Where's the baby?

Now that she's crawling, Ashlynn is getting into some interesting places.

Shorn

I think I am finally used to looking at my girls and seeing shorter hair. It took quite a while. I was so used to looking for the waist length hair, that I did a double take when I would see the shoulder length (or shorter) hair. Of course, it is nice to only need to clean the vacuum cleaner brush out every other week.

What surprised me is how sad I was when they cut it. I had practically begged Kora to cut hers before, and they all complained when I would take them once a year to get a couple of inches cut off to trim it up. But once they each had 11-12 inches cut off (that's nearly 4 feet of HAIR!) I felt bereft somehow.

You see, I was known as the lady with all the girls who had such beautiful hair. Every time we went out in public clerks, cashiers, other customers commented on their hair. How beautiful it was, how long, and of course the red heads always get special attention.

Now I am just the lady with all the girls. Just the one with all six girls and no boys. Yep, we just fade into the background now. :-)

New Recipes

Here's a couple of yummy recipes I have recently added to my menu rotation. Oh, and I know I've told a couple of people that I would post my new two month menu plan. And I will. Eventually. Now that I've been through it once I have a bit of fine tuning to do, and then I'll get it up.

Anyway, here is a yummy recipe for inexpensive chicken legs or thighs. I have to uncover mine longer than this recipe says or I need to turn up the temperature or they don't brown like they are supposed to, so feel free to play around with it.

Also here is a great comfort food dish. Inexpensive, easy, and yummy.

Enjoy!

Is it YAY! or Oh No! ???

Guess who started crawling today!?!

Election

Well, I just got back from our local elementary school (the only times I've ever been in are on election days) and voted. I tell you, 9:30 am is the best time to vote in my precinct - I was behind 2 people. All the before work crowd had gone, and the lunch crowd had yet to appear.

Did anyone else catch the Saturday Night Live Presidential Bash last night? I am not a follower of SNL - I can't remember if I've ever watched an entire episode. But I was flipping channels last night and caught a good bit of it. I loved the fun it poked at the pro-Obama media bias. I don't know who the actress is who plays Sarah Palin, but she has her down pat. And I didn't watch the presidential debates this year, so can I assume from the parody that McCain's head kept popping into the shots, even when he wasn't speaking?

Oh, and I'm sure everyone saw the Cabbage Patch kids on eBay, right? They were one-of-a-kind reproductions of McCain, Palin, Obama, and Biden, auctioned off for some charity. Did everyone see the final bids for these dolls?

Joseph Biden - $3,550, 01
John McCain - $6,000.00
Barak Obama - $8,400.00

And...

Sarah Palin - $19,000.00

And yes, the Palin doll is wearing red lipstick.

A Phonics Lesson with Hailey (Aged 6)

Me: Today we are learning that "ay" says a. Remember when two vowels are together, the first one talks and the second one is silent. Hailey, look at the page, the words are not on the ceiling. What does "ay" say?

Hailey: I don't remember.

Me: Remember, the first one says its name and the second one is silent. So what does this say?

H: Oh yeah, a. [pronounced as a long a]

Me: Very good. Now let's read some words that have "ay" in them. What's this word? [I point to the word "pay."]

H: Puh. Puh. Piiiiiiiiiie. Pie.

Me: No, remember this is an "a." The "a" says its name. What is its name?

H: Oh yeah. A. Puh, puh, paaaaaaaay. Pay.

Me: Very good. (She reads a few more words.) Very good. Now let's read some sentences that have these words in them. (I point to the first sentence: Fay, Kay, and Clay will stay at a home on the bay for two days.)

H: Faaaay. Fay. What's a fay?

Me: It's not a thing; it's a girl's name.

H: Oh. Fay, Kaaaaaay. Kay. What's a Kay?

Me: It's a girl's name, too.

H: Oh, Fay, Kay and Claaaaay. Clay. What's a clay?

Me (trying not to let my frustration come out in my voice): It's a boy's name.

H: Oh. Clay will staaaaay. Stay ate.

Me: No. Look at the word. Does it have an "e" at the end?

Hailey just stares at my nose.

Me: Hailey, look at the word. Does it have an "e" at the end? (She shakes her head no.) Then what does the "a" say?

Hailey: I don't remember.

Me: (Sigh.) Remember an "a" says /a/ (like in apple) if there is no "e" at the end to make it say its name?

H: Oh yeah. At a home ["Very good," I interject.] on the bay. What's a bay?

Me: Its kind of like a lake.

H: Oh.

Me, after waiting for several seconds: Hailey, look at the book, the words aren't on the ceiling.

H: At her birthday party, do you think Piper...

Me: Hailey, let's talk about that later. Let's just finish reading right now.

H: Okay. Bay fuh, fuh ... [I tell her that "or" say or] for two daaaaaaaays.

**********
That was one sentence. One down , five more to go that morning. By this time I am really wishing I was a coffee drinker. Or that I had a Dr Pepper. Or chocolate. Or all of the above.

Reformation Day

Last night our church celebrated Reformation Day at a member's house. Each year we have a theme country - one of the countries instrumental in the reformation. About every other year we do Germany, which is, of course, the heart of the reformation. We start off by eating supper together.

A table full of German food! And a kitchen full of German desserts (somehow I didn't get a picture of that!)

We also visited, er, uh, fellowshipped. Is that a word?

You know her, right?

This is Kora and Addie. Addie is an adorable toddler in our church. Kora wants to grow up to be her mother. Seriously though, Addie has been adopted be several of the teenagers and almost teenagers at church. I'm surprised she ever learned to walk, as they are always carrying her around. Kora loves that little girl, and the feeling is mutual.

Finally everyone started gathering in the living room and quieted down. It was time for some hymns.

Here's hubby, our song leader.

Brynna has fallen in love with two of the older couples in our church. Here she is with one of them. She sits with them at meals, talks with them before and after services (she waits for them near the front door if we are at church first), and here she sits with them while singing.
After the hymn-sing (which included "A Mighty Fortress is Our God" by Martin Luther, of course) the younger kids went to another room to color pictures of Martin Luther.

Our pastor gave a brief history of Luther's life and some of his contributions to the church. He also talked about why it is still important today.

We look forward to Reformation Day every year!