Sabbath

Trying out my clothes for Next week - Sunday 6th September will be my blessing day!! On Fathers Day.. how fitting.. I will be Daddy's gift :)

My Three White Dresses


My mom bought me a white dress,
Not red or pink or blue.
She said it was a special dress
Like very other few.
There has been just one before,
A dress now put away,
That I wore some time ago
Upon my blessing day.
As a little baby clothed
In my first white dress,
My dad held me in his arms,
There to name and bless.So pure and clean was I just then,
With time to grow and learn
About the Father’s plan for me.
My glory I must earn.


Now I’ve reached the age to judge
The wrong road from the right,
And I am here to be baptized
In this dress of white.
So once again I’m free from sin.
The path is clear to me.
I’ll grasp the rod and hold on tight,
I vow with certainty.
Just as mud would stain my dress,
Sin would stain my soul.
The key is to repent or bleach,
For whiteness is my goal.


And if I try my very best,
Then richly blessed I’ll be,
Wearing inside God’s holy house
White dress number three.
So today I make this pledge:
I’ll strive to choose the right,
Through this sacred baptism ordinance
In my second dress of white.
(Linda Gay Perry Nelson, 1993)

I'm not tortured..

Not at all...


Yes they put her in the doll pram and pushed her around :) Miss N is definately smothered with love here

From Blah to Blessings

So I praise anyone out there who has a bunch of children.. its hard work.. especially in the early weeks of trying to get the baby into a routine and nut out feeding issues etc, whilst trying not to neglect the other children (cause OH they remind you about their neglect!)

So while I was having an emotional breakdown the last two days Blessings have come in bounteous ways!!

The MR was at meetings until late last night and had to work a double shift today (he hasnt be able to have any time off with this baby), we had a house inspection due (OH MY!)My mother is attending to funerals and the like, I have a urinary tract infection and needed to go to the doctor (I have never had one before, and Oh ladies who have, I feel for you - IT IS NOT NICE!)and our little miss G got poop on all on my Bed!! I am sure there were other things.. this list is not long enough for how overwhelmed I felt this morning.. probably naughty kids,every room a mess and feeling like I have no friends etc.

To say that I started the day crying is an understatement!! But God is merciful - YES He is!

The MR comforted me and asked if I was going to be ok.

My mum rang and I complained on the phone to her for an hour while I power cleaned from 7-8:30am (I think I clean better while I am on the phone!!)

I ignored the other children (i will try this more often - just tune it all out!!)

Miss K burped and held Miss N for me the whole time

A friend dropped by to give me homemade pumpkin bread, strawberries,and socks for Miss N (dont know where all the baby socks are but she has none) saw my condition and offered to take Miss G for the day while I go to the doctor (when I saw her car pull up I actually thought that the MR may have rung her to come over as he was questioning my emotional status - I was embarrassed as she is the bishops wife and has 3 small kids of her own - but turned out she was just randomly dropping by :)

The house inspection lady came and I was able to scare her off in 2 mins.. I was changing the babies poopy nappy, mentioning I was just headed off to the doctor and she was like, "oh I can see your busy, I won't keep you" - while I tried to distract her from the messy house with getting her to look at my cute baby !! Oh excuse the house, haven't done much, since I have a 3 WEEK OLD BABY!! Worked a treat and off she ran, happy with how we are keeping the house :)

Got my meds from the doctor!!

All my worries said and gone by 11:30am!!

I know the Lord sees our trials. Many times I have felt alone and it seemed like there was no help. But I know the Lord does help us, and sends us miracles from time to time.

Today felt like a miracle!!

And I shall sit here in peace and quiet alone counting my blessings - because 3 of them will be back home soon making noise.

The Proof is in the Pudding

So does Miss N look like her sisters? A Question I am asked a lot lately

Baby One - Miss K



Baby Two - Miss A



Baby Three - Miss G



Baby Four - Miss N



UUUMMMM.....YEAH......

Sabbath

Pray in your families unto the father, always in my name, that your wives and children may be blessed ~ 3 Nephi 18:21

Party for One

Is there any food that is safe to eat when pregnant? Look at this list for all the no no's - is there any food left??

