Allow me to invite you to join us in the car.  Let's say that we just dropped the older kids off at school and have three year old Lauren Elizabeth in the back seat with us.  This is a little example of what type of conversation she might try to have with you.  Don't worry...I'll be your interpreter, but first - see if you can guess what she means.  (She actually uses these words...no kidding.)
     Lauren:
     "I'm so full.  I ate so much searul for breakfast.  I drank my gum gum too.  It was hard to get my sippery done because my tummy was so big.  Last night we had pasketti with Papa John cheese on it and I asked for two oils after dinner.  I love oils and so do my brothers.  Donkey donuts are yummy too.  Mommy said that we didn't have any so she gave us a little bit of anola ice cream after our pasketti instead.  After we were done, I played with the cat and made sure not to get near her sharps.  I don't like sharps.  I like chop sticks though.  I have Strawberry cupcake chops sticks.
     The cat sat under our table last night when we played Oh-No.  Mommy says that she used to play Oh-No when she grew up in Howaiio. 
     Oh look!  There's the store that had the man with the big bear.  We went there after the Chick Fil A truck came and fixed our car.  The man with the big bear fixed our car too.  That was fun. 
     Okay, I'm tired now so I think I'll take a nap. 

These are the meanings:

Searul = Cereal
Gum Gum = Milk (We've never been able to figure out why)
Sippery = Zipper
Pasketti = Spaghetti
Papa John Cheese = Parmesan cheese
Oils = Oreos
Donkey Donuts = Dunkin Donuts
Anola = Vanilla
Sharps = Claws
Chop Sticks = Chap Stick
Strawberry Cupcake = Strawberry Shortcake
Oh-No = Uno
Howaiio = Ohio
Bear = Beard
Chick Fil A = Triple A (AAA)
   
     If you know what she means, even though it seems like a different language, it becomes strange at how much you actually comprehend.  We know what she's saying but have to remind ourselves when she says out loud "Look!  A bear!" due to her fascination with beards for whatever reason, other people have no idea what she means.  Many strange glances have come our way at the grocery store. 
    It's bittersweet to know that her mix-ups will soon be gone.  She seems to be growing much too quickly and we're beginning to see her correct herself daily.  
   No matter what, I don't care how old she gets or how tall she grows...nothing will keep me from sharing a scoop of ice cream with her just like when she was my little girl...especially the anola.

    What would you do if you could go back in time and get a glimpse of your spouse when they were younger?  I had a little bit of an opportunity to do that over the weekend.
     Adam went to school at the Air Force Academy back in the mid-90's.  He had one roommate for his freshman and sophomore years, then another roommate during his junior and senior years.  Adam got out of the Air Force a few years back, but his two roommates stayed in.  They both fly the B-2 Stealth Bomber, and his second roommate is a test pilot as well.  This past weekend, he was on an assignment nearby so he came to see Adam. 
      Holy moly.  To hear these two was the biggest kick as they reminisced about their school days.  They laughed and shared memories of days gone by.  It was fun for the kids to hear what Adam was like "a long time ago" and it was good for me to get a hint into his past. 
      What I didn't expect - was to learn things.  Nothing bad, but little details like, when Adam is done eating, he puts his knife and fork in a certain way at the top of his plate.  He's always done this, but I had no idea that it was from school.  It was almost strange to see both of them do it after dinner when they were finished. 
      I didn't realize that Adam has ALWAYS set his alarm clock at odd minutes at least a half an hour before he needed to wake up - then have it continue to go off every ten minutes in between.  (It evidently drove his roommate nuts too.) 
      The weekend was full of great conversation and spending time with an even greater friend.  It was a nice reminder to appreciate and keep good people in your life.  Adam had such a wonderful time and it was nice to listen to the two of them go on.  
      His roommate went back to his assignment today and will soon go home to his wife and kids.  I am in awe of what they do and how well his family stays strong through the time apart.  I have reminders of Adam's military past but they live through it daily. 
      To his college roommate, Thank you for taking the time to visit.  It meant more to Adam than you could possibly know.  Words are not enough to express the gratitude for all that you and your family do.  Get home safely and we hope to see you all soon...and I'll make sure not to pack an alarm clock.  :) 

