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reading

to begin…
i don’t read books.
i am pretty sure i have ADD (seriously)
and i just can’t concentrate on books very well.
i read about 1 book every 2 years.
terrbile…i know.
but with having concentration issues…and 5 children….
books just don’t happen.
although it’s funny because at the moment
i am into 5 books at once.
see?
concentration issues!

this is my newest book to begin.

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just a little light reading…you know
only about the hardest thing we’ve gone through so far as parents.
the very first paragraph describes our “teen” prefectly.
it’s going to be a good one.

i am in a bible study that is finishing this one.
(and now you know exactly how wide my hips are)

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it’s the second in a series.
the first was called “the frazzled female”
they were good studies. this is a workbook technically…but it’s a book.
they were about finding balance, dealing with stress and being with God.
i would recommend it especially for mommies.

this is to be our next study.

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do you see a theme here?
can you tell what i am struggling with?
i was not thrilled about this one
but my friends have assured me i will learn from it.
remember the facts of life show…Blair wrote this.

and then my friend gave me this one to look over.
and i am.

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so give me about a month
and feel free to call me with any parenting questions you may have.
surely i will know it all by then.
ha ha ha ha ha

and then our sunday night small group is studying this book.
the white one in the middle.

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knowing god.
oh my goodness.
this book is so right on…so convicting…so challenging…
but so hard to read.
the way it’s written is practically like reading a foreign language for me.
but when craig explains it in our study…it rocks.

so that’s what i am reading.
i would ask what good books you are into right now…
but i don’t really think i’d read it anyway.
magazines are so much easier.

melissa @ the inspired room - Those books look familiar! We like to read parenting teen books right along with our Strong Willed Child and parenting boys books. Just to keep ourselves INSANE!
I am reading a classic right now, The Celebration of Discipline. That one is for ME! We need a lot of help with discipline around our house.

Andria - Wow, I’m a reader. My problem is putting those discipline ideas in place. Glad to see I’m not the only momma struggling with discipline. I wonder how you do it with 5, I have 3 boys & they argue all the time. I long for peace.

traci - that is quite the reading list for a nonreader. good for you. i love to read and have a few going right now – your best life now, the power of a praying wife, and playing for pizza (novel). good luck turning pages.

eryn - love your pics. and looks like great reading. heard good things about love and logic.
FYI I posted some thoughts about Deceptively Delicious on my blog…you said you were curious about my review.

eryn - love your pics. and looks like great reading. heard good things about love and logic.
FYI I posted some thoughts about Deceptively Delicious on my blog…you said you were curious about my review.

Amy - I have 2 by Becky Bailey (she’s the Conscious Discipline lady that Shana teaches). “Easy to Love, but Difficult to Discipline” and “There’s Got to be a Better Way: Discipline That Works.” You know where to find me if you’re interested. (Since it sounds like you need another book to read!)

Jennifer P. - Yes, I think YOU should read them, then just pass all the good information on to us :)! I’ve read some great parenting books, but either they’re all saying the same thing–or they’re all saying different things and then you’re not sure what to believe. Sigh!
Hope you get some good answers!

Erica - I just heard of Parenting with Love and Logic yesterday for the first time. Looks good. I have Creative Corrections and LOVE IT. Someone is borrowing it as I write. And the Boundaries book is another one I am looking to read. So I am interested to know what you think of all of them! Have fun reading!

Mom - I love it! Looks like great reading. Remember the conference I went to in California (when you and Shalon went)? The featured speaker was Dr. Townsend talking about his first Boundaries book. He was the speaker and then he led workshops. It was fabulous. So I am sure boundaries for kids will be equally enlightening. Good luck.

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play-doh

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what do think when you see this picture?
of course you think…
“wow annie has serious bed head”
and “what kind of crazy camera angle is that?” and
“why doesn’t megan just brush her hair with that brush sitting on the counter?”
and “where can i get a cow shaped butter dish like that?”
(it’s a one of a kind original made by lauren years ago…sorry)
these things are obvious.
but what do think of the play-doh?

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does this make you feel stress?
are you thinking…you can’t mix play-doh!!
are you wishing that annie had kept them all seperate?
did you begin to sweat?
did you just go check to make sure no one mixed your play-doh?

or do you think…
“those colors are so beautiful all blended together”
“the pink swirling through the purple is so bright.”
“what color will be created next?”
“i wish i could play with annie”

i just think it’s so interesting to hear people say
“we don’t mix our play-doh.”

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if we didn’t mix play-doh…
how could these dudes have rainbow hair?!!

Andria Bender - I’m with the mom wondering who was going to clean it up. But, rock on mixing the playdoh. I have 3 wild boys, the playdoh is going to get mixed.

