Aunt Kate

My Aunt Kate passed away with a heart attack suddenly Sunday after church. We were at the beach and came back a day early for a family session with Zack. Scott took a few kids and went to Memphis for that session and I went to Florence for the funeral. Chelsea went last night to visitation.....very "grown-up' of her (thank you bug!).

My Aunt Kate had been one of two lunchroom cooks at a small elementary school for (I believe I am right) 41 years. Everyone loved her! She had a great belly laugh and she will be so very missed. She was a strong Christian wife(her husband deceased), mother (to four children, one who is in heaven), grandmother, a wonderful sister and friend. She will be so greatly missed.

Incredible!

OUR Beach FAMILY...aka...the "Smotherman/Clinebell/Hannah/Burkhart/a few friends too" family



Our family:)


The Clinbells:)


The Hannahs, Burkharts and Hannah:) (missing Katie and Bailey...we MISSED you two!!!)

Incredible is the way we ended 2008!! What a week, although slightly shortened. Our time at the beach with Scott's parents and both his sisters families was, as always, wonderful. My kids love being with cousins and I love being with my very much loved "adult" family members:) We seem to be adding to the "adult" membership with our children who are now adults. They too are such a joy to be with and enjoy! Our weather was incredible. I didn't bring enough "hot temp" clothes! It was about 70 every day and very little wind, making it just near perfect! I have about a quarter of a bizillion pictures, all of which will not make it to the blog (but SOME will...so get ready!). Above are a few...just to start:)

Gone to the beach!!

By 8AM Christmas morning we will be on the road and headed South!! We are all so very ready. Packed and packed and then packed some more:) Rain or shine the beach is calling us. The joy of being with our "Smotherman/Clinebell/Burkhart/Hannah" family and friends is incredibly wonderful, we are so ready.

We will not be returning until the 30th. God Bless you all and have a wonderful holiday season!!

Amanda:)

Christmas Eve

My little ones were a little excited. One gift was opened, a "big" one from mom and dad to our little ones. Chelsea is above holding it up ad showing everyone. A generic verson (ie..EXTREMELY cheeper version) of a Wii. It has seven or eight sporting games and we will be playing it at the beach. Much fun! Sarah read The Night Before Christmas to everyone (and did a great job!). Cookie were made left alongside the milk for Santa. Reindeer food was scattered all over the yard. And children nestled snug into beds!

After my little children (the ones under 11, or in elementary school)all went to bed to wait for Santa. All my kiddos middle school and up open gifts together before bedtime. It's just a nice time to spent time together. We take turns and get to enjoy our Christmas a little better:) I am going to have to figure out those neato colages for my pictures!

Holiday and Everyday Favorites:)

There are some recipes that are fun and special. They also taste really good!! My children think I am incredible. Of course these easy recipes are so simple... I impress me!

This morning we had this great "find" from my wonderful sister-in-law Julie.

Omelets in a Bag

This works great! Good for when all your family is together and no one has to wait for their special omelet.

1. Have everyone write their name on a quart-size freezer Ziploc bag with a permanent marker

2. Crack 1 or 2 eggs (large or x- large) into their bag (not more than 2) and shake to combine them.

3. Put out a variety of ingredients such as: cheese, ham, onion, green pepper, tomato, hash browns, salsa, etc.

4. Each guest adds prepared ingredients of choice to their bag and shake.

5. make sure to get the air out of the bag and zip it up.

6. Place the bags into rolling, boiling water for exactly 13 min. you can usually cook about 6-8 omelets in a large pot. For more, use another pot of boiling water.

7. When done cooking, open the bags and pour out omelet (it will roll out easily) be prepared for everyone to be amazed.

This is nice to serve with fresh fruit and coffee cake; everyone gets involved in the process and a great fun
Enjoy!! It easy, convenient, and delicious…



Another favorite of ours...while I am sharing....is cheese muffins. I used to make a variation we thought was like Red Lobsters but they always seemed "flat" so we put them in muffin times and wow! They look as good as they are! We had them last night with potato soup, but they go with anything Italian, seafood, beef...lol...we like them so much they go with everything!

