Serenity Amidst Chaos

Read and Share Stories About Jesus - Gwen Ellis

2011-01-31T18:39:00.002-05:00

I was pretty excited when I was able to choose a book for the kids from Booksneeze this time. As part of the Read and Share brand, Stories About Jesus features 13 short stories about Jesus’ lifetime, beginning with his birth as recorded in Luke and ending with his ascension into heaven.

Cons: The only real problem I have with the book is that it glosses over the crucifixion. This is the extent of the coverage of the crucifixion:

“Before Jesus went back to heaven to live with God, He did things to show that he was God’s son. He even died and came back to life.”
Now, I don’t have a clue how you explain the crucifixion to a child, but I had hoped it would be included.

Pros: The board book format is EXCELLENT for my son who loves to chew everything. I LOVE board books for their indestructible nature!! Each story is only two pages, which makes for a quick devotional for short attention spans. At the end of each story there is a summary and discussion question. It has wonderful, colorful pictures that perfectly illustrate the story. I like the book and, more importantly, my kids like it!

Honestly, I was really excited to see a book that was available that I could get through quickly so I could order again :)

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Dining with Joy

2010-11-23T15:34:00.001-05:00

It takes a good book for me to delve into a new author. I already have so many that I enjoy and adding another just means that I have less and less time. However, I thoroughly enjoyed Rachel Hauck’s book Dining With Joy. This sweet romance is set in the lowcountry of South Carolina and tells the love story of Luke and Joy, complete opposites that are instantly attracted to each other.

Sometimes I get frustrated with lazily written Christian fiction, but with Hauck’s background as an English teacher, the characters are developed nicely, conversations are easy to believe and descriptions paint a lovely picture in the mind.

I was VERY excited to find that Hauck has written two other books…and I’ve already placed them on hold at the library. Can’t wait to read the previous novels in her Lowcountry series!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Let's Do Lunch - Roger Troy Wilson

2010-10-20T14:44:00.002-04:00

Let’s face it. All diets seem the same. And, for me, they never work. But this one actually IS different! Let’s Do Lunch by Roger Troy Wilson attacks a major problem in our house – eating our main meal at supper time, loading on the fat and calories right before we relax for the night. So how does Wilson remedy this?

Let’s Do Lunch is exactly that – making lunch your major meal of the day. Pack in as much protein as you want…eat until you are full and satisfied. And for supper? Eat fruit! As much as you want! The natural sugars in fruit break down much quicker, so your body isn’t just sitting (or laying) with all night with an unhealthy meal in it.

Let’s Do Lunch includes meal and snack ideas, along with a buying guide to insure you are buying what is best for this plan. Reuben and I have been doing the Let’s Do Lunch plan for about a week and a half and have already noticed a difference in energy level and our physical bodies and we just generally feel better! Looking forward to seeing what a couple of months will do for us!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Never Let You Go - Erin Healy

2010-07-21T20:04:00.002-04:00

So I finally finished reading Never Let You Go by Erin Healy. It took me forrrrrrrever to read this 338-page book! I had previously read Kiss which Healy co-wrote with Ted Dekker. When I ordered this book, I was really looking forward to reading it.

In Never Let You Go, Erin Healy weaves the tale of Lexi Solomon whose life is dismal at best. With a murdered sister and a husband who left her, Lexi’s only hope comes from her daughter, Molly. But when a demon from her past reenters her life, Lexi must do everything in her power to protect Molly and keep her from harm. The combination of Ted Dekker’s endorsement and back cover summary had me very excited about reading it!

I was disappointed. Though I’m almost positive, part of me is still wondering if this book really was about spiritual warfare. The plot was okay, but it was a little confusing for me. Part of my problem, I think, was that I am used to the Ted-Dekker-alternate-reality-never-really-knowing-what’s-going-on-until-the-end that I was trying to figure out the book while I was reading it instead of just reading for the pleasure of the story. I was more thrilled with finishing the book than I was with reading it and was relieved when I finally finished skimming the last 80 pages.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

I Am Hutterite

2010-06-05T20:38:00.003-04:00

I Am Hutterite - Mary-ann Kirkby

Ever wonder what it would be like to be raised a certain way and then have that yanked out from under you at a day’s notice? I Am Hutterite chronicles such a story. Mary-Ann Kirkby recalls the angst, fear and struggle for acceptance after her parents decided to leave their Hutterite colony, the only life Mary-Ann had ever known.
I found I Am Hutterite to be extremely interesting. The story itself is good enough to push me through the book, but I was also fascinated learning about the Hutterite way of life; their unique customs, their interdependency and reliance on others, and their utmost respect for a conservative, Godly way of life.

I love Kirkby’s writing style. Occasionally it was slightly disconnected, but the stories interspersed throughout the chapters always wound back around to the chapter theme. So many nonfiction books get bogged down in details, distracting from the theme and overall message of the book. However, Kirkby delivers details that add to the story, expertly weaving them into the story that only further illuminates what her life must have been like.

A highly recommended read!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

What good are coupons anyway??

2010-05-12T18:16:00.006-04:00

So I've been following this blog for awhile now. She always has fantastic information on there about good deals and freebies. But there's an incredible section about using coupons and store credits while shopping.

My new favorite store? CVS. Love you, CVS.

I've been using coupons and ECB's at CVS for about a month now (For more info, check out MSM's CVS Intro post here.) I've gotten some good deals, but nothing like the one I got today. Today I hit the jackpot!

Here's the scoop...

Transaction #1

Bayer Aspirin — $1.00
Used $1/1 coupon =
Free after coupon

2 Right Guard at $2.49, Get $4.00 ECBs
Used $3/2 coupon =
Credit of $2.02

1 Crest Pro Rinse at $3.50, Get $3.50 ECBs
Used $.75/1 coupon =
Credit of $.75

1 U By Kotex at $4.99, Get $4.99 ECBs
Used $1/1 coupon and a $1/1 CVS coupon (you can "stack" store & manufacturer's coupons) =
Credit of $2.00

1 Reach Floss Mint Flavor at $1.99, Get $2 ECB
Used $1/1 Reach Floss coupon
Credit of $1.00

I used a $2.00 ECB Reward Coupon and then actually paid $7.88 out of pocket for this. If I had planned better, I wouldn't have had to use as much cash. But this transaction garnered me $14.49 in CVS cash.

