Earlier this week I hypothetically had asked P that if a cake was made, what kind she might like. And if a few people stopped by for dinner, if she'd be OK with that.

Hypothetically she said she'd be OK with people over for dinner and that she WANTED A CAKE!
So party preparations began for P's Birthday Party.

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I was a lovely evening filled with family and friends all joined to wish my dear friend P a wonderful birthday.

We had kabobs, twice baked potatoes (which P made because there was poor planing on my part,) baked beans, and for dessert yellow cake (which although the batter tasted scrumptiously like yellow cake, the batter tasted more like white cake) with milk chocolate icing.

P bested my mom, aunt, and I with a game of dominoes chicken foot, which consists of ten rounds. She won most of them and I had many many points nearly every round. I didn't have as much fun as she did. But that's OK, for it was her birthday.

I think she went to bed happy with her day.

I went on a train to drive P back up to my house. It is always worth a visit from her.

She tried valiantly to be ready when I got there, and Amtrak thought they'd help her out, by my train being an 1.5 hours late.

But we made it safe and sound to my abode.

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And so begins our game playing.

G and I had a wonderful long weekend for our anniversary. E was with G's dad and step-mom, and J and Hunter were with my parents.

After dropping E off, we headed north. G had a surprise for me. He took me to a drive-in movie. We like drive-ins and Becky's Drive-In Theater is the closest. It's about 45 min. drive. But it was on the way to the cabin.

We watched the "Indian Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" and "The Spiderwick Chronicles." It was a double feature, and although we left the drive-in very late, we watched them both. We figured since we didn't have children to care for, we could sleep in.

Sleep in we did. We got up at 11:00 AM. We then headed to Honesdale, PA. We were suppose to eat breakfast at a little coffee shop, but I forgot to remember their name, so we ended up at a diner. We then strolled Main Street and checked out the local shops. Most of the shops weren't of huge interest, but we did happen upon one "little" place where we purchased some finds. At first look, we weren't much interested, but as you went back in the store, it opened up to some fun antiques. And when I say antiques I don't mean pristine expensive stuff, but the cool somewhat practical old stuff. And it was priced in our range. I had been on the look out for a b-day present for a certain someone and found just the things. He had a lot of green stuff. G left with a small wooden level, an old scoop for our wood pellets, and an old map of the railroad lines of New Jersey. Now you ask what does a man who lives for his hometown area of Lansdale, PA want with a New Jersey railroad map? Besides that he does like railroad stuff, if you look on the PA side of the map, because it isn't just NJ, you will see the town of Lansdale. Need I say more?

Unfortunately, we spent too much time strolling and missed getting into the museum and visitor's center. They closed a half hour before we got there. The main draw to the museum was that it "contains the full-scale replica of the famous Stourbridge Lion, the first commercial locomotive to run on track in America." But we missed seeing that famous locomotive. An the visitor's center? Well, we thought we'd at least see what was in there.

On our way home we stopped by an antique car show in a shopping center parking lot and then spent way too much time at Wal-Mart.

We did get to see trains. For on Sunday, after missing church because we got up late again, we headed to Scranton's Steamtown National Historic Site. Here "you can relive the era of steam as the engines come back to life. The cinders, grease, oil, steam, people and stories of railroading have returned."

Here I realized that although I enjoy looking at all the engines and train cars and some memorabilia, I don't care much for reading every word printed on every sign. I leave that up to G, and if it's important, he'll tell me.

We rode a steam train, watched a video, walked around a lot, rode a pump trolley (a maintenance railroad car powered by its passengers), watched the engineers put the steam engine into the roundhouse, and heard the shorten tale of a hobo (it was shorten because we left to watch the locomotive.) And as we left the park we stopped at the park shop and bought an engineer's cap for the kids.

In the evenings we watched StarGate: SG1. We are into season 9, disk two.

On Monday we stayed at the cabin, watched more StarGate, cleaned up some shingles from the roof project a while ago, and relaxed. On our way home we stopped at a park so I could take some photos.

We picked up our children from their locals and came on home.

Every day that my children (note plural) take naps is a good day.

While children napped, I puttered in our camper. The previous owners left everything they had. I pulled it all out, went through it, kept some of it, included what we had from tent camping and put it all back in the way I wanted it. G claimed one cabinet as his, but I get all the rest. I didn't change the essence of his cabinet, but I did straighten it up for him. All that organizing was quite satisfying.


I am not finished, for some items, which were brought home dirty on Sunday are sitting waiting to go out. They are calling to me - take me out, put me away. I want to put them in their rightful place, too.

