Fun Little "Frosty"

We shall call his name Frosty...
...and he shall be our snow man!

...TIME!...

(hand sewn by Dallas for some one special, he also took the picture)
...take a moment and remember why we celebrate...this year we are focusing on TIME together...that is the best gift you can give or get...time with some one you care about...time helping...time loveing...time playing...So if any of you see that "Empty" place in your stocking...just remember some of the best gifts you can not see... maybe that invisable gift is Time...

Fabulous Friday!

Who needs words!?!

Tremendouse Tuesday!

Dallas made his first scrammbled eggs ALL on his own!!!!!!!

(and with eggs from our own feathered friends)

Wondering Wednesday!

Today was another beautiful New England fall day!

We all did lots of wondering, from the park, to making a tent,

to enjoying the great and sunny blue sky!

I even caught a glimps of one last hard worker, storing up the last little bit of summer.

I even got to enjoy a little out side knitting!

Boy do I Love ALL those sun kissed little Faces!

Looking In...

Thought I would start something new today...So here goes!

Looking in...

...my kitchen window...Trace and Aliza doing dishes...

Love those sweet kids!

So what do you see...Looking In?

Happy Monday!

So this morning I actually made breakfast! Wow!

Not really ever been great at the hot breakfast thing,

but thought I would try again. And to my great delight it ended

with many full and happy tummies!

I thought I would try a bagel version of an oven french toast.

I took and 8x10 baking dish greased it with butter, cut up the 3 bagels into discs tossed them into the pan, then beat 12 eggs (yes 1dz. this is why we got chickens) so again 1dz eggs beat with 1 cup of milk, pour over bagels in pan and bake at 350 for about 25-30 min. Sorry I wasn't paying close attention to how long it took. Just wait till it looks like the egg part is fully cooked. Then I made a sauce with some melted butter, syrup, and some homemade blueberry jelly. Then poured it over it as soon as I took it out of the oven.

And here are some of the happy faces!

Hope you also have a Happy Monday!

Introducing......

Aslan Lewis Thibault

born June 4th at 4:02pm

7lbs 10oz 20in

Wondering Wednesday!

Oh what beautiful weather we had today!
We spent most of the day outside. We played, watched chickens, planted, sat on a blanket and read some of one of our favorite series; The Magic Tree House.

Then Lizzie and I did some wondering!

It was so fun to find some daisies, they are one of my favorite flowers.

We also got in some swinging time down by the river! I wish everyone could have a view like this!

It was so special to have some one on one time with my girl!
While we were wondering, the boys were playing in the dirt, can't get any better!

As always, thanks for dropping by! And I hope you too had a Wonderfilled Day

Renewed Spaces Part One! Sweet little Dag

(this is a stack of cubes Josh made, we just laid them on there side, it makes a perfect place for Dag to play)
It feels so good to Renew a space doesn't it?

(I just love how bright and sunny his room is)
We finally got his big boy crib set up thanks to my friend Laura who had a mattress :)

this is the name square of the little rag quilt I made him last year

The older kids and I put this shadow box together one saturday a few months back. The two little shirts a friend made for Dagnae when he was born. The giraffe was the first toy I made him, he wouldn't let go of it for the first 6 months or so. And the little Peter Rabbit patch is a scrap from his quilt.
I also thought I would hang his First Birthday Crown with the box. It just seemed to complete every thing.

Oh and last but not least this awesome little rug finishes of the room.
Can any one guess what it is made from?
Yes! those silly old ,so thick you can't stand a cup on them place mats (you the ones all our grandmas had,God rest their souls). Well I finally found a good use for them! This rug. It was great to go into my favorite thrift store and see that stack of eight blue place mats. My first thought was, Hey! those would make a great rug, and they did.

Well as I said this just part one. We have been doing a lot of space renewing around here as of late. I thinks it's due to the new season and excitement of a new baby. It seems only fitting that the inside should get a freshening up along with every thing out side coming back to life. So stay tuned for more.

Thanks for stopping by, it's always a pleasure,
Love Melly :)

Our Inner Garden...