So...

Transaction #2

1 Mitchum Deodorant at $2.99, Get $1 ECB
Used $0.75/1 coupon =
$1.25

2 Mentos Gun, 15 ct. at $.99
Use $.100/2 coupon
$.49 each after coupon

1 Jumbo Huggies at $8.49, Get $2 ECBs
Used $1.50/1 =
$4.99

1 Schick Hydro at $8.99, Get $4 ECBs
Used $5/1 coupon =
Credit of $.01

To pay for this, I used most of the ECBs that I got from my first transaction (and $3.21 out of pocket...If you don't use all of the ECB amount, you lose it).

I forgot one coupon in the car and had to go back in, but also got some soap for the girls for $.39.

So here's the breakdown...

$54.08 retail price...

$40.30 marked down sales price...

$16.25 in coupons...

$21.49 in Extra Care Bucks...

$2.00 cashed in Extra Care Rewards...

So after the coupons & value of the ECBs, I got all this...

for $.56 (plus tax)

Not too shabby, huh? :)

Friendship for Grown-Ups - Lisa Whelchel

2010-05-01T14:19:00.001-04:00

Friendship for Grown-Ups : What I Missed & Learned Along the Way – Lisa Whelchel

Who didn’t love The Facts of Life? But who would have imagined it was so difficult for “Blair” to form true, lasting friendships? In her book, Lisa Whelchel explains why she has had trouble opening up to other people and experiencing intimate friendships. From feeling alone to a horrible betrayal by one she trusted, Lisa has experienced the ups and downs that come with friendship. She has persevered, however, and shares her methods for survival in her new book.

I found this book both enlightening and entertaining. I have such a hard time feeling comfortable enough to share my inner-most thoughts, especially since we have relocated. What a relief to hear that someone else has gone through the same thing. Lisa (that’s right…we’re on a first name basis ) has wonderful suggestions for finding the right person with whom to form such an intimate bond and how to keep that bond in place. Her strong faith is evident all through the book and is a testament to how she has withstood things throughout her life.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Hand of Fate - Lis Wiehl

2010-04-05T08:00:00.002-04:00

In the second book as part of her Triple Threat series, Lis Wiehl tells of the murder of radio broadcaster Jim Fate. Due to his outspoken and controversial manner, any number of people could be responsible for his death. Working as a team, Allison, Nicole and Cassidy try to narrow the field of suspects to find who is to blame.

So what did I think???

Overall, I enjoyed the book with its easy writing style, fast pace and believable dialogue. Unfortunately, while the main story line is good, there were times when Wiehl slipped into secondary storylines that never fully developed and were unnecessary, consequently making them a distraction. Though this book can easily be read as a stand-alone novel, having just finished the first book in the series, Face of Betrayal, I noticed some repetitive phrasing. And though it is purported to be a political thriller, Wiehl occasionally launched into political statements there were a bit irrelevant to the main plot (illegal immigration, domestic violence). I also found the book jacket reviews stating that the book is a “…flat-out suspense masterpiece!” and “a thrill-a-minute mystery” to be overstated.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Booksneeze :)

2010-04-03T18:02:00.004-04:00

I recently ran across a blog that advertised reviewing books from publisher Thomas Nelson. In exchange for a free copy of a book, I simply have to post a review on my blog. I hear they occasionally open the pool for reviewers. Check it out!

2010-01-30T20:39:00.004-05:00

The time has come for February cookin'! Let me tell you, January was awesome. The longest it took me to prepare for a meal was about 20 minutes. It was such a relief not worrying about what to cook, trying to make sure I had enough time to get it done, etc. So I've been pretty excited to get February's stuff rolling.

I'm not sure why it seemed a little more overwhelming this month. I pulled out some new recipes, so I'm sure that unfamiliarity had something to do with it. Last month I had the steps for getting everything done written down beforehand (cutting up vegetables all at one time, cooking ground beef all at once, etc.). But I can't seem to get a handle on the order this time. Oh well...not having the big cooking day until Monday, so maybe I'll get it figured out before then.

So...menu for February:

Suppers
Cheesy Chicken Pasta Stew
Cheesy Chicken Skillet
Italian Chicken
Chicken Quesadillas
Deconstructed Broccoli & Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breasts
BBQ Chicken
Chicken Stir Fry x 2
Chicken Tetrazzini
Chicken Cannelloni
Parmesan Garlic Chicken
Cheeseburger Pie
Chimichangas
Meatloaf
Tuna Noodle Casserole
Baked Ziti (Already done!!! :)
Taco Chili
Poppyseed Ham & Cheese Melts

Breakfast
Chocolate Chip Pancakes x 2 (Done!! :)
French Toast Sticks.

Sides
Crockpot Mac & Cheese x 2 (Done!! :)
Baked Corn Casserole x 2
Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes x 2

Desserts
Ice Cream Shop Pies: Toffee Bar Crunch & Oreo

Looking at the list right now, this seems like a daunting task. But so much of it can just be put together once you have the chicken (did you see how much chicken & cheese we eat?!?! That's insane...) and ground beef cooked. SOOOOO worth the weariness that comes at the end of the project.

On that note, if anyone has any great freezer cooking recipes, I would love to have them!! Okay...off to organize!

My New Love

2010-01-09T08:09:00.007-05:00

Time is a precious commodity around our house, not to mention to utter exhaustion that hits just about the time I need to start supper. There are days when the thought of cooking is completely overwhelming and we end up just ordering out. So imagine my excitement when I came across this blog just after Thanksgiving.

The concept of freezer cooking or Once-a-Month-Cooking (OAMC) was completely foreign to me, but it sounded neat. The more I researched it, the better it sounded. So many advantages:

* Saves time - Being able to simply pitch it in the oven is the biggest attraction for me. Think about it - it's no harder to brown five lbs. of ground beef than it is one, but it takes SO much less time to do it all at once.