By your fourth I think you relax a bit - I did cut out the seafood, salami type meats and Soft cheeses, such as brie, camembert, ricotta but still ate salads, chicken and deli/Salad bar stuff.

So for nine months no Camembert :(
Well I changed that today... YUM!!

Lucky I bought a whole wheel of the stuff - of course I had to share - The girls were very happy with afternoon tea today!!

Sabbath

I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. ~ Genesis 9:13-16


we had this gorgeous rainbow over our house this week. On closer inspection it was acutally a double rainbow.... we felt lucky!

Most Used Item

*cause I need to be hands free* Thanks Jenny for the sling :)

Introducing

Nataliya Mary Comber

HA! had you all... of course it was a last minute entry into the name race. I broke so many of my naming rules!! That's what happens when the MR has to be involved!

WE have had Talia on a baby name list since our first daughter. But we have a few friends who named their children that, so off the list it went. It was on there because it means 'dew from heaven' something that has sentimental reasons to me from something THE MR said to me when we were first married... (ANYWAYS.. moving on)

I usually choose names that have beautiful meanings. Now don't get me wrong - it would be sacreligious to say that this name doesnt have a beautiful meaning...

BUT Nataliya means "Birthday" - Christ's Birthday to be precise (All good if you are born around Christmas) and Mary means "Sea of Bitterness" (OH OH - but I shall go with if it is good enough for the Mother of Christ, its a nice name - but it was chosen as all the girls have family history names, not because of religion) and we usually steer clear of Mormon/churchy names!!!

Oh and I got the spelling off some movie credits - The MR suggested he like the name Natalia and we were watching a movie and one of the actors real names was Natalya - I said I like - so if you need Baby name inspiration watch movie credits :)

so now the girl has the most religious name in the world!! I had to figure out reasons why.. Important to the crazy brain that is mine :)

So here is the TMI (TOO MUCH INFORMATION PART)

This precious one was a surprise (not expected, doesn't mean not wanted, but a surprise none the less :) So at first all those selfish feelings of 'I dont want to be sick, can we?, oh my, etc etc surfaced.

A month later I had the scariest week of my life as I suffered miscarriage symptoms. And felt immediately GUILTY!! for the previous thoughts! I spent Christmas deep in thought and in love with this unborn baby, wishing it to live. I also had the ultrasound that gave us the good news that she was indeed a tough survivor and a miracle on my birthday (just after Christmas) (why I thought having that type on potential bad news delivered on my birthday would be a good idea???? Lucky it turned out to be a wonderful birthday present)

ANYWAY - this is my reasoning to why I like her name AND it's Meaning :)

She's our Christmas Miracle :)



******** approved nickname list*********

Liya
Taliya
Tali
Nali
Ya ya
Ta Ta
Na Na

AFTER!!

Minutes Old


24 hours Old








Photos courtesy of Zanabelle Photography The ONLY photographer I use in times need :)

BEFORE

Now just waiting for AFTER

(I am not going to do any more posts until this baby comes!! So see you with the news in a week or so)

Photos courtesy of Zanabelle Photography go there to see them in better detail and to book her of course!!

Strawberry Fields forever..

We celebrated my nephew's 3rd birthday at Strawberry Fields with one of their Party plans. A bit of a drive for us, but if I lived up that way, I would definately consider it for the girls. They loved it. (Though the teenage party host could have been more interested and engaging :)




Party games, Cake, Strawberries, Picking with Grandad, Grandma Kisses, Spoilt by Aunts and Uncles, Warm sun.. what more could you want?

Steam

we had fun with our obligatory hot milo's this morning. If only the weather would make up it's mind. Almost summer days, then back to chilly again.

Fairy Making

Using this wonderful guide from Filth Wizardry we made fairy wings for all our tiny dolls.

Print, colour and laminate butterfly wings found at Filth Wizardry.

Search house for dolls - polly pocket, troll dolls. old mcdonalds plastic crap toys, would probably work on any plastic dolls really.

Using pipecleaners (we used rubber bands) poke hole in wings and attach to dolls



Watch kids rediscover old toys!! Most of our dolls were dug out of the bottom of toy boxes and out of the garden, where they had rolled off the varandah!! We made about 10 in the end.