Cheese Muffins

Ingredients:

1 box Pioneer biscuit mix
milk
1 average size bag grated cheese, any type(we like sharp cheddar)
garlic powder
garlic salt
1 stick butter

Oven 350 degrees

My girls laugh as I make this. I do have a recipe yet it's a "little of this and a little of that" kind, depending on your family size..

I pour the entire box of pioneer mix into a large mixing bowl. I add garlic powder to the dry mixture(probably a couple of teaspoons...do what you like). I then add milk until sticky(like in the picture). I add the whole bag of cheese and stir. Spray your muffin tins with Pam and spoon in the mixture (fill half the cup). When the muffins are half way finished (as in the picture) I take them about and brush with butter and sprinkle garlic salt on them. Put them back in the oven until golden.

These make wonderful mini muffins too! Very very yummy!

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas to all our friends and loved ones! So many of you give and give and never give up. YOU are my hero! In this world were so many celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ during these days, I hope each and everyone stops each and everyday to celebrate Jesus birth! God blesses us always, each day, and the greatest gift ever given was Jesus! I hope his gift of hope ad love is received by each of you.

Make it great.....MAKE JESUS GREAT....every day of the year!

Day nineteen.....Chelsea

The last of our days...today is Chelsea's day. We are two short of our "21 days" with Carlton and Zack both being gone during the month we ended up this year with 19 days of Christmas. It works:) Tomorrow is Christmas eve and ALL my children are so excited!

Chelsea's days gift? Shoe holders to match her Vera Bradley bags. I might should have called this year the 19 bags of Christmas!

In a funny of the opening:

Isabella: Why would you want shoe things?
Chelsea: So my shoes don't make my clothes dirty.
Isabella: I don't get it?
Chelsea: You have to be cool to get it. (lol..or big at organizing like Chelsea)

Sabotage

Sabotage? It happens. Samuel has truly fallen apart today. Of course over something small...which he created into a huge issue through his behavior. He totally sabotaged himself. He does not understand. He feels it's everyone else, not him with bad behavior. Sadly, it is Sam.

Bella was putting away the groceries for me and Sam was aggravating her. I asked Sam to come downstairs(where we were all watching Facing the Giants) and let Bella put them away. But Sam didn't want to do that. Sam wanted to help. It's not his fault, he was just helping! He screamed at Chelsea telling her to shut up, he was disrespectful to mom, willfully defiant, he threw objects at Bella, he tore new holes in his sheet rock, he actually busted through the wall from his room to the kitchen, and he threatened to kill himself, twice(so he would not have to listen to us anymore). None of those things are his "fault". He was just helping. Everyone lies to him. Everyone hates him. He shouldn't have to sit by mom, that's not fair!
Gosh, I so agree with him about it not being fair. We each coming from different directions of thought. I feel it's not fair that while I am sick I have to listen to him rant and he's just sick of me. He just wants Dad. Again we agree...I want Dad too!

Dad came home and removed Sam. I doubt very seriously he will be able to find any help. In the midst of Sam's tirade he brought up the "why did you send me away last Christmas?" Self explanatory in my mind. Nine hours in a van with Sam, new cabins that we cannot destroy, constant non structure of vacation....Sam can't do it.

It is sabotage. Sam sabotaging Christmas, although sadly, I doubt he truly realizes he is even doing it. To him, life just isn't fair. To me? Life isn't fair either...when a birth mother can sabotage the very life/existence/future of a child? It just isn't fair. And that? That is life!

Jacob and friends

Jacob and his buddies are really something! This morning Jacob had a job cleaning one of the sweetest ladies I knows yard. It's a big job, usually 5 hours in good weather. This morning there is ice and rain, and icy rain, and did I mention cold? Jakes friends were here by 8am. Jacob woke Carlton who went with them. What excellent examples and encoruagers for good work ethics! All the boys left the house in thier insulated coveralls (the kind that people who really work wear). All brown clothed and on thier way to Miss Lindas.