* Saves washing - SOOOO many less dishes to wash!! :)

* Saves money - Shop the sales (especially on meat) and plan what your going to make around that! Also, planned meals + less trips to the store + less impulse buying = saving LOTS of money!

One night shortly after reading about it, I decided to try to cook a small amount...and I was able to make four meals in about an hour and a half. I was happy with that, but ECSTATIC when I was able to pull meals from the freezer and shove them into the oven.

So I decided to plan a full day of freezer cooking! I made out a menu for the rest of the month (yes, the month!!!), went grocery shopping, and went to town cooking yesterday while Reuben watched the kids.

The beginning to the day with almost all supplies:

Progress (and mess) at the lunch break (which I forgot to eat...)

The fruits of my labor?? 15 full or partial meals!! 15!!

2 batches of Chicken Tetrazzini
Chicken Cannelloni
Stuffed Shells
Chicken Pot Pie
2 batches of BBQ Chicken for the Crock Pot
4 batches of individually seasoned ground beef for:
* Sloppy Joes
* Lasagna
* Chili Beans
* Reuben's specialty that we have named Good. Because it is :)
3 cups of cooked chicken for Poppyseed Chicken
2 extra cups of cooked chicken
2 Tuna Noodle Casseroles
2 batches of Chocolate Chip Pancakes

It seems like that would take FOREVER to do. But (excluding the Pancakes...I just did a double batch for breakfast), it only took 6 hours from start to finish (including getting ingredients together, washing dishes, packaging the food for the freezer, and putting everything up). And, at the worst, it will take about 15 minutes to prepare the meal for the night we eat it.

The end product:

Yummy Stuffed Shells:

Can't wait until I can employ her:

Talon Seth Rinker

2009-10-05T10:29:00.005-04:00

After a blessedly short period of labor, Reuben, the girls and I welcomed a new addition into the family. Talon Seth Rinker was born at 1:05 am, Sunday, September 20th. Weighing 8 pounds, 12 ounces and measuring 20 3/4" long, he was our biggest baby.

Everyone is doing well - we could just do for two extra hands and a good amount of extra sleep. Enjoy :)

6 days

Two weeks already!

A Step in the Right Direction

2009-09-06T20:34:00.002-04:00

Finally!! And not a moment too soon :)

Sweet Girls :)

2009-08-18T11:36:00.002-04:00

Happy Birthday, Sweet Angelyn

2009-08-01T19:38:00.005-04:00

It's hard to believe a year has gone by. It seems to go so much faster with the second one (and, due to this, I'm completely convinced that our new little one is just going to be born a one-year-old.) Tonight, we had her friends over to celebrate her upcoming first birthday. Hope you enjoy some pictures and the video of her enjoying the cupcake icing.

Creativity Strikes

2009-05-01T09:08:00.002-04:00

Kallie's self portrat

It's a...

2009-04-27T16:36:00.003-04:00

BOY!!!

He's weighing in at 12 oz. and, according to the ultrasound, I'm 19 weeks, 5 days. The most interesting part of the ultrasound was the shot of him holding a hockey stick :)

WAYYYYYYYYYYYYY too hot...

2009-04-27T16:10:00.005-04:00

Seriously...almost 90 degrees in April? I thought that was one of the biggest benefits to moving north. Alas, I counted my chickens. It is too hot for them to hatch. Cute pics from our morning at the park:

So unhappy about leaving the park...

The Cheese

2009-04-18T11:30:00.005-04:00

Last week, we went to Dayton, Ohio for IHC (a church conference). They have services all day...but with two kids that don't really like to sit still, the chances of making it to both morning and night were nil. So we took the girls on morning adventures.

Wednesday morning: The Boonshoft Museum of Discovery

This place was AWESOME!! Kallie burned off almost 2 1/2 hours of energy, got to see some small animals (which was nice since the zoo idea was nixed due to weather)...just generally had a great time. Pictures:

Thursday morning: Chuck E. Cheese

What's to say? Games, rides, food. Good.

Making sure Bear is secure enough to enjoy the ride.

A couple other random pics:

Seriously...how do you sleep with all the stuff in the bed??

Sweet girl.

Easter 2009

2009-04-13T15:15:00.001-04:00

Happy Easter!

2009-03-31T11:00:00.003-04:00

I completely forgot to put this on the last post. Reuben, the sweetest, most patient man on the planet, got me some gorgeous flowers the other day when I was in a horrible mood and having a bad morning. Beautiful, huh? The picture doesn't really do them justice.

I thank God everyday for such an amazing man - a huge blessings that I certainly don't deserve :)

Quality Time

2009-03-31T09:03:00.002-04:00

Kallie is, thankfully, SO good with Angelyn! She is a FANTASTIC big sister who rarely gets jealous and loves showering Angelyn with affection. She still loves to be in the spotlight, though.

On a completely separate note, I read a book the other day (seriously...in one day) by a friend of mine from Thomasville called Muddy Feet on the Narrow Path.

It is filled with stories of my friend Donna Smith's family. Inspiring, heart-warming and real. You can get it here on Amazon (and it qualifies for Free Super Saving Shipping...my favorite quality in Amazon) or in the Davidson County Libraries. If you get a chance, go pick it up and read it!

Much too cute not to share...

2009-03-09T18:03:00.003-04:00

So Kallie is potty training...and it's been going really good!! The other day I spied her doing some business...while doing some business. (I know...that's kinda disgusting...but funny, right?) Anyway, enjoy the pictures.

der smorgasbord

2009-03-03T13:56:00.000-05:00

(Julie - thanks so much for your sweet note about the blog. It made my day :)

Things have been CrAzY-hEcTiC around here lately. The girls are both growing like crazy and it's so hard to believe that Angelyn is almost 7 months old!! She is such a sweet girl - one who hardly ever cries (seriously!!) and loves to be interacted with. She is a chunker, especially in comparison to Kallie. At 6 months, Kallie was 25 1/2" long, 12 lbs., 9 oz. Angelyn was 26 3/4" long, 18 lbs., 2 oz. Quite a difference! Angelyn is wearing 9 - 12 month stuff, things that Kallie wore when she was a year old...and she's only 7 months!!

