-filled, bread. And my babies love bread. Grilled cheese sandwiches, tubby-toast, pb&j, b&b with pasta, etc....And it's just so easy - just dump in and go!!

I'm also working on my "Journal". I got that idea from Jewel - and I'm loving it. When I'm making out a page (every few days), I think ahead to when my babies might be reading it. What would they want to know? What would be interesting? How do I want them to view our days? I'm honest, but I concentrate on the joy, the cute sayings, finding joy in the everyday. I'm having fun!!

I'm slowly working my way through the round blankie for D & C's little bundle of joy due next month. I'd better be a bit more consistant with it if I want to send it before the birth. It's just beautiful yarn! Selah is already requesting that I make her something next. I'm guessing she will want to learn crocheting asap.

I'm thinking about sewing projects - I have some fabric, I have some patterns....but I just can't get up the motivation. Sewing for me is a LONG project. It just takes me a long time to iron, cut, measure, iron, sew, iron, snip, cut, iron, baste, sew, iron, iron, iron. *sigh* I really enjoy the finished product, but I need to learn how to better enjoy the process. Again, I just always feel like there's better things I could be doing with my time (reading to my children, vacuuming, oh, I don't know - SLEEPING!!).

We just started Pioneer Clubs this past Sunday, choir practice last Wednesday, Bible Study/Story Tales tomorrow morning (Tues.). Not to mention my dh's regular weekly/monthly/quarterly meetings at church. Things are just busier. I do like my schedules but this is crazy!! Dh keeps assuring me that when he is done with school - things will improve. Here's praying....

Nothin' else to talk about right now.....I've got some things in the wings, just waiting for some more time to work through (i.e. day/week in photos, scheduling, weight loss/nutrition, submission). I'll get there, I'll get there....

To my readers, I've just been reading blogs at Google Reader recently - not really having the time to comment - but I'm hoping to find a bit more time to actually comment here and there. Some of you are just such an encouragement to me, I feel like I'm honestly friends with you - albeit friends who have never met!! Don't give up on me just yet, please!

One last thing....here's my Lil' Man gigglin' with Mema - isn't that great??!!

I'm tired....good and tired. Thank you God for this day!
*Michigan Momma*