Chelsea and I talked about good guys. If these guys lived a 100 years ago they would all have great farms and houses and be the bestest barn-raising crew in the world. They are exactly what you wish for in good freinds. I LOVE THAT!!

About 10:30 they all came in frozen, I made hot chocolate (with peppermint and marshmellow rope). They were not grumbling and whining! Nope, they laughed about getting Jaocb's truck stuck (bless Carlton's heart he seemed to wear most of the yard home on his clothes) and talked about the leaves being bigger than our house. They talked about how long it would take to finish and NO ONE went home. They left for another couple of hours, hoping to be finished by 2pm. These guys just make me smile :) Friends who will work with you? Really work?? That is a whole new level of friendship and a very rare thing indeed.

I meant to link to the picture above, I think I used it before? But, I couldn't find it so I just posted it again (I think).

Too Tall Tasha

Too tall for her boots...That's Tasha. BIG attitude in a small package. I love that most about Tasha. Although I have to remind her, as I do my big boys, to use her "powers" for good not evil. A quicker wit you will be hard pressed to find. A bigger helper too. She has such wonderful strengths! I sometimes wish for a magic mirror. Or better yet, a Spirit such as the one who visited scrooge. A way for her to see what her life will be, can be and should be! For now? Guidance, love, devotion, persistence, direct and a whole lot of prayer will hopefully lead her to a very bright tomorrow!

Blog surfing

I love reading about other people lives. I likely have said it about a billion and one times...but I think perspective is so key to life. I love blogs, they're like a wonderful living story book. Some way more real than we like to know about(cancer, loss, tragedy), some almost like fairy tales (sweet, loving, happiness), some talk about food (I really like those too, I cook a little bit!), some are minute by minute happenings. I love to read and blogs are right up my alley. The biggest problem I have is finding my way back to the ones I liked. I click click click and end up in Timbuktu reading about a really cool family and the minute I close my window? Gone.

I am beginning to think blog surfing is like driving in the country. You pass beautiful farms and neat houses, all a memory in your mind. I may never pass them again, yet for a minute (or several minutes) they impact us in a really nice way. There are all kinds of truly wonderful things on the Internet. You just have to keep an eye out for the gems!

Day eighteen...Sarah

I have to admit I lost Sarah's "day gift" more than a month ago. It was one of the first I bought and just lost it. I had finally decided someone must have thrown the bag away. I surely would have noticed the bag being carried by anyone else. I sadly told Sarah, I didn't want her to be expecting the bag. We even looked around for another one, but never found anything she liked. So a week ago I just bought a "fill in" gift while I was in Memphis. I wrapped the gift and put it under the tree. Four days ago I found her original gift. It was in the very back of my walk-in closet sitting pretty behind our long coats on top of my Pilate ball(I guess you realize now that I do not get that ball out often?). I didn't tell Sarah. This morning she opened her "fill in" gift and Chelsea snuck to get the bag. Funny girls:) Sarah was VERY happy to have her bag.

Style of her own.

My Sarah has a style of her own! Above she reminds me of a Swedish Christmas doll. Also a pic of Sarah with flowers for my grandmother. She spent the afternoon sharing funnies with everyone. Chad (Sandy's husband) showed her a comedian on YouTube and she has watched with nearly everyone in the house the same 20 video clips all afternoon:)

Below is a clip of Tim Hawkins, I think, like most funny people, the more you see of him the funnier he gets. Or at least I found it funny:)

Day seventeen....Stuart

My last big boy, Stuart, opened his gift today! It even matched his shirt:)

Life comes at you fast!