The biggest news is the newest Rinker addition due September 23rd. We are very excited...but the idea of 3 kids under 3 is also daunting. I also figure we are due a boy this time around...so I'm sure that will bring new and exciting challenges!

Highlights of the last little bit:

Kallie has moved into a "big girl" bed! We had a bit of trouble getting her to want to sleep in it until we got a Pooh bedset for her. Pooh is her boyfriend. She is obsessed with him.

She is a big helper around the house. As much help as a 2-year-old can be. She loves to copy us and do what we do.

We have to keep a pretty close eye on her when it comes to Angelyn. She loves to strip her clothes off, unhook her diaper, etc. Reuben and I were working on something one day right before lunch. We had already put Angelyn in her high chair...but apparently weren't moving fast enough for Kallie, who decided she would get some of her applesauce from the fridge, open it, find a spoon, and feed Angelyn.

She found the whole situation absolutely hilarious.

When she isn't taking care of Angelyn, she's taking care of Bear. Aside from getting regular baths, food and drink, she reads "Jesus" to him.

Our sweet, sweet 7-month-old. These pictures were taken on her 6-month birthday :)

One of Angelyn's favorite new napping spots. She has a play gym that she kicks around in...but gets so tired from trying to roll over in it, that she almost always falls asleep while playing.

Absolutely precious :)

We recently went to Canada for Reuben's sister's wedding. I don't know what happened (well...we were both sorta sick and exhausted), but I hardly took any pictures. This is one of the few I got. Reuben's sister, Jenny, got Angelyn a Pooh outfit. Kallie was VERY excited about this (and tried to get in it the other day...)

LET'S GO OILERS!!!!

2009-01-15T16:22:00.002-05:00

Background Story, Part 1

So anyone that knows Reuben knows he likes sports. And anyone that knows him well knows he LOVES the Edmonton Oilers. Since he's been in the states, he has gone through hockey withdrawal. When we were in North Carolina, he would go a couple times a month to play pickup hockey in Greensboro, but since we've been in Maryland (ironically, even though it is MUCH colder) there hasn't been any hockey.

Background Story, Part 2

So Reuben is incredibly hard to buy for (birthday, Christmas, etc.). He usually just ends up getting practical things that he can use rather than something he might just enjoy. This year, however, I was determined to get him something special. And that's when I saw it. The Edmonton Oilers were playing the Washington Capitals in D.C. - about 2 1/2 hours from us. So thanks to ebay and someone who apparently didn't care about going to this game, we got some GREAT tickets (7th row from the ice behind the Oiler's bench!!) for pretty cheap!!

We had a fantastic time complete with a D.C. metro ride that was only slightly terrifying, great food at Hard Rock Cafe, and a 5-2 Oilers victory!!

Edmonton's awesome goalie - Dwayne Roloson

Edmonton's Coach - Craig McTavish

The HUGE Edmonton cheering section around us! Needless to say, the 4 of us had a grand time and enjoyed the outcome more than the other 50,000 people that were there.

Cute Girls

2009-01-15T16:14:00.002-05:00

Sorry I have been so slack, Tonya ;)

Nothing much to say...we have cute girls :)

Kallie - 2 yrs.

Angelyn - 5 months

Highlights of the Season...so far

2008-12-11T15:09:00.005-05:00

It has been SUPER busy around here...but we are making it through the season with most of our sanity intact. Thus far in the Christmas season we have learned:

1. Even bears need baths.

2. When you go downtown to the big tree lighting, you can never be too warm.

Or maybe you can.

3. Downtown Cumberland is very pretty at night - especially during the Christmas season.

4. Putting icicles on a steep, slippery roof may not be worth the trouble. But it is alot easier to do it barefoot.

(Which reminds me of the quote of the season by my husband: "I'd rather have freezing feet than die.")

5. A two-year-old would rather decorate herself than the tree.

6. Holiday pictures are a nightmare. It is inevitable that you will have the famous "picker" picture:

A good picture of each child alone:

But experience the torture of trying to get a good picture of both of them together:

Kallie Turns 2!

2008-11-14T11:42:00.006-05:00

It's absolutely amazing how quickly time goes by. Word cannot begin to express how much joy and laughter (and mischief and frustration) Kallie has brought to our lives. She is a precious God-sent gift and our prayer everyday is that she will grow up to love and serve Him (and be a good big sister :) Enjoy a few pictures from her little birthday party as well as our (somewhat sad) rendition of Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday, sweet Kallie - we love you!

LOVES her new doll stroller.

(Note: Sorry about the jerky camera movement...I just knew she was going to touch the candle flames!)

A couple other random pictures of my cute girl.

Obsessed with shoes at an early age.

Sharing secrets...or tips on how to get by with things.

Randomness

2008-11-03T14:37:00.004-05:00

It has been a BUSY fall - here are the latest pictures of the girls :)

Kallie has started to "help" with the laundry:

Her newest trick (which I was greeted with when I went to get her up the other morning):

Our bathtub lover:

Playing hide and seek at an early age. Unfortunately, her inability to move limits her hiding places.

We had a Celebration of Life party at church last weekend as a Halloween alternative. Kallie was a princess (though she couldn't wear her crown as she still has very little hair)...

...and Angelyn was a doctor. We were given a pair of memento scrubs when she was born and they fit perfectly!

Kallie intently studied the pinata to try to figure out how she could get some candy out of it.

My friend, Emily, took fall pictures of the girls last week. Kallie LOVES having her picture made, so she was a happy little chick. Check out Emily's website, www.cerdaphoto.com, to see more of her amazing work!

Angelyn Talks

2008-10-24T08:44:00.001-04:00

Don't worry, mom - I'm sure her first word will be "Wheezie."

Bowling with Kallie

2008-10-21T14:16:00.004-04:00

Monday morning, we took Kallie bowling for the first time.

(One quick complaint: what happened to bowling for $1.50?? Seriously...$20 for one game of bowling for three people - and one of them isn't even two years old yet!!)