E just asked for cheese. I told her to wait until I finished with her sandwich, and I would see to her needs. She looked down at her leg and told me her knee was okay. I chuckled, rephrased and gave examples of "needs." And while typing this little story, I burnt the one side of the grilled cheese. I pulled off the offending piece and quick buttered a new one, and it was good as new.

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On the way to drop off a meal for a new mom tonight, I pointed out girl's Lacrosse at the local middle school. I told E I liked Lacrosse. I had to repeat the name several times for her to understand it, since I think she has never heard the name. She then declared that she loves Lacrosse and J loves it. And Daddy likes it, and so on naming all she could think of and stating that they liked Lacrosse.

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I cut E's bangs tonight. She really likes her bangs. When I was all finished she took a gander at herself in the looking glass. She pondered a moment and declared "I'm like a different person."

Camping was wet and wild. Well maybe not so much wild, but definitely wet. The forecast, we thought, was for a shower or two Sunday afternoon. Instead we got steady rain for most of the day. It did finally cleared up once we packed up and left. While drying out at G's dad's place, we saw the sun for the first time that day.

One might consider the wild part being when we had to calm J back to sleep when we went to bed, at 2:00, 3:30, and 5:00. E need some readjusting a few times as well. G and I were lucky to actually sleep until 9:00. I guess the late night wakenings helped the kids sleep longer, though I highly recommend sleeping through the night instead.

We only were at the camp site over night. Since Friday night was rainy as well. But we wanted to get some camping in with our new pop-up camper. Pop-up is a misnomer. Only after cranking, pulling, tugging, zipping, lifting, wedging, and rearranging does one get to rest in a "pop-up" camper.

My family and parents went to the cabin this weekend. Although I was there with my husband, I rarely saw him or my dad. It was a work weekend for them. The roof near the chimney had been leaking, and they were there to fix it. The project has consumed their time. I pretty much only saw G for meals and falling into bed tired and sore. He apparently has muscles about which he didn't know.

It took them a long time, longer than they thought. In fact the kids, my mom and I left last night. They stayed. Even though the forecast was for rain today. They still had work to do. I talked to G tonight. They finally finished this evening - in the rain.

He said he would call after they got on the road to let me know they were on their way home. It's 10:39 PM and no call. I will be heading to bed very soon. I'd like to actually see my husband before this day is over, but I may have to wait until tomorrow.

Good news! I enstalled our three new retractable 40 ft. clothes line, complete with 12 soft touch clothes pins.

Bad news! We need line longer than 40 feet.

Good news! One can purchse retractable clothes line longer than 40 ft.

Bad news! It's $22.99, plus shipping. (The 40 ft. one was $15.99.)

All this to hang my laundry outside.

Notes to self: Measure first. Install only one of something and test it's use before installing several of something and then testing their use. Don't assume that since retractable clothes line was previously used in said location, that it was used correctly.

The following is an email from my husband about his experience going to Quest Diagnostics.

I write this letter to you not with much elation and lack of fear, but with much of a sense of overwhelming relief. It seems that I was indeed in fear of my life being extinguished this morning, alas before I could even complete the task with which I had set out to complete. Apparently one is able, via the “internet”, to make an appointment with one Quest Diagnostics with such a sheer amount of ease it is truly astounding that one would not use such a service. Also quite amazing, is the immense number of the population that chooses not use this service. It is again apparent that this same multitude will resort to intimidation and threats to discourage others to use this service.

And such was my fate this beautiful morning when I visited this Quest Diagnostics. I came upon this multitude of advanced years, some of whom had been waiting for over 35 minutes, when my name was called after a mere wait of only 3 minutes. The woman who called out my name to the crowd, thus knowing I was numbered among them, graciously used my surname and only the first initial of my family name. Obviously, she had knowledge of the capabilities of the restless multitude and wanted to spare my person possible future retaliation for my thoughtfulness.

Amidst grumbling and fervor of sharp comments directed to me, I quickly and quietly completed the pre-test procedure. After I slinked off to perform my test, I dashed through a storm of daggers thrown at me as I darted through the room of waiting to the vestibule of safety.

Perhaps if I am required to visit this Quest Diagnostics again, I could instill fear into the crowd itself by not appearing to be prepared to withstand a long stay, and surprise them with my confidence as I uphold my convictions of a short wait.

I just returned from church. The program was presented by the Post Abortion Counseling Center. It saddens my heart that such a ministry is even necessary. One of the woman from the center presented "The Silent Cradle." It was her story of guilt, grief and forgiveness.

I don't know every woman's story. Why she makes abortion her choice. Why she doesn't choose life for her child. The grief it causes her.