Reality of the economy is a serious issue that until recently has not truly affected our lifestyle. Scott and I are not extravagant people (lol...unless you count children). This coming year has had us talking, some seriously serious talks about our spending. In the coming year we will have to make cuts. Have to, no maybe about it. We have some big boys who are driving (and dad paying insurance) and big boys who have cell phones (again that dad is paying for). Those things are not necessities and we cannot continue for boys. I can say that Dad pays for big girls. Yet, Chelsea is graduating in May and it will be hers to take and Sarah is getting hers paid for. The difference? The girls work for me. They go above and beyond. They change plans and take care of things the boys don't even know are going on. We don't have a single boy who had taken over the yard work for Dad. None, less one, who have taken on intuitive to step up and help out without being asked. Jacob fixes cars(working in the last few days on mine and Chelsea's.) But Jacob is paying his bills. Stuart is paying his bills and while in college is not beholden to the same "at home" responsibilities. Although he did go pick up Carlton without whining or hiding until someone was "found" to help.

So, I have some boys who will have to find jobs. It they wish to continue the lifestyle they have been afforded until now, they will have to work. Our guys have been working and have paid for these things in the past. But currently they are "out of jobs and money". We totally understand. Thankfully I have a van big enough to get them all to school. So driving is not a need, only a joy. Besides the insurance and phones....GAS! These are things we just have to be careful with.
The two of my guys most effected by our talks are my two 18 year olds. I have been saying all year that "life comes at you fast". I think they might be catching on?

It is not a "pick on you" attitude, it is a economy issue. A reality issue. A survival issue. It is likely going to be an "issue" for alot of families!

Day sixteen....Joseph

Our days are moving along...Joseph opened today. He loves the Texas Longhorns...so thier colors he got:)

Painting it Up

My boys, my big boys, seem to forget I am suppose to be resting. Inviting a host of girls to paint with them. Tiger stripes no less. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it. I love watching the excitement and team spirit in teenagers. I am not so sure they all looked like Tigers, lol, but I am sure they had fun:) And thankfully Dad came in during the midst of painting! Scott took Carlton (who came in with Stuart during painting) to Josephs ballgame with him. I think, for readers I need to clarify the basketball season slightly. My Joseph, a Senior, is on the team. I do not go to the games right now because Joseph cannot play. TSSAA will not allow it due to grades until after Christmas. I just didn't want anyone to think I never go to his games:( I would love to, but just don't if there is absolutely no way he is playing and he is not til after Christmas, grades pending.

Day fifteen....Caleb

Caleb is day fifteen. He was overjoyed, ofcourse:)

silly me.

This morning I took the kids to school (I always take them, nothing new in that), we took in all our gifts for teachers. The silly me part is that I have not posted (or taken) a picture because they were gifts and I did not want anyone to see yet. But now? I have just gazed over at the table to realize I did not take pictures! I was just thankful to get them all in hands and to teachers!

I copied my sister Sandy's craft and made cake plates(from plates and bowls). I will post her picture, I did the fruit plate and red and black plates. My kiddos helped and it was lots of fun! And a wonderfully reasonably priced gift! But I have to add..... Every year I go and buy ornaments in Jan for the teachers next Christmas. This year I looked everywhere and could not find them. I decided I had lost them or maybe I forgot to buy them? AFTER I made the cake plates Sarah was decorating the tree in her and Chelsea's living room, I walked down to see it and she said, "And look at the pretty ornaments I found in my room and added to the tree!". Sure enough, my teacher ornaments! I would never have thought to look in Sarah's room and sure would never have found them even if I had. They made that little tree look sweet:)

Neat people!!

I came home yesterday from picking up my children to find this on our kitchen table. The most beautiful array of Christmas cheer!! You can't even see all the yummy stuff under the top yummy stuff!! Sarah and I looks at it all wondering who could do so much? A rhetorical question. We knew who could...the neat neat ladies listed. After dinner my children took turns coming and choosing. It was really interesting watching them gaze and choose. Some trying new things and some opting for old favorites (that would be me and Sarah fighting over the trees). They ALL were pleased...not a single child (and this is almost miraculous) said, "I wish I had gotten _____ instead!".

Earlier in the week Mrs. Charlotte DeBerry brought the most incredible sugar cookies or short bread, we don't know exactly what they were called. We just called them awesome:) And I apoligize for no picture...they simply did not last long enough!