Now...back to the fun stuff. Kallie must be the cutest little bowler ever. As ugly as bowling shoes are, she carried them off with style.

Kallie's bowl rolled down the lane at lightning speed...

Final scores: (I admit...my ball went off the bumpers several times)

And what did Angelyn do while we bowled??

Now for the best part. I don't think I could've gotten a funnier video if I had tried:

Our OCD Child

2008-10-14T10:51:00.007-04:00

Kallie has become increasingly obsessed with being clean. A couple of weeks ago, we noticed her studying her feet. It took a few minutes before we could figure out what she was doing...but then we saw. She was cleaning in between her toes. It's nice having a kid who wants things so spic and span, but it can be really, REALLY time consuming cleaning every little speck off of her - especially at meal time. Anyway, here is a video to showcase our daughter's newest talent.

Here are a couple other random pictures of Kallie.

She likes to take clothes off...but they tend to get stuck.

You can't really see it in the picture, but Kallie is so excited because she unhooked her diaper before I got in there to get her up for the day.

One of my favorite pictures ever taken of her.

A recent picture of Angelyn (taken October 4th.) She's doing good - growing longer every day. She is such a good and happy baby. God has surely blessed us :)

Cooking With Kallie

2008-09-27T16:43:00.005-04:00

The other night, Reuben and I decided to throw Kallie into cooking. And what better thing to start with than CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES!!!

She was VERY excited to be helping out. Watch out, Rachael Ray!

Mixing it up with daddy with a Kallie-sized spoon.

This girl has her mama's heart. She knows where the good stuff is!

A Long Overdue Vacation

2008-09-22T16:01:00.004-04:00

Last week, we took a much needed vacation to North Carolina. Reuben was lucky enough to go back home in July for youth camp. However, due to the pregnancy, I wasn't able to go and had not been back home since Christmas. Nine months is a long time to go without seeing friends!!

So we set out last Wednesday night after church. We decided to drive a few hours to break up the trip so the girls, specifically Kallie, wouldn't have a hard time being bored in the car. Before we got to New Market, VA, Kallie slept about 45 minutes in the car. Consequently, when we got to our room and settled in to go to sleep at 11:30, she got a second bout of energy and refused to go to sleep until about 2:30 am! She finally fell asleep in the bed with us...sleeping completely sideways (unfortunately, I had her feet).

After a very restful 3 1/2 hours of sleep and a not-so-hearty breakfast, we set out for Natural Bridge. The rain nixed our plans for seeing the bridge, but we did visit the caverns, which Kallie loved. The rest of the trip down to NC was good - Kallie was exhausted, so she snoozed away!

Our first stop was to see Papaw so he could meet Angelyn and see Kallie, who he hadn't seen since Christmas. He was amazed at how much she had grown!

Friday night, Reuben and I left Kallie with mom and dad and went to a Bed & Breakfast in Pilot Mountain. It was so nice (and weird) to have some time to ourselves. When we got there, we were greeted by one of the resident fawns that the owners have raised since birth.

This was the beautiful cabin we stayed in:

Children aren't allowed on the grounds, but they let us slide since Angelyn is just a baby and no one was staying near us that she could disrupt. The one stipulation was that we would sneak her in and out of the cabin. Reuben's good, huh?

Really...could you deny this cutie?

This was the view of Pilot Mountain from the parking lot of the B & B. It was just gorgeous!!

I got really slack on taking pictures, but we had such a nice time. We got to see alot of our friends, Reuben got to play some tennis and softball, and the girls got a little more spoiled by Gramps and Wheezie (love you, mom!).

Just a couple of other random pictures:

Kallie & Angelyn with cousin Dylan. Kallie really had a good time with him. She's still not saying a whole lot (that's understandable, anyway), but she said "Dylan" this morning when I was going through the pictures!!

I hate that this picture is blurry. Kallie has the piano master form down, doesn't she?

Just too cute not to include.

Kallie, who doesn't do well with change, was especially excited when we got home. As we turned onto our road, she started clapping her hands and squealing from excitement. Apparently, there's no place like home.

2008-09-06T11:02:00.003-04:00

In an effort to only have one munchkin in diapers, we Reuben and I have decided to start potty training Kallie. Yesterday we introduced Kallie to her big girl potty. It took a little coaxing to get her to dig into the bag to get it out.

When she finally did get it out, she was very interested in inspecting it.

And, now, off to the races!

Thank goodness she fits! I'm telling you...she is a stout little girl!

Kallie's throne.

I can't believe I originally left this off!!

Last night, Kallie used her new potty!!! We were SO excited. Wish us luck!!

Two Kids = No Time

2008-09-05T10:22:00.005-04:00

I can't believe Angelyn is already a month old!! Time goes by so fast when there's no grandparents around to babysit and give you a break. But when you have some...umm...encouragement to put some new pictures or something up (thank you, Heather ;)), sometimes you just have to take a break and get it done! So here goes...

Angelyn is doing great. She had lost about 8 ounces when we came home from the hospital, but at her last weight check she was back up to birth weight. She goes in for her check-up on Tuesday, the 9th. Reuben and I can' believe how different she and Kallie are. Angelyn is a fantastic baby!! With Kallie, we pretty much had to hold her all the time for her to be content. Angelyn will fall asleep on her own without us holding her and is content to be in her bouncer or swing...both of which Kallie didn't really like (especially her swing - she would scream if we put her in there). She sleeps like a champ at night! Since she was about a week old or so, she's been putting in a solid six hours on the first night sleeping shift. And on her one month birthday, she gave us a present - 7 1/2 hours!! It was heaven! So, pictures:

My favorite (August 9, 2008)

Content in her swing (August 30, 2008)

One month old!! (September 3, 2008)

Kallie is doing really good, too. It's hard to believe she will be two in November!! She is so helpful with Angelyn - well, she likes to be and tries to be. She just LOVES being a big sister. She is so good about sharing Reuben and I with Angelyn. She's big on getting us diapers for Angelyn and trying to give her the pacifier -

She is a stout, big girl. She's come a long way from being in the fifth percentile for her age when she was a baby. At her 18-month checkup, she was in the 97th!! She is starting to talk independently a little bit now, but still doesn't say much without us coaching her. She'll repeat just about anything we ask her to. Most of the time it doesn't sound anything like what it's supposed to...but it's cute anyway. She continues to be a big help around the house - she loves helping me empty the dishwasher and put up groceries and laundry. She's a bit of a neat freak, so I'm hoping that will come into play when she can mop!! And now, some pictures of our big girl:

LOVES to brush her teeth with daddy!! (August 25, 2008)

Proof that her hair is growing a little bit. (August 28, 2008)

Such a big girl! (September 3, 2008)

Showing off her animal sound skills:

The Coolest Gift!