From the Cupboard - entirely!!

I saw a friend's facebook status that said - flour, sugar, canned pineapple = cake even the kids can make.

That got me interested, so I googled it - and guess what it is true!!

I have very few recipes that are ENTIRELY from the cupboard... meaning No eggs, butter, milk, cream cheese etc!! I like the thought of knowing atleast a few recipes incase of having to eat that food storage :) and this one is YUM!!


Easy Pineapple Cake

For the cake:

1 can crushed pineapple, undrained (I used regular pineapple pieces)
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

For the glaze
2 tablespoons pineapple juice (reserved from tin)
1 cup icing sugar


Preparation:
1. In a bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, sugar and vanilla.
2. Gently mix in the undrained can of crushed pineapple. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the pineapple juice to use in the glaze.
3. Pour into a greased and floured 9×13 pan.
4. Bake 35-40 minutes (until the center is set). Let cool for 5-6 minutes.
5. Pour the glaze over the hot cake.

NOTES
It does taste best warm
It can go a bit rubbery (no eggs or butter etc) but I still liked it
It was a little too sweet (OH those US recipes!!) with all that sugar, I found a similar Australian recipe that said just 1 cup of sugar.
I used half brown sugar, half white and used half whole meal flour and half white and tasted yum.

VERY EASY and made my - no yummy food in the house, and lack of ingredients, but I have a craving for something sweet Saturday :)

Sabbath

My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue only; but in deed and in truth ~ 1 John 3:18

Trash Talking

Yes... only my girls..

Trying my best at allowing unsupervised play (I can hear them on the lane, but not see them)

I come out and find :

Ingenious method of getting in the bin (not the first time by the time I photographed)


Then get stronger neighbour boy to pick up bin and push you around


= hours of fun

to their defence.. they chose the recycle bin as it was cleaner and had nothing in it, but some cardboard.

I made them bathe as soon as they entered the house...ewwwwwww

How's them apples

A friend bought the most delicious apple crumble tart thingy's to bookclub... we have an overabundance of apples due to our market runs... so I had to make them... I put it down to cravings :) LOL and too many apples :)

She put hers in premade tartlet shells - I recommend, hers tasted better, but my shop didnt have any :(

So I cut out some circles from shortcrust pastry and placed them in my muffin tin.

In a bowl grate apples (about 4), a little lemon juice, caster sugar to taste (maybe 1/4 cup) and cinnamon.

Spoon into tart shells

Topping
1/2 cup cold butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup flour (I used wholemeal)

Mix to breadcrumb consistency

sprinkle over tarts

Bake 20 mins

YUM!!



I had left over topping (and that is a halved recipe..) so I made more the next day!! They are good hot, cold, with cream, with custard... anytime really :)

Taggie Giraffe and Blankie

Yesterday I saw a Taggie Giraffe Tutorial on Chasing Cheerios and HAD to make one!! Hers are totally cute!! If you are good at sewing, you could do this in like 15 mins! I took longer as I mistakedly cut the giraffes facing the same direction !! so had to cut more for the other side.

I didn't have too much material to play with as I have been recycling the girls old stained dresses to do most of my sewing these days. I totally recommend it, as some of the dresses had stains on the front but the rest of the material is perfect and cute!! I used a friends rotary cutter a few weeks ago to cut the dresses up into fat quarters.. I have a pile of lovely fabrics - for FREE!! A few of The MR's shirts got cut up too!!

My only problem.. the other girls like to think the things I sew are for them... so we have whipped up a couple more to keep their dirty mitts off the one for baby.. so my 15 mins turned into hours at the machine with all the girls around me.

After that I was inspired to make a Taggie Blanket for my own baby using left overs from the last one I made for my neice Tag Blanket Tutorial Here

Now I should be doing useful things like filling my freezer with precooked dinners or something... OH well..... too bad :)

Smells Like School Spirit

we might not win, or be good runners at all.. oh but we are good at team spirit :) Blue Hair, painted faces, searching the entire house for any Blue clothes we own.. we even took blue blankets to sit on! And I am not biased when I say their team had the best and loudest cheers... most often sung.



GO PERKINS!!!