     I try to stay pretty far away from writing about politics or religion.  I have my own personal views and faith but this is a Mommy blog...not a place where I am likely to discuss these issues.  When something so dramatic happens though...it's hard not to talk about it.
     Over the summer, I was in a Bible study with a group of friends.  We all started talking about the economy and how stressful it's become to even get a tank of gas.  One of the girls brought up the Bible verse Malachi 3:10.  It's basically the only place in the entire Bible where God actually challenges you to test Him.  He says that if you give your first ten percent to Him...He will "pour out a blessing so great" that you will not have enough room to receive it.  
     Hmmmm. 
    This seemed too good to be true but after the Bible Study I talked it over with my husband nonetheless.  We sat down and figured out what the actual ten percent of what we make would be and realized that we weren't giving what we should.  It was hard though.  We kept saying to each other..."When we have more...we'll give more".   
     We both felt that we needed everything we had, just to take care of the kids, the mortgage, bills, food.  That's just it though...that's what the whole message is all about. 
     If you look at how you spend your money, most people would take the first amount for what they needed, ie. house, bills, cars, etc.  The next part would go to the government by way of taxes.  Anything left would go to the extras...things you don't really need...but just want.  That's what we typically do.  The last of all on most accounts...is to take what little is left and hand it over in the offering plate with a "well- I did my duty" feeling. 
     According to Malachi 3:10, that's completely backwards.  The first ten percent of that money should go to God with a happy heart.  It shouldn't feel like a chore or a responsibility, but instead, a feeling of gratefulness.  All that we have is from Him, so it's our way of being thankful to Him. 
     You might not believe that it could be this simple, but I'm telling you...we've done it over the past few months and words can't explain how much it's changed things.  At times it has blown us away. 
     I've gone back and forth with whether or not to write about it but when you've experienced something so good and amazing...you want to share it with your friends and family.  
     So - wake up this Sunday, go to church, give your best and see what happens.  We would love to hear what happens with you!
If you like our blog, Please click on the picture of this Mama for a Vote!  Thank You!

    It's been a year since our first post was written.  What a fun time it has been.  Thank You for coming along with us and joining in our ups and downs.  
    I know I've said this before but if you ever have any interest in writing at ALL, I urge that you do.  No matter where you may be in your life, it's good to get your thoughts and feelings down.  It will be something that you'll have to reflect on in the future.
    I started this blog to act as a journal for our kids.  I wanted to record the things that happened in their childhood in hopes that they'll enjoy it when they're older.  I never could have imagined the fulfillment I would have gained from doing so.  It's been fun to look back through the year and I only hope that our children will agree in years to come.
    Thank you again for joining us.  Your comments, "likes" and votes have been such a treat - and it makes us feel close to our friends and family, near and far. 
    To Christian, Ethan, Preston and Lauren Elizabeth, we Love You more than anything on this Earth.  Your Dad and I try to teach you all about life, when the whole while...you are teaching us what life is all about.  Love, Love, Love, Love to You.

     Have you ever had one of those nights, where out of nowhere you're wide awake?  You know, the kind when it feels like it's 1:00 in the afternoon but it's one in the morning instead?  When that happens, do me a favor and look out your window to see if there's a full moon.
     I have no idea why but it seems to happen almost every month.  Not only do I wake up but all four kids seem to take turns coming into our room at all hours of the night with the..."I can't sleep" syndrome. 
     I have been told that it could be due to the moon being full.  As crazy as it seems, someone once said that the reasoning behind this is as simple as the sea.  Our bodies are made up of water just like the ocean.  The moon controls the tide and affects when it's high and low.  The same principles apply to our bodies so that when the moon is full, it in effect "pulls" us awake.
    This seems to be about the wildest thing possible and I would love to know if there's any truth to it.  It's seems to be pretty far fetched but one thing's for sure...last night...full moon and yep...wide awake. 
     Now if I start howling...we've got bigger fish to fry.

     I'm a believer that if you have the time to say or write something when you're angry...you should also then take the time to give credit when credit is due.  With that being said, "Thank you Sears".
     If you've followed our almost two month struggle with the company, you know that our washing machine broke, which led to a series of frustrations.  The post I had written towards the beginning of the month explained it all.  
http://www.peanutbutterhair.com/1/post/2013/02/sears.html
     Here we are at the end of it and I'm happy to report that Sears did in fact, replace the machine.  They finally sent a different repair man to our house who ended up taking one look at the situation and rubbed his head.  He reported back to the company with the request of the replacement on the count that it was next to impossible to put the whole machine back together, let alone try to figure out what was wrong with it to fix.  (Thank you Sears guy with wisdom.) 
    It took a few more ups and downs, but we were finally given a "code" and were told to go to our local store to order a replacement washer.  It felt very James Bond to have this code.  Adam and I studied and researched each machine as the four kids played hide and seek throughout.  Finally deciding on one we both agreed with, it was set.  The washer was ordered and was to be delivered in two days time. 
    It arrived on Thursday night and the six of us stood together looking at it when the two Sears men left.  There was a state of giddiness as Adam and I tried to decide what to wash first.  Going with the sheets, we loaded the machine with bedding as all six of us pushed the start button together for the very first time.  Pile after pile of towels, sheets, clothes...the weekend has been full of catching up and putting away so now the house feels like it's back in order.
      It's amazing how the simple daily things we have - often go unappreciated until they're gone.
     So, all is well.  We're thankful to Sears for finally replacing the machine.  It was a long haul, but we're glad it's over.  -whew-