I hastily say, "If you don't want the baby, give it up for adoption. There are plenty of couples who want to adopt." At least I used to say that.

Giving up a child is no easy thing. I look at my two children, snuggle with them, and I can't imagine holding them only one time, if that, and then never seeing them again. Never seeing those eyes look up to me in wonder or never hearing their little voices call to me.

The question of giving up a child, has given me pause. With going through IVF, G and I have more embryos than the number of children we wanted. Therein lies my choice. What do we do with our extra embryos? The only two options I'll even consider are to continue having children until we use all our embryos or to let them be adopted. And right now, I am not in a place where I can give them up. I see them as my children. They are a part of me. How can I let anyone else have my children?

So, now I don't quickly say just give up your baby, since I can't even think about giving up my child I have never carried.

But abortion still is an issue. For there are countless women who feel like their only choice is abortion. It might seem like the easy way out, but there is no other choice that will grieve you more than ending the life of your unborn child.

And no matter what choice a woman makes, God is there. Through Jesus Christ, He offers unconditional love, grace and forgiveness.

Life is a precious thing.

I have had it will E wetting her pants. The floors are sparkly clean in front of the toilet. There is a pile of four pants and underpants from just today, not to mention the other pile soaking from yesterday. What is her issue? It is driving me crazy.

I had to go pick up a prescription today, so I checked out the diaper aisle. I am loathe to buy diapers for my child who was potty trained, but I am also frustrated with her five outfits a day and cleaning the floor.

The token system is working fairly well with E in the earning department, but she hasn't really altered her behavior when in danger of losing them. That may be in part because she and I don't remember to ensure her redeeming them on a regular basis.

I am also frustrated with the curiosity J now has. He is into everything. He is constantly climbing up the stairs. He climbs on E's desk. He pulls thing off the desk. He empties the basket of twigs. The books on the shelf in the kitchen are not for reading, oh no. They are for pulling off and scattering. Once sufficiently in a two foot radius around him, might one be ready for perusal. The books on his shelf in his room are much better for reading. His favorites right now are The Little Engine that Could and The Very Busy Spider. And he doesn't like to linger on a page, mind you. In fact, I think he mostly enjoys turning them, not hearing what's on them. Many a book has been abridged in our house while J is in charge.

Good thing that Crayola has non-toxic markers. J decided to not wait for dinner and munch on marker tips. From the looks of it, brown and red. He actually bit the tip off of one of them. Maybe now E will keep her markers in the baggie.

We are on the last episode of Stargate SG-1 season 6.

K slept all morning. An easy $40.00. Or so I thought. I felt it would be nice to send her off with a clean diaper. She had other thoughts. Whilst I had her diaper off, she decided to poop. Not even my own children have done that. It was on my carpet in three spots and on my hand. I had the clean diaper ready to go, so I used it to block. E earned some tokens in helping me get things to clean up.

Is there anything more annoying than a dog with that plastic cone on his head? Hunter is still totally unaware of the area required to move about with an extra wide head, even though he has worn the cone for ten days. I am tired of being nudged and poked by plastic, of it getting caught on doorways and furniture, of him knocking over Josh.

But tomorrow morning by 7:45 am, it should all change. The stitches come out. I am guessing that Hunter will be just as glad as I am. He will be able to chew his toys, scratch, and clean himself properly. Watching him try to do so now is quite comical.

In addition to his obliviousness to head size, he is in great need of a bath. His stitches require dryness. His smell requires shampoo and wetness.

I have been doing better as of late at not getting too impatient with E when she acts up. My voice has been level, I haven't gotten short tempered, and I have been matter of fact with my instructions for if she continues to misbehave.

However, she did test me yesterday (with me failing slightly,) when after doing her potty dance, she refused to use the potty. I took her to the bathroom all the while she's telling me doesn't have to go. She stood there and refused to go. My patience was not so patient. She leaked a little in her underpants and the floor and refused to go. My voice was not so level. I stuck her on the potty and she refused to go. My temper was getting short.

This not getting to the potty in time and/or refusing to use it thing is getting old.

What is stewardship? Taking care of that which is entrusted to us.

God has entrusted to us His creation. What are we doing with it? We are exploiting it, using up the resources, polluting it. Well, some of us humans are, anyway.

I am trying to do better. I recycle, I reuse, I reduce, I conserve, I am teaching my children to do the same. Today I talked on this topic at my MOPS meeting. I feel I did a fair job of painting a "be a good steward" picture. I received good feedback. There is so much I could have said, so many more ways to help the earth. I gave suggestions, but really each of us has to find the place where God wants us to make a difference.