2008-08-23T15:19:00.002-04:00

One of the sweet ladies at our church gave us this awesome gift for Angelyn last week. Check it out!! It's a personalized plate...but so much more personal than I have ever seen before...

Date and city of birth...

Name on the crib...

Time (including pm) and weight at birth...

Isn't that just the coolest thing? If interested, she found it here.

Generations Apart

2008-08-23T15:14:00.003-04:00

Last week, we took the girls to go visit Nana - Reuben's paternal grandmother - who lives in a nursing home here in Cumberland. It was her first meeting with Angelyn and the two of them hit it off perfectly.

Kallie wasn't so thrilled about having her picture made. She was having a fine time playing around in Nana's room and did not want to stop for a photo op.

Sidenote to our family: Nana looked great the other morning! She had just been to the "beauty parlor" and said she was feeling better than she had lately. Reuben and I agreed that it was the best we had seen her look in a long time.

Birthday Wishes

2008-08-14T17:14:00.004-04:00

Just wanted to thank my sister-in-law and her family for the beautiful birthday flowers for Angelyn!! Jenny, they are absolutely gorgeous and smell soooo good!! Thank you so much for such a sweet gift!

One Week Down

2008-08-14T10:59:00.003-04:00

After 40+ weeks, she finally arrived!!! Here's a quick rundown of delivery day:

6:30 am - Arrive at hospital

7:15 am - Wth paperwork finished and a short doctor visit, pitocin is started to induce labor

1:30 pm - Ater enjoying a pretty easy day of very bearable contractions, my doctor arrives to break my water

1:35 pm - What in the world!?!! Are my contractions supposed to be this strong right after he breaks my water?!?! Okay...I can hold off until 2:30 to get the epidural.

2:15 pm - Okay...I've held off as long as I can. GIVE ME DRUGS!!!!

2:35 pm (or so...who's looking at the clock now??) - Okay...that's a little more tolerable, but I don't remember the epidural with Kallie being so painful.

5:00 pm - Nurse: "If you start feeling alot of pressure, let us know."

5:10 pm - Me: "Ummm...I'm feeling alot of pressure now!!!!!! Get this baby out!!!!" Note: I am not pushing at this point. And the last time they checked me, I wasn't ready to push yet.

5:11 pm - Me" "GET THIS BABY OUT!!!!!"

That thought continued to be voiced. Well, that and, "I can't do this...just leave her there!!!"

5:28 pm - Dr. Wolford: "Congratulations...it's a girl!"

And so she was born. It was unbelievably fast...which made it unbelievably overwhelming...but it was over :)

Several people have asked about her name, which was not final until the morning I went into the hospital. Anyone who knows Reuben knows he has a penchant for the unusual. This goes for names as well. He didn't want anything too common...I didn't want anything too weird. We threw a couple of names around before she was born, but couldn't ever really agree on anything.

So a couple of weeks ago, Reuben suggested Angelyn. He had never heard the name and just came up with it on his on. He didn't know, however, that it was my grandmother's middle name as well - so it was pretty special. Still, I wasn't really sure. I like to shorten names (which, thinking about it, you can't really do with Kallie either...) and I didn't want to shorten it to Angie or Angel, but we couldn't think of anything else that we liked. And then, when she got here, I couldn't think of anything else that would have fit her. It's just perfect for her.

Rose...yeah - no special meaning. We just thought they were pretty together.

Anyway, here's a video of pictures of her from the first couple of days. On a side note, Kallie is doing REALLY well with Angelyn. She loves to get diapers and blankets for us and loves to give Angelyn her pacifier (and has only given it to her bear a couple of times!!). We think she's going to make a great big sister :)

Introducing...

2008-08-07T19:52:00.004-04:00

Angelyn Rose Rinker

Born Tuesday, August 5, 2008
5:28 p.m.

8 lbs. 6.2 oz.
18 1/2" long

Will post more later when the hospital has worn off :)

The Big Day!!!

2008-08-02T09:44:00.004-04:00

Today is the day the new one is supposed to be here!! Has she arrived? No. I got so excited when the day came around that Kallie was born (wow...how to explain this...) - she was born almost 3 weeks early - so when that date came around for this baby, I woke up thinking, "Yeah!!! Gonna have a baby today!!!" Kallie really spoiled me like that. Does this mean they are going to be complete opposites?

So I've been thinking - mainly so I can have pity :) - what is the best way to describe how pregnant I am?

9 months?

No.

40 weeks?

Well, that's better...it sounds longer!

But then I thought of the winner!

240 days!!!! Now I realize that in the long course of things, that's not that long. HOWEVER, out of 365 days in a year, 240 days is pretty impressive, right??

My biggest fear at this moment is having the baby and the doctor saying, "Congratulations!! You have a little boy!!!"

And now (because the blog looks a little plain with no picture), here is Kallie the day after she was born.

Time With Little Sis

2008-07-30T11:37:00.003-04:00

Big Sister Kallie loves to snuggle up to my (extremely pregnant) belly and give her little sister (well...hopefully sister) hugs and kisses. Snapped this this morning when she was sharing the love. I just hope that when she gets tired of the real baby, she doesn't toss her on the floor like she does her baby dolls :)

RGSP

2008-07-30T11:22:00.007-04:00

Last week (at least I think it was last week...), Reuben and I took Kallie to Rocky Gap State Park to play for a picnic. Doesn't she look thrilled about this outing??

