Gingerbread

I found the best recipe for gingerbread from http://pleasantviewschoolhouse.blogspot.com/search?q=gingerbread. I fixed some today while Artie and the children were out raking leaves in the yard. It was so yummy!!!!


•Schoolhouse Gingerbread•

Combine and beat until smooth:

1 c. sugar
1 c. molasses
1 c. oil
3 eggs

In another bowl mix:

3/4 t. salt
1 t. cloves
1 t. ginger
1 t. cinnamon
2 c. flour
2 t. baking soda

Add to first bowl, then stir in:

1 c. boiling water.

Bake in greased and floured 8x8 pan at 350 for 45 minutes.

A nice surprise at Kindergarten

Friday the boys had to wear black pants and a black shirt to kindergarten, but weren't told why - it was a surprise. When they got there, they were given the white and black polka dot t-shirts to wear over their black shirts. They teachers wore the same thing.

They were the 101 Dalmatians!! They watched the movie and I think everyone had a fun day. Bobby looked very cute with his nose painted!!

A morning at the dentist

dentist's chair
Originally uploaded by tommy vicious.

Today was the dentist day for three of the four little ones. Emily, Stephen and Bobby all had to go in for a cleaning. Emily was so excited, the hygenist pulled her front tooth. Now she will get a tally mark on the big tooth on the chalk board in first grade!!

Terry was very disappointed that he didn't walk out with the new toothbrushes, pencils, and stickers. I realized he's not a baby anymore and it's time for him to be seeing the dentist too. So, come June, all four littles will travel together to the dentist office. I can't believe my little baby is growing up so fast.

A Lysol kind of day

lysol
Originally uploaded by jactivity5.

All the children have been sick this week. We have been spraying lysol everywhere, serving orange juice, passing out cough syrup and cough drops, handing out vitamen C drops, changing sheets, washing toothbrushes, taking naps. Hopefully this will pass soon. School starts back tomorrow (out yesterday for teacher/parent conference and today for election day) . Tonight we will be serving up some homemade chicken soup and french bread.

Sunday Afternoons

I love Sunday afternoon naps!! They are one of my favorite things in life. Today everyone (except Brian who was keeping up with his Redskins) took a nap - even the cat was asleep when I laid down. Oh, it's such a nice feeling to lay down with no guilt. What a gift from God!!

My Clothesline

One of my favorite joys - hanging clothes out on my clothesline!! I love my clothesline. I am trying to teach myself and Brenda to hang out like the Amish do - all like things together and by size. She thinks I've flipped my lid and am gonna run off and become Amish!! It looks so pretty when it is all hung neatly though.

(Beside the tree, behind the clothesline you can see Artie's horseshoe pits - that was his father's day present last year. And then the children's fort is coming off the side of our pecan tree.)

Sarah Plain and Tall

It was Sarah Plain and Tall day today. Hallmark showed the complete trilogy!! I love these movies.




As I watched the moves today I cleaned my family room and kitchen. I deeped clean in some piles of papers that were in desperate need of attention. I found some important insurance papers that needed to be filed that were just sitting and waiting. After the table was all clean we had a nice warm dinner of salmon stew - our first of the fall. I love having all my children around my table. Terry has been sick and during the end of the last movie I got to just sit and rock my sweet baby and watch the movie.

Watching the movies I realized that Sarah is a Charlote Mason mama!! She taught the children music - singing and playing the harmonica, nature drawing, journaling, outdoor activies such as swimming and planting flowers, love of animals, and the art of creating beauty in the areas around you. She inspires me to be a better mama and have a prettier kitchen!

How to feed a family of 8 for $4.00?

pinto beans
Originally uploaded by spentpenny.

Pinto beans and fried potatoes. It was so yummy. We cooked up a pound of pintos and 10 pounds of fried potatoes served with a lot of ketchup and sweet tea!!

Here are our Halloween Trick or Treaters!!

Bobby is an army man, Emily is a girl from the 50's with her poodle skirt, Terry is Superman, and Stephen is a boxer (with a black eye)! They had a fun night going around our neighborhood. They will get to dress up again this weekend and trick or treat at their grandparents homes.

Fall Leaves

The fall leaves are so pretty this year!!!
This is my favorite tree in our yard. It is a sugar maple. Wow, we will have lots of raking in a couple of weeks!!

Beverly Lewis

"The Revelation"
Originally uploaded by Pictorial Life.

My favorite fictional author right now is Beverly Lewis. I am currently reading The Shunning, but my favorite so far is Abram's Daughters - a series of five books. She is such a wonderful writer. I love hearing about the Amish life!!

Some lovely things today

• Brenda baking brownies
• My favorite neighborhood tree turning bright yellow/orange
• Trying out our new Fred's store with Terry
• Stephen doing his homework - coming to a surprise in his story - saying - I wasn't expecting that!!
• Artie working hard for his family - another day of overtime doing inventory
• A kerosene heater to make the family room completely toasty
• Troy's football team winning the Conference Championship today!!!!!!!
• Watching the little boys play outside in the backyard
• Emily and Brenda going to church tonight - J-Treck and Youth Group

Who's the tallest??????

It was weird to say good bye to the Pavilion!! It's just always been there!!! And that SCARY roller coaster!!!!! Lots of good memories growing up here. I can see pictures in my mind of my mama and Bonnie standing on the Pavilion in their peddle pushers and bandanas. :-) I'm sorry my children won't be able to enjoy this too.

We had such a great time at the beach!!!!








The children loved the ocean. This was the first time that Emily, Stephen, Bobby and Terry had ever seen it. We were gonna just let them get their feet wet and next thing you know they are all swimming!!! :-)

We're getting ready to go to the beach. I'm so excited. Here is where I beleive we will be staying - it is Barefoot Resort Yatch Villa. All the children are going, plus Artie's mom - Bobbie.



This trip is such a blessing. Artie was suppose to be on the working weekend trip with three other employee from his work. Their plans got changed and they offered the trip, which was already paid for, to our family.

This is the dining area and living room. We will have four bedrooms.



It's been over ten years since we have been to the beach as a family. The four littles have never been before. I know they will love it.

Myrtle Beach was my mama's favorite place to vacation. :-)

Sweet Terry

DSC01333
Originally uploaded by artiequinn.

Terry whispered

Your the prettiest mama in the whole world.

Why did you whisper Terry?

I wanted to make sure you heard me! :-)

School Starts Thursday

School Has Started, School Bus
Originally uploaded by born1945.

Well, we had a change of plans. Troy, Stephen, and Bobby will be going to public school. Troy will be in eight grade and the twins will be in Kindergarten. The will have classrooms right beside each other and will share recess together. They are excited about riding the bus!! :-)

Fourth of July Weekend

Fourth of July - CBS Lot, Studio City
Originally uploaded by CrazyUncleJoe.

We had a lovely day today. Artie and the older children went and helped Uncle Bryan from Florida place a big truck trailer on his land for storage.

Around lunch time the littles and I met Cindy and Granny up there and we all had a nice Hardee's lunch.

When they finished we went swimming at Aunt Glenda's and then came home and watched Barney's fireworks. It was a fun day.

My Handsome Boys

DSC00990
Originally uploaded by artiequinn.