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I started watching Kaila yesterday. She is such a little peanut at 6 pounds. She slept the entire time (3.5 hrs), with nary a cry for food. She showed her eyes a few times then settled in for more sleeping. I guess when you're 2 months and 6 pounds, you have some growing to do. Her mother, Stephanie, said that maybe she'll be more alert in the afternoons. I watch her again tomorrow afternoon. We'll see.

E ~ How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love to snuggle with you and breath deep of your smell. Your laughter is music for my ears. You never tire of sending me inquiries of the world around you. You wrap your little arms around my neck and hold on tight. I love to sit quietly with on my lap and be close. I can never give you enough kisses. I love your attentiveness to your brother. You like to help me do tasks around the house. You want to be read to. You are my special girl.

J ~ How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love you snuggle with you and breath deep of your smell. I love to watch you explore, looking to me and saying with your eyes, "Look at this, Mommy!" Your chatter is endless. Your little hands are learning to give hugs. I can never give you enough kisses. I love to hold you and feel your head on my shoulder. You point and ask "What's that?" You find great pleasure in simple games. Your giggle is infectious. You are my special boy.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention that during our time at the cabin, I managed to get the upper hand of a game called Quorridor. I lost many games in a row, but no longer. I will win some too.

I also must mention I am posting while watching the Phillies play. Tomorrow starts their season. G, my sister and I will be enjoying them at the game next Wednesday. It is a free retro
Phillies t-shirt day and dollar dog day. We like dollar dog days. And I like free t-shirts.

G and I finally officially instituted E's token system. Hanging in the nook is her chart of earning tokens, losing tokens and trading tokens. She redeemed two for me painting her finger and toe nails, while watching her "Emily" movie. I believe the token system will help with her behavior.

Thanks P!

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OK, the anomaly. Sometime several weeks ago, I got the notion that I might like to watch some of P's beloved sci-fi. While visiting my husband's friend, I noticed they had season 1, 2 and 3 of Stargate SG -1. I borrowed the first season and have been hooked ever since. I mentioned my new found like of the show to P, and she proceeded to buy the entire series. She's had it on her Amazon.com wish list for a while and saw the price drop dramatically, so she made a purchase. During the time I was with P at the cabin, from Friday to the following Saturday, we managed to watch nearly five seasons of the show. We had a blast watching together and laughing at the witty lines of the characters. I have missed her company while watching them alone. I find myself wanting to turn to her and share a laugh at something someone said or guessing the plot and being right.

Since I have become a fan of Stargate SG-1 and have been watching practically nonstop (P sacrificed watching her new purchase and left the series with me for my viewing pleasure,) I've managed to hook G into my obsession. He said today that he wants to watch them now. I don't mind him wanting to watch them with me, mind you, but it does put a cramp into my watching progress, since he works all day, and I can sit in front of the TV or computer all day.

I know, I know, it's been awhile. I've said before, that I'd like to write more often, but it just doesn't happen, though this might be the winner of the largest gap in my writing.

Since my last post, I have, well, it's been so long, I can't sum it up. I can say that the night before the last post I did agree to speak at my MOPS group about being good stewards of God's creation. I speak in a little more than a week, and I am still not ready.

I will highlight my week at the cabin. I love going to the cabin. I have gone there all of my years. I hold memories dear to me of my time spent there with my family. I now have memories of time spent there with my bestest friend. The five of us people and two animals drove up on a Friday, G drove back home for work on Monday morning, than back again Thursday night. The rest of us spent the week in our cozy cabin. We had many a fire, many a game, and many a Stargate SG-1 episode (I will discuss this anomaly in more detail later.) P has taken many a moss photo. Actually she has taken many a photo in general with her ten (alright, three) cameras (she did bring ones that she didn't use.) We even had a short power outage when on a windy day, a tree fell in a neighboring lot taking down another tree and some power lines. PP&L was snappy in fixing it but not snappy in taking my call.

I had a very relaxing week. I was a bit concerned that P would not find enjoyment during her stay at the place I enjoy retreating to most. But she embraced "my" little "Rock Haven" (the name my grandparent gave their mountain home) as much as I did. She could have used an elevator though. It does have a few steps to the "first" floor. And I think she wouldn't object to a dishwasher either.

My weekend with P is almost over.


We have played many a game, of which she thinks I have the most wins. We have watched 9.5 movies (we are watching one now,) eaten copious amounts of Double Peanut Butter cookies and other foods, stayed up late and slept in late (as much as possible with a 3 and 1 year old.)

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I just realized I never posted this.