She really enjoyed feeding the ducks her french fries!!

I just love this picture!! I couldn't get a very good shot of it (I would have had to stand up and move...HA!!), but her little hand was resting on Reuben's leg. It was so sweet :)

After feeding the ducks, we decided to take her to the "beach" at the lake. She loves water, so we thought she would love it!

Don't let the following picture fool you. She absolutely hated being in the water - just standing there! She is so particular about being dirty. The sand drove her absolutely crazy. I went out in the water to try to get her to come out there with me...but no. There was no way she was doing it. The time at the water didn't last long. And there were several other kids down there that were looking at Kallie like she was nuts because she didn't want to be in the water.

Getting some R & R

2008-07-23T19:07:00.001-04:00

Just had to throw this picture on here from this morning. I had been working on the computer and I turn around to see Kallie just taking it easy. Even more surprising than the pose is the fact that she stayed like that until I could get a picture!

Week With Grandma

2008-07-23T10:06:00.004-04:00

While Reuben was in North Carolina at youth camp a couple of weeks ago, my mom came up to stay and help me out.

Kallie has really enjoyed her new rocking chair that mom brought up for her. One of her students at the high school she works at made it for Kallie at the end of the last school year. You can't see it, but it has her name carved out on the back of seat. It's gorgeous!!

Mom and I took Kallie to the Cumberland zoo while she was up here. Kallie LOVES animals - LOVES them. After we finally got out of the parking lot (there was a cat out there and Kallie started crying when we tried to get her to go into the zoo and leave the cat), she had a BLAST!

It was so nice how well she took to mom. It's getting more and more difficult to keep up with Kallie and retain some amount of energy just to make it through the day. Kudos to my mom for making it through a week with me (which is MUCH more trying than making it through with Kallie).

HIGH NOTE - New baby (who still doesn't have a name!!) is at T - 2 weeks!!! :)

Surprise!!!

2008-07-07T07:17:00.004-04:00

So when we were finishing up with Bible School, one of the ladies from the church called to ask Reuben about having a follow up VBS meeting to discuss what we would do differently in the future. June 28th was the date set. Before I go any further, you must know that I am pretty obsessive about writing things down on our calendar. EVERYTHING gets written down so we don't miss anything and so, if possible, we can get there 5 minutes early (which NEVER happens!)

So the 28th arrives. It had been a REALLY long, emotionally draining pregnant week. Of course I'm nesting like crazy, so when I see a few ants in our bedroom, everything must be moved so I can clean and the drapes and stuff all have to be washed. I mean, really - if you're going to clean good, you might as well clean GOOD, right?? So I finish our room and move onto Kallie's room, cleaning it really good, too. So yeah, it was a really long day and I am hot and sweaty and nasty feeling and all I want are some chocolate chip pancakes.

While in the middle of fixing supper - eggs scrambling on the stove, bacon cooking, chocolate chip pancakes mixed up and ready to pour - the phone rings. I don't even make a move to answer the phone, but about a minute after Reuben picks it up, he runs downstairs saying, "Honey...we forgot about the VBS meeting." Because, for some unknown reason, I did not write it on the calendar. The meeting starts at 6:30. It it 6:05. We live 10 minutes from the church.

I stare at the stove.

Now, would it really hurt to not go to this meeting? If I go, Kallie won't have had supper. Supper, what there is of it so far, will be cold. And I'll have to throw out the pancake mix. With chocolate in it.

But I don't really feel like I can miss it. So I send Reuben to get himself and Kallie ready while I try and get as much done on supper as possible. Then we switch. As I am changing clothes, I'm yelling instructions.

Get some juice and snacks for Kallie!!

In fact, just put the eggs in a bowl and you can feed her on the way!!

Go ahead and grab some burnt bacon to eat on the way!!

Take a fork for me so I can have some eggs, too!!

Out the door we go. Speeding down the road, I take the briefest minute to look in the mirror, realizing exactly how rough I look. But do I really care?? No...and I tell Reuben this. And, honestly, I really don't care. Again, long week - long day - long overdue for a shower. But nothing I can do about it now.

Reuben remarks, "You may care later."

I reply, "No...I don't think so."

When we get to the church, there are ALOT of cars there. I'm wondering where all of these people were DURING VBS...cause they weren't all there to help with it. As I pull into the parking space, I have the worst thought in the world.

"Please tell me this isn't a baby shower. Please."

Reuben is silent, but the look on his face says it all. So the building the shower is in isn't air conditioned. It's humid. I'm 8 months pregnant. And I haven't had a shower or washed my hair since the day before. Boy am I glad I put on deoderant.

The surprise is absolutely pulled off without any inkling of me having a clue (kudos to Reuben for keeping this amazing secret...even though he really did forget about it).

The ladies from our church are so unbelievably giving - we were amazed at all the stuff we got for the new baby (who is still unnamed...). 9 packs of diapers, several boxes of wipes, ALOT of small onesies and such (Kallie was born in November...onesies weren't really used for her, so we didn't have any), some really cute dresses, and...

A DOUBLE STROLLER!!!! It is AWESOME!!

Kallie already loves it, as she insisted on riding around the parking lot in it.

On a completely different note, Reuben is gone again. He's in North Carolina for youth camp until (hopefully) late Friday night. The doctor wouldn't let me go, so mom came up to stay while he's gone. Praying I don't go into labor this week. However, Saturday -- bring on the labor!!! Taking Kallie to the local zoo this morning, so I'm sure we'll have pictures of that to share soon.

Caution: Crafters May Drool

2008-06-21T11:58:00.006-04:00

So on the way to pick Reuben up from the airport the other day, I decided to treat myself to a stop at the Offray Ribbon Factory in Hagerstown. This was the first time I had been there, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Check this out!!!!

I got all this ribbon for under $12.00!!!!! TWELVE DOLLARS!!!

These HUGE Walmart size bags of ribbon were only $1.00 each!!

These grab bags of ribbon were on $.35 each!! 35 CENTS!!!!!