     I know you're not supposed to label your kids.  "My kid is the 'smartest,' or my child is the 'funniest'.  They say that if your children hear you refer to them as a characteristic, they begin to believe that that's what they "are". 
     With that being said, our kid is a nerd.  We don't say this in front of him because we don't mean it in a bad way.  Actually, just the opposite.  He is the sweetest, kindest, smartest son we ever could have hoped for.  He was not only born an "old soul", he came out as a 90 year old man.  We teasingly call him Alex P. Keaton (from the show Family Ties) and fully expect him to be sitting at the kitchen table any given morning reading the business section of the newspaper - with a cup of coffee.  He's in the third grade mind you.
     Over the past few weeks, his class has been working like mad for their school play.  The music director, teachers, parents, students...on and on...have spent countless hours dedicated to this Spring performance.  Our son Christian had a part in the play.  He was very hesitant about it at first and wouldn't even talk about it.  We tried to ask him what it was about but he would only say, "It's a surprise.  You'll see it when it's time."
     Last night was the night.  As we walked into the school, Christian pulled the back of my coat and said, "Mom, my stomach feels nervous."  Giving him the strongest hug, I whispered in his ear.  "You're going to do great.  Go up there and have fun.  Don't worry about anything, okay?"  Pulling back so none of his friends might see, he nodded.  "Okay.  But if I look angry when I'm on the stage, don't get upset.  I'm not really mad."  
     Having no idea what that meant, Christian met with his class as we found our seats.  The show was amazing.  It was hard to believe that these were third graders with the amount of lines they had to memorize and songs they had to learn.  It was based on the class taking a cruise where everything went wrong.  
     A few songs into the show, we saw Christian sneak off of the stage to get ready.  My stomach went through my chest and my heart began to pound.  
     Within a minute or two, he came out with two other boys that made up a band.  A ROCK band.  He played a life preserver guitar with a cool dude hat and shades on.  He was having a ball.  Our little Alex P. Keaton was having fun, on stage...in front of everybody.  The same kid who gets mad for a two hour snow delay because he'll miss morning classes...was rocking out.  Snarly look, head nodding, rocker.  
     It took a minute for me to believe, then I just sat back and laughed.  I didn't know he had it in him.  The other kids in the band were awesome and then one of his buddies came in with a harmonica and fell down to his knees playing.   
    Like I said before, I know we're not supposed to label our kids.  It was a good reminder to me how true this is.  Whether our kids are smart, athletic, funny, artistic...you never know when they might surprise you. 
    Rock on little Dude. 

     Working as a therapist, I'm fortunate to come across people in all stages of life.  Some of the best  people are over the age of 85.  The countless number of stories and adventures they can tell will sometimes boggle the mind. 
      A woman who is one of the most amazing of all, is 99 years old.  I am lucky enough to spend time with her and hear of her life.  The 1930's, 40's, 50's...she can tell you things you wouldn't believe with a gleam in her eye and a smile through her memories.  She's as sharp as a tack.
      Yesterday, I asked her what the secret to living almost 100 years is.  (She'll be 100 in a few months.)
      Taking my hand, she rubbed the back of my arm.  Looking right into my eyes, she leaned forward and said..."Hard work".  (What?)  That's not exactly what I expected.  I was counting on her answer to be "Faith, love, happiness, friends and family..."  Nope.  She said..."Hard work." 
     A little taken back, I asked her to explain.
     "Honey, I've worked hard my whole life.  I grew up on a farm.  I have never been afraid to do work and I believe that's the secret.  The day you decide to stop moving or stop being active, is the day that it's all downhill from there." 
      I smiled and squeezed her hand.  It's a good lesson learned I guess.  You sure can't argue with the woman since she could probably take out half of the 80 year olds in the facility.  
      I got home last night and thought a little more about what she said.  We try to raise the kids with all of the important things in life.  It was a gentle reminder to me that not only faith, love, family and friends are what really matter.  A good outlook on a solid work ethic, no matter what the job may be...might just be what the doctor ordered.

