38 weeks and counting

Good morning!
Just popping in to say hello.  We are still here, still waiting, still looking forward to meeting this little blessing. 

The family has been busy as usual.  The children have begun FIRST Lego League (well i have too as i am coach for our 4th year running!)  We have been blessed with dear families in our homeschool group who have become friends seemingly overnight.  Seeing friendly, familiar faces at Mass has been a joy after several years of knowing no one as other than familiar faces, with no names. Co-ops are starting up in our homeschool group and life is getting to be in full swing again.
We will begin our new school year after baby is born.  Cat has periodically asked for schoolwork (B is working on stuff daily so it not unusual for her to see him working and ask for her own)  I have managed to throw together a few trays of practical life activities and math work for her.... that seems to be all she needs for now. (Phew!) 
We have been busy as a family preparing for the arrive of our newest little one. We have been through clothes, and washed the bassinet and car seat.  The crib is last to be put together and all should be good!

We have been busy finishing up the unpacking, putting away, and getting rid of, that always seems to elude us at the end of a move.  This time we are actually doing it.  My goal is no boxes!

Nina (my mom) came to visit and helped out for a week.  We also had Uncle Joe, Aunt Jennifer and V. here- Hurricane Irene was kind enough to send them to our door step!

I have been resting, totally unlike me, and it has helped immensely.  One would think i would learn a little something from that...but alas, no.  Feeling better  = up and running in my book.  I do rest throughout the day still, but having spent a full week mainly laying down, my brain is tired of it.

Well, i better run as kids are waking up!
Hopefully my next post will be news of the wee one! 

Mmm-Mmm Better Brownies (but we consider them the best!)

Here is the promised brownie recipe ...and only 5 days later! :  )

It comes from allrecipes.com

Ingredients:

1/2 c vegetable oil

1 c white sugar

1 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

1/2 c flour

1/3 c cocoa powder

1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350
• Grease 9x9 baking pan
• In medium bowl mix oil, sugar, and vanilla
• Beat in eggs
• Combine in seperate  bowl, flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt
• Gradually stir into egg mixture until well blended
• Spread batter evenly into prepared pan
• Bake 20 - 25 minutes, or until brownie begins to pull away from edge of pan
• Let cool before cutting (if you can wait that long!!!!)

We love these Brownies!  We needed the recipe because we had another that did not work out and we then had the cocoa powder to use.  What a great find!
We hope you enjoy them as much as our family does!

My next post will be the brownie recipe! ~a

Still here...still pregnant......

Dear Friends,

Sorry that I haven't written a post in a while, but....

• trying to get ready for the upcoming school year
• in my 9th month of pregnancy
• with gestational diabetes
• with carpal tunnel issues
• with swelling in my feet and hands
• with weekly appointments (soon to be twice a week)
• with doctors who don't listen
• with people who think that anyone who is pregnant is obviously on their first child (regardless of how many of my 5 kids are with me at the time)
• in NC during the hottest part of the summer
• with no regular sleep 
• and none expected for the next eighteen years or so 
• and, oh, so much more......
• trying to get boxes unpacked before it is time to move again (whenever that may be)
• my aunt and uncle stopped by for a visit
• starting up another year of lego league with not 1, not 2, but 4 teams that I am coaching/mentoring (two FLL and two Jr FLL teams) and currently, all are meeting weekly at our house
• hosting a Pampered Chef Party
• now currently involved in local homeschool group
• welcome committee
• website committee
• curriculum fair/info event
• used book sale
• co-op
• trying to maintain a well run home 
• a husband who tries to help but often misses
• trying to keep the kids from killing each other (or themselves) by
• jumping down the stairs (4 or more at a time...stairs, not children)
• playing hockey/football/baseball/ basketball/soccer in the house
• swordplaying
• throwing each other at someone else
• flying projectiles.....or something like that
• whipping their siblings with clothing
• making mom upset by not listening
• did I mention pregnant?
• money
• or lack thereof...
• keeping my sanity
• or lack thereof....
• worrying about family and friends, and which hospital they are calling from
•  and normal everyday life

Going forward I will try to post more often (maybe). I hope that you are doing well. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Your Friend,

Allison (ghostwritten by her loving husband while waiting for the brownies to finish cooking)

A Quick Hello

yes, we're still here! : )

Lately i've been trying to get myself organized for the upcoming school year, while trying to finish up this one.  We got such a late start that we are still working .... but that's ok, NC summers are awfully hot and school work keeps us from being indoors with nothing to do in the middle of the day.  Mornings after breakfast the kids do head outside for a bit ...and also in the evenings after dinner.

We had a surprise trip to the eastern part of the state recently as my father-in-law ended up in the hospital while at a conference.  The kids got to spend the weekend with their cousin (and aunt and uncle) - they enjoyed the visit immensely...i think my brother and his family survived!  : )

Now everyone is home and as i said earlier, we are looking toward this new school year...and a new little one who will be here sooner than later!  
This year i am trying something new for us, combining grade levels i guess you could say.  T and Ladybug are supposedly going to be studying church history together as well as zoology, art and music.  Cat and Bear will be doing about the same just at a lower level...except not zoology but physical science montessori style.  And they are all doing geography - continent boxes and such if i can get my act together. Oh!  And Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. 
Unfortunately the printer is out of ink so i an procrastinating.... i need to just do things the old fashioned way and be done with it!  Also, i lack any motivation what so ever so things are slow going at the moment.  I'd like to start the 15th of August but we shall see....

We are also in the planning stages for 'other stuff' for the new year.  FLL/FTC/JrFLL and the homeschool group are our focus it seems ...sports will wait til spring, if we make it that far! : )

The house is coming along, slowly but surely.  Eventually pictures may appear here on the blog. 

We are awaiting a visit from Great-aunt Pat and Great-uncle Bob, maybe Aunt Monika (if Nina - my mom - can talk her into it.  She is going to be in the states for a month and we would love to see her!) and eventually Nina.  My mom will come down around the baby's due date ... hopefully.  Time will tell.  Papa will be home working crowd control, which should be easy seeing as only uncle Mike is still at home! : )  

Well, i best run.  Have a blessed evening...and thanks for stopping by!