A dress mess, a concert and caught red handed...

or grey socked in this case...guess who was goofing off during the Christmas concert? I actually missed the concert the babies had a crazy high fever day and I couldn't sub or take them anywhere. Dad took these photos. It was short lived and they are much better now.
The dress mess: I had Maleah try on the three dresses in her closet and they were all too small. I went to Target, Jcpenny,Old Navy and Walmart and looked for dresses - NOTHING in her size or my price range...so I second handed a dress from a thrift store, it was awful. Three dollars for a wrinkled mess of dress with missing ribbons and bows. So I washed it, only to find out it was dry clean only. I had my miracle sis make some clips to hide the waistline, she made one for Maleah's hair to match. I tried to steam it to release the wrinkles and I melted the fancy fabric so I gave up. She wore shoes two sizes to big and had to stuff her toes with kleenex. Lord, help me I have THREE GIRLS!

Silent Night

Maleah has been playing piano for a little over 3 months now. Her first recital was held at Golden Living in Salem. She was nervous, but I think she did just fine;)

Monday Multitudes

More bountiful blessings.

Thank you, Lord, for;

21 healthy children
22 battling women who are BEAUTIFUL, yes I am talking about you Patricia and Denise, no hair or hair, you are both SHINING bright
23 date nights ;) volunteers who gave up a Friday night to watch my babies and biggies and gift cards that never expire
24 ill family members fighting to get well, prayers for an end to the suffering
25 email buddies who listen to my griping
26 forgivness of all my many sins
27 Jesse tree activites that are opening conversations about Jesus between me and my kids
28 weather that cooperates so that farmers can combine late into the night and finish before the BIG snow comes
29 deer that stay off the road and ones that provide a sport for my husband and chislic for supper
30 uncles who weld apple slicers, thank you Steve :)

Food funnies

This morning I was carrying a pound of hamburger up from the freezer when Addi saw me and said, "Oh yum, CAAAAAKE!"

Last night the kids were doing their chores when Maleah asked, "Mom if we are good can we have something yummy like ice cream...or Doritos?"

The same are very different

Maleah went to school in Gavin's jeans today. I didn't have the heart to tell her. Then, as I was sorting laundry I noticed Gavin's long john's perfectly lining one of Maleah's wide legged blue jeans, I giggled. I wonder how long they will be the same size. People ask me all the time if I have twins, two big and two little. That would be something, wouldn't it?

While I was in the laundry room Nora successfully mastered the stairs. She went up and down and up and down and up and, well you get the picture. I remember Addison just taking her first steps around her first birthday. Nora has been moving for awhile now. Today she gained access to every room in the house. There will be no escaping her wrath!

I wonder what the requirements of a parenting expert are? I mean, I have four children and I am still learning new things all the time. They are all so very different. I can't imagine how many it would take for me to feel like I knew what was coming...perhaps Ma or Pa Dugger would know?

Deja vu

This morning, left to her own defenses, little Lou Lou single-handedly took on a whole box of Puffs.


We were mighty proud of her for taking on the challenge. She is doing a wonderful job of following in the footsteps of her not so much bigger sister who, just last April, tackled her own box.

Since she has already mastered the unrolling of numerous rolls of t.p., we have no idea what particular paper product her next training exercise will involve...

Wisdom from the 6 year old...

Tonight, during supper, the Gavinator twisted his face as he fished a lima bean out of the chicken casserole. Finally, he lifted it into the air on the tip of his fork, and screamed, " EWWWWWW MOM, I got an M&M in my casserole!"