I splurged a little bit on the spools. They cost anywhere from $.10 to $.50 each.

Possibly my most favorite bargain buy (not my favorite color...but the price was UNBELIEVABLE!!) was this box of 24 spools of sheer gold for $.50. 50 CENTS. Those spools cost at least $1.00 each in craft stores.

Smorsgasbord

2008-06-17T11:20:00.000-04:00

Boy have I gotten lazy!! Life has been crazy busy lately, so you'll have to forgive me. So what's been going on...

Kallie's friend, Colby, had his first birthday party at the end of May. Here's possibly one of my favorite pictures ever of her. It just captures her. If you know her, you know what I mean about the crazy, independent wild child we have...

Well, we are down to 6 1/2 weeks until baby #2 is supposed to be here. I'm not gonna lie...an early (but healthy) arrival wouldn't be bad. It is so humid up here!! Right now in my head I hear my mom telling me - again - about my brother being born in the middle of September in the hottest summer in the history of the world with no air conditioning in their farm house :)

Kallie had her first appointment with the speech therapist - which was an evalution of her progress. Since her 18-month checkup, she has started saying a couple of things - that are probably not recognizable to anyone except Reuben and I - "duck" and "hot." When they were here, they asked about her receptive abilities and tested her on puzzles and whatnot and (except for speaking) placed her at a 22-month old level!! They weren't concerned about her speaking...they didn't understand why she doesn't, but since she had made progress since her doctor's appointment and understands so much, didn't see any reason for therapy. They asked if she liked to help around the house...what do you think??

We just got finished with Bible School at our church - the first one the church has had in at least 13 years!! We usually have anywhere from 4 - 12 kids each Sunday morning, but we had 35 for Bible School!!! We were really excited...but it was completely exhausting. I'm going to search the church people for pictures of Reuben riding his toy horse in the skit so I can put them on here, but here's what I have so far...and, of course, they are of Kallie.

It was a cowboy themed VBS. Kallie loves hats, but I'm not sure she was completely sold on the cowboy hat.

Reuben is in Indianapolis for several days this week for a conference, leaving Kallie and I by ourselves. We've all been a little sick (Kallie, due to cutting her 15th & 16th teeth!!) and we are tiiiiiiired. Pray that we will still be alive when he gets back :)

These are two of her favorite things...

2008-05-30T15:20:00.001-04:00

Here, Kallie combines her two favorite things - eating and books.

We really do feed her. We promise.

Korny Kallie

2008-05-22T16:43:00.007-04:00

Kallie has found the love of her young life.

Reuben took her to the store with him the other day (just down the street...she rode in her stroller) and they got some corn on the cob and he let her hold it on their way back home. Some of the corn didn't make it all the way home, though...guess she was a little hungry from the trip.

So when she got home, we cooked up what she had left of the corn. Tell me this chick isn't excited about it?!?

And finally...she experiences the corn as it is supposed to be...

Now this is a happy girl!

18-Month Checkup

2008-05-15T11:05:00.000-04:00

So if any other mothers read this and can relate, please calm my fears. Today I took Kallie in for her 18-month checkup...which I have been dreading since her 15-month when our pediatrician expressed his concern because she wasn't really talking. She still isn't. She'll mimic our syllables and intonation in wording (for phrases like "the end" and "all gone"). She knows things like crazy, will point to them in books, get things around the house we ask for. But words? Nope...not on her life.

The pediatrician is referring us to an Infant & Toddler program. Basically, my understanding is that a speech therapist will come to our house to work with Kallie's "Delayed Speech" problem, as Dr. Haworth put it. I'm trying not to worry too much about it. I'll keep her progress updated.

But she sure is a cutie-pie sweetheart! These pictures were taken a few days ago.

Sweet Revenge

2008-05-15T10:49:00.000-04:00

Finally. After several months. Kallie got the "treatment."

The spout on her cups like this have a mind of their own. Half of the time, they behave. The other half - they spit on you when they are opened. It's rather rude, but funny (as long as you aren't the recipient). Kallie always manages to strategically manuever the cup so it spits on someone else and avoids her. Until yesterday.

Birthday Fun!

2008-05-05T15:18:00.000-04:00

This past weekend, Reuben, Kallie and I went to the local (overpriced and underfed) Japanese steakhouse for my birthday! We had such a nice time...anytime you don't have to clean up after supper is extra nice!

We were a little worried about how Kallie would react with the food being cooked right in front of us, but she had a great time (and loved the rice!!)

Kallie & Grandma

2008-05-01T17:53:00.000-04:00

For a while now, anytime Kallie wants a kiss (or if you want to give her one), she'll lean her forehead towards you to give it a kiss. But it's never funnier (or cuter!) than when she does it to my mom on the phone!!

Kallie's Bang-Up Job

2008-04-30T00:00:00.000-04:00

What a great subject for my first post!

Last night, we were getting ready to leave for the park when Kallie decided she had other plans for us. While running down the hall, she slipped and fell into the corner of the wall. I didn't really think anything much about it - I knew it had to hurt, but wasn't expecting what I saw.

I picked her up really quick, didn't look at her or anything, and just held her until she stopped holding her breath and let out the first scream. When I pulled her back to look at her, all I saw was blood...and I lost it. I pretty much threw her in Reuben's arms and started crying...which made Kallie cry even harder!

So after I calm down (which calms Kallie down), we take off for the hospital. (Now I wish that I had grabbed my camera...at the time, it seemed so insensitive!) Miraculously, we made it to right hospital, right entrance, even with me driving (which, with the alternative being me holding a bleeding Kallie, was the better choice). After 8 hours (in reality, probably about 50 minutes), we get back into an exam room where the nurse says that she'll have to have stitches! As expected, I start crying again. I now have a new respect for hearing my mom say that it hurt her more to see us hurt than for us to be hurt.

So one hour, at least five stitches in two layers (I left the room and that is Reuben's estimate), one steri-strip, and alot of goldfish, crackers, vanilla wafers, and juice later - we went home.

Seeing Kallie fall still haunts me, but her bravery continues to amaze me.