    My sides hurt.  My back and stomach muscles are screaming at me.  I wish I could say that it's from an awesome workout, but it's not.  Let me go back a little...
    I started a new job a few weeks ago.  It's only a couple of days a week at a wonderful rehab facility but the days have been long.  My problem is that I don't eat or drink any water when I'm there.  I should, but I don't.  I've been going home shaky and dehydrated.
     The other night, my parents watched the kids so Adam and I could have a late Valentine's date with dinner and a movie.  With my starving level of weakness...by the time we made it to the restaurant, I wanted to order everything on the menu.  I settled for a buffalo chicken sandwich with onion rings.  I inhaled all of my food and a few fries from Adam's plate.  I ate too quickly but didn't care.  Leaving for the movies, I joked with Adam that it felt like a rock was in my stomach. 
   Continuing our date, we both fell prey to the smell of popcorn that greeted us in the theatre.  Getting one big bag, a box of Milk Duds and a huge pop, we smiled as we carried our loot into the movie.  By the time the previews were over, I already felt a little sick.  
   On our way home, the rock that was in my stomach was taunting me.  It's a dangerous combination to go from not eating all day to totally pigging out. 
    (Oh well.  I'll just crawl into bed and it will be better in the morning.) 
     Enter...six in the morning...
     I don't drink.  I've actually never been drunk once in my life.  My friends and family know this about me and it's never really been a big deal.  I tease with Adam that for my 40th birthday in a few weeks, I want to try it for the first time.  If THAT'S what it feels like the next day though...I will reconsider.    
     Everything in me was queasy.  I sat straight up and put my face in my hands.  A running mantra of "I will not puke, I will not puke" began to spin through my head.  It was useless.  My mouth began to water and the horrible reminder of buffalo chicken and popcorn began to rise.  Shooting out of bed, I made a mad sprint to the bathroom.  Barely lifting the lid, it was like an exorcism.  The whole meal came gushing out.  In between heaves I heard Adam mutter, "What in the?" as he made his way to find me...curled over the toilet. 
     It kept coming.  I don't know how so much came out, but it did.  I puked up the chicken, the onion rings, French fries, milk duds...there was so much - that I swore the popcorn that was coming out had to of been from when I saw "The Goonies" in 1985.
     As Adam rubbed my back I could tell that he was holding his breath when he choked out, "Are you okay?" 
     I wiped some tears from my face and pulled myself up.  "Yeah.  I think it's all done now."  I gave him a weak hug of thanks and crawled into the shower.
     With my sore muscles from heaving an impossible amount, I have come to realize this.  Number one...I NEED to start eating and drinking water when I'm at work and number two...I'll have to seriously think twice about drinking anything BUT water on my 40th birthday.  (...or eating a buffalo chicken sandwich.)

     Back home in Ohio, there is a city called Lancaster that has the best cinnamon rolls I have ever had.  I miss a lot of things about home - and those warm, chewy cinnamon rolls are no exception. 
     Over the years I have tried like mad to find something to compare with my childhood memories.  I've gone to different restaurants, tried store bought brands, worked on recipe after recipe...nothing has come close to the cinnamon rolls from home though...until now.
     The Best Cinnamon Roll Recipe...EVER:
(The Dough)
1 packet of fast rising yeast (make sure that it's fast rising)
7 ounces of .milk
1 large egg
3 cups of .BREAD flour
3 Tablespoons of .sugar
1/2 teaspoon of salt
4 Tablespoons of butter

     Knead these ingredients together for about 20 minutes.  (It's a long time I know.)  
      After the dough has been kneaded, let it rest for another 15 minutes.  Here's where the good stuff comes in.  While it's resting, you can get started on the filling.  drooooool.

(The Filling)
3/4 Cup of Butter (softened)
3 Tablespoons of Cinnamon
1/2 Cup of Sugar
1/2 Cup of chopped pecans (if you wish)
Mix these ingredients together in a bowl.

    Pre-Heat the oven to 350*

    Roll the dough into a rectangular shape (about 14 x 9 inches) then spread the filling to cover the dough.  If there's a little filling left over...you can use it in a minute.
     From the long side of the rectangle, roll the dough into itself until it's in the shape of a roll.  Cut the roll into equal parts.  If you make the first cut in the center, it helps to equal the spacing.
    Prepare a buttered dish. (Here's where the extra filling comes in.)  You can use plain butter, non-stick spray, etc. but to knock your socks off - spread any left over butter filling from before on the dish instead. 
     Put the cinnamon rolls into the buttered dish and bake at 350* for about 30 to 40 minutes.

(The Frosting)
     If you're in a hurry, a quick fix to cinnamon roll bliss is to buy some cream cheese frosting in the baking section of your grocery store.  It's right there beside your vanilla and chocolate.  IF you're having a total Martha day though, you can whip some up from scratch.  Here you go...

4 Tablespoons of softened butter
6 ounces of softened cream cheese
2 cups of confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon of .vanilla

     Cream these ingredients together and spread over the cinnamon rolls when they're warm. 
      
     From our North Carolina home with a Buckeye heart to yours...Enjoy!