I have been thinking a lot lately about growth, watching things bloom in our garden and beginning plans for planting new things.
Also the growing up of my own little sprouts (the kids)
Well in these thoughts I was brought to a little reading in Celebrate The Seasons. This quote is shared by Gordon MacDonald"Bringing order to the spiritual dimension of our private worlds is spiritual gardening. it is the careful cultivation of spiritual ground. The gardener (God) turns the soil, pulls out unwanted growth, plans the use of the ground, plants seeds, waters and nourishes, and enjoys the harvest result. All of this is what many have called spiritual discipline. I love the words of Brother Lawrence, a reflective Christian of many centuries ago who used the metaphor of a chapel: "' It is not needful always to be in church to be with God.We make a chapel of our heart, to which we can from time to time withdraw to have gentle, humble, loving communion with Him. everyone is able to have these familiar conversations with God. Some more, some less-He knows our capabilities. Let us make a start. Perhaps He only waits for us to make one whole-hearted resolve. Courage! We have but a short time to live. Let us begin soon, time is short! The discipline of the spirit must begin Now'"

(Ordering Your Private World, Moody Press, 1984, pages 128-129)

I truly want to be what my loving Gardener planted me to be.
I want to live this before the eyes of my lovely little sprouts,
so that they may be encouraged to do the same.
He has put me here and equipped me with everything that I need to do what He created me for.
All I need to do is hand over my shovel, and be willing to grow and blossom.

I pray you find inspiration and encouragement in this time with me.
Love and Peace to You!

This Moment!

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Check this out it was started by Amanda over at soulemama .You can also view other peoples moments by looking at the comments. It is very fun to see these little windows into other peoples worlds.

Little Sprouts!

Trees starting to bud!

Some sprouting seeds Joziah found while we were at the park!

A growing baby, so big now I can't even look down and see my feet (smile)!
only about eight weeks left!

For us the signs of spring are bursting all around us. Our garden is getting ready to show of it's color,
our grass is turning green! We are making plans for our new flock of chicks that will come in a few weeks.
We are planing and mapping out the Biggest garden we have ever had (very thrilling).
And we are excitedly getting ready for our new baby with sewing, knitting, bassinet making and for sure some lovely things from it's 5 wonderfull siblings!

I hope you are all having a gloriously wonderfilled Spring!
Many blessings to you!

What A Treasure!

So do any of you remember the old Fisher-Price toys?

I went to a friends thrift store this past saturday. And most thrift store can no longer (because of some law stuff) sell toys. Well while I was in there she said she had something I might like. Some one brought in TWO HUGE bags of some thing she felt bad turning away. The person was being so generous.....
Well guess what it was?

Old and like new Fisher-Price stuff!!!!!!!!!
A barn, cows ( that still had their tales!!), sheep.
The house, with a man and car,and well the list goes on.
This is a very BIG blessing and the fact that it is enough for all 5 to enjoy together just adds the proverbial Icing to the BIG cake. It also came at the perfect time since we have had 2,
and could possibly have a 3rd day of rain (in a row).

It has been nice to see things Josh and I remember playing with, bringing such joy to our own kids.
Oh and I can't believe I forgot that best part. Since the store couldn't sell them, she gave them to us.
I am trying to think of a special way to say thanks. The store gives it's proceeds to help cancer patients so maybe we can make something to donate.

I hope where ever you are you are feeling well and able to see the refreshing signs of spring
popping up around you.
Stay warm dry and peace filled
~Melly~

Oh sweet Maple Tree how I love thee!

(Dag enjoying his treat)

So today was Maine Maple Sunday!
We got to enjoy going to a Sap House with some friends.
Unfortunately the kids had more fun hiding in the (fake) well,
but that's boys for ya.
The place was really great they answered any questions we had.
They had samples of maple sugar coated peanuts,
maple butter, apple crisp(made with maple syrup) and cider sweetened with maple.

As always thanks for stopping by!
Hope you all had as lovely weekend as we did.
Stay warm and peace filled
~Melly~

This Moment!