And someone brought a ham (a HAM!!) and I have no idea who. Well I have a clue....Santa:) They would have to be related to the great guy to do something so nice...right?

I am blessed with such wonderful people in my life!!

Changing your mind....big time!

I just saw this website. It's a ministry that funds tubal reversals and vasectomy reversals. I am SO NOT CONSIDERING this, but I have heard people talk from time to time about wishing they could. It is a big expense. I was really impressing by the "Funding History". Look how fast they raise money! So now, if anyone says, "I would love to but cannot afford it." I can send them right to this ministry;) A "put your money where your mouth is" or rather "put you where they money is". What a blessing this ministry is to many!

Zack and Carlton

I carried a giant bag of clothes for Zackery when I went to visit Saturday. It seems that Zack has been getting mad and tearing up his clothes. When the worker said this I wanted to ask her to repeat herself. The first go round of "extra" clothes were all cheap plain t-shirts. This group of clothes were not all plain. They were not nice and new either. I can remember when Sam was in RTC I bought him new things. Even things I thought he would enjoy. The worker keeps telling me that Zack's treatment is not at all like Sam's.... I understand that. I took more jeans and a heavier coat, hoodies, short sleeve shirts and long sleeve shirts. I am in hope that next time I see him he will not have on the sweatpants you see above. I think the last three visits I have made have found him in these same sweatpants. Of course, this time, I took plenty of jeans. I have decided that the sweatpants likely have something to do with his acting out. Gross as the thought may be. I would burn those pants if he were home and make him wear fitted clothing. But, he is not and for that I am very thankful.

Carlton will be home for the holidays tomorrow. Stuart is picking him up for us on his way home from Kentucky. I have both my oldest son and daughter in the fair state of Kentucky tonight. Both have been visiting college friends and will be home tomorrow. Carlton's worker said he is doing alright. Still struggling (meaning not trying) in school. He is also what she labeled as "sneaky". No surprise there either. He engages in things he should not and then tries to sneak away so the "trouble" doesn't find him. Humm...image that thought. I can say that I do believe Carlton no longer thinks we are "the only people in the world with rules". If nothing else comes from his time at the ranch it will have successfully, I am sure, cured him of that thinking error. There are rules in life and Carlton's momma and daddy did not create them!

Thankfulness

I am sick. More tired than normal, today carrying a poster board through Wal-Mart made me tired, and laugh if you want to ...but I got a buggy for my poster board. I have a horrible headache. Pound pound pound..... on top of all the yappy. I am achy. I feel yuck!

I have been short (lol...as if I was ever tall!). Short on patience. This evening Sam was in his brothers mail box messing around. A federal offence at my house(and in the real world). His words to me as I asked him about it? "You haven;t reminded me of that in ...like 3 weeks!". How's that for ownership?

In my exhaustion I can tell you that I have two of the best college age girls in the whole wide world! I already knew it, but they look all the brighter picking up the slack for me. Chelsea about has all my little ones packed for the beach, right down to toothpaste and new toothbrushes. Sarah has babysat, made cakes at midnight (for a goofy sister who forgot she had that animal cell due), has organized entertainment and been my "go get it" girl.

I do not mean to leave out my big boys. If asked they will do whatever I ask. Today Jacob went to Auto Zone to bet a new headlight for my big van and replace it. Joseph went to pick up tutoring. Doug entertained (and detained) Seth to the couch for a movie.

As I seemed to start this blog whining...yep..I did. I can end it saying that I am so very very thankful for my big kiddos. Scott has been out of town all week and still rescheduled our visit with Zack today so I would not have to go and he will be traveling, again, on Saturday. I am one lucky momma!

And the goofy pictures above? This is why Sarah does so well in the entertaining realm!

Day fourteen.....Doug

Moving right along with my big guys....the day was Doug's:) Doug's comment was "good I always pack my bath stuff in a walmart bag"....meaning it is a GOOD thing to have a bath bag:)