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Check this out it was started by Amanda over at soulemama .You can also view other peoples moments by looking at the comments. It is very fun to see these little windows into other peoples worlds.

This Moment!

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Check this out it was started by Amanda over at soulemama .You can also view other peoples moments by looking at the comments. It is very fun to see these little windows into other peoples worlds.

Lovely Rainy Day!

Oh what a sweet treat, is time with my little buddy Trace!

(check out those dimples)

We went out to the thrift store for some much needed pants for this not so little buddy, Agway to finally order our chickens, and last but surly not least to indulged our selves in some choclate. In the form of milk and doughnuts. What could make this rainy day any better!

I also had the joy of starting and finishing a little project. All in one day! Amazing!

( It was very odd putting a picture into water)

I have been wanting to do something a little diferent with a few of the kid's baby pictures that I have saved over the years. So I seen some people use the printer fabric and thought I could give a go. The process was fun and simple ( simple is the key right now). Josh helped pick the picture and also helped get it printed correctly. I bought the hoop at the thrift store today (thrifting is so fun). The pink fabric was a remnant of one of her baby blankets. And the green and white fabric used as the hanger was form the binding of her toddler quilt. Oh the memories.And finally the dear picture of Aliza was taken by a good friend when she was just 2 weeks old. She is now 3. How time flies.

(So small and sweet, holding Daddies finger)

We are going to do one of each of the kids and hang them in our room!

I hope to be able to show them all as they arrive.

As always thanks for stopping by!

Stay warm and peace filled!

~ Melly~

One Moment

RUUUNNN!!!!!!!!!

(MY Moment for the week. One Picture One Word.
what is your moment? Send me a link and show me.)
P.s. they really were having fun :)

My February Change is here!

If you remember I had asked for help in figuring out my change for this month. And thanks to my dear friend Kate I have it. She, noticeing how much lovely sun my kitchen (and whole house for that matter) gets; said "why don't you grow some herbs". I thought what a brilliant idea.
So I am going to put a sweet little shelf in front of one of my kitchen windows. On it I will grow several great herbs for cooking and maybe a bulb or two for extra color. I also got a nifty idea from another blogger to have what I think she called a living center piece, on our dinning table. She had mint,and a few other things I can't remember. And she said her kids thought it was " awesome". We will have fun growing some more things there too.
I also wanted to take it one step further. I thought why not try puting some kind of a plant in EVERY room, especially maybe something with flowers. Who wouldn't love a little more color in this very dreery month of February? I know I would.
Thank you Kate for your inspiration. I will hopefully get some good pictures of all our planting fun. So check back at the end of the week.

Thanks for stopping by, Stay warm and peacfilled! Melly

FINALLY HOME MADE CEREAL!!!!!!

Hello All! I finally got the cereal made! It came out good. The one on the left is the finished Healthy N' Happy and the other is the Graham Nuts before the first baking. I and my husband liked them both the kids liked the graham nuts as a snack. Some friends and family stayed with us over night this weekend and their kids loved the graham nuts. At first they thought it was brown sugar, who wouldn't love a bowl of that for breakfast?

So any one who wants the recipes can find them both at
http://www.mrbreakfast.com
you should be able to type homemade cereal and find the list. It seemed that most of the cold cereal was nearer the bottom of the list.
I feel good having been able to fulfill my goal for January. Still pondering for February. Any ideas out there?


I also thought ya'll would like to see a few of the kids on their new family heirloom sled :). It was used by their paternal grandfather and his siblings as kids, how fun! Lets just pray for more snow soon, very soon.
And this is me in the first sweater I knit for myself. I got the pattern at http://www.ravelry.com it is the shalom cardigan. It was so fun and thrilling to make something that big, and have it look good.
Oh and I forgot to say the healthy n' happy is more like muesli less like granola, my favorite way to have it is with yogurt.
Thanks for stopping by let me know if you have any questions or comments about the cereals or the sweater. Stay warm and peace filled. ~ Love Melly~