Julie K - We just had this discussion a week ago! The kids got new playdoe for christmas. Aidan went to mix his colors right away and my first thought was – wait until it’s not so new and pretty! Then, within the same second I said, oh whatever, it’s just playdoe – have fun. So, one child mixes and the other does not. It’s more of a personality type here. Cute post.

melissa @ the inspired room - love it ALL! Bed head and mixed up playdough!

jeanetta - i was thinking what a mess i would have to clean up. lol

Emily Loria - Ohhh, we LOVE play doh! It’s better to mix it up a bit. A homemade playdoh color is way better than what you get at the store!

Ainslie - What a thought-provoking post!!! In all honesty, my first thought was not about the mixed up colours. My first thought was…’holy cow, look at that mess…who’s going to clean that up’!!! BUT, I absolutely have no problem with the play dough colours being mixed up. Isn’t it funny the things that bother some but don’t bother others. So who did clean that mess up???

Lee Ann - Ok, my duaghter just woke up from a nap and I showed her the pictures. She said “OHHH! It looks like she mixed up all the play doh! You can’t do that because then you won’t have very much colors left.”
Thanks again for sharing your family with us.

Lee Ann - My daughter’s (4) Sunday school teacher told me she was mad at everyone a couple weeks ago because they were mixing the play-doh. Honest I didn’t teach her that. She likes things “orderly” all on her own.
I love your photos. I never once would have thought you should brush her hair. It’s way overrated.

Andrea - OK. I have to admit…..the picture with all the mixed up play doh is quite disturbing to me…. Hi, my name is Andrea and I don’t mix play doh. But, and there is always a but, I do like the rainbow hair dudes!!!!!!

Jennifer P. - okay, I admit, I’m a “don’t mix the play-doh” mom…..only now I have NO idea why! The stuff’s like 50 cents a can, so it’s not like an irreplacable toy, right? I guess I just say it because that’s what I was always told. I think I’ll let my kids go mix up some play doh right now!
And I also love the butter dish. And I also think little Annie’s hair rocks! Bed head hairdo’s are the best :)!

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farm style sledding

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over a week ago craig called uncle gary
and invited himself out to their farm to sled.
he wanted to use their new four wheeler to pull the kids.
thank you gary and janet for playing with our kids all afternoon.

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tractor tires are way cooler than cheap plastic sleds!
the kids had such a good time.
and everyone loves the farm.
i wasn’t able to go with them but lauren had her new camera.
these are her photos from the day…

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the biggest golden retreiver in the world.
and the friendliest.

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she made this pig picture into black and white.
i thought that was cute.
i was hoping for some baby pig pictures…
this looks like a mama.

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i guess they have cows…i didn’t know that.

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and a great shot of craig from lauren’s view in the car.

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annie is always a good model for classic photography.
timeless right?

Kamee Nuzman - Thanks so much for stopping in! I appreciated your compliments; you made my day! Come back and visit soon; I love making new bloggerland friends!! 😉

prairie daze - way to go, lauren…beautiful!

Kamee Nuzman - I love, love, love the header on your blog! DARLING!! I linked to you from Jennifer’s page; good to meet you! Loved the post with all the produce, such fun colors!! 😉 I am excited to link to all the cool pictures of your house. I am off to do that now. 😉 I’ll be back soon- Kamee

Mom - Lauren- what great pictures! Looks like everyone had a great time sledding.

carissa - what loads of fun! what a day!
fantastic… really incredible pictures!

Dana D - WOW! She’s a budding little photographer herself! What great pictures!

traci - how fun!!! that is how we sled here. sometimes we use a tire, sometimes a sled and now the kids want to find an old car hood.

Jennifer P. - Looks like she’s taking after you in the photography department–what an eye! The cute pig picture really makes me feel bad about eating pork though.
There’s no place like a farm for getting pulled around behind a 4 wheeler on a sled! Tell Lauren thanks for sharing!

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slap fight

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overheard in the dark
on the drive home from a christmas celebration
sean says to his siblings…
“who would win in a slap fight – Harry Potter or the Hulk?”

it caught my attention.
they all laughed and then started in on their own.
they were each shouting
“who would win in a slap fight….”

Billy Ray Cyrus or Elvis?

the Eiffel Tower or the Statue of Liberty?

a clown or Dad?

Frodo or Luke Skywalker?

Jamie Lynn Spears or Brittney?

Chicago or Kansas?

Orlando Bloom or Johnny Depp?

Fred or Barney?

and my favorite…again from sean…

Salami or Ham?

where do they come up with stuff?
there were at least 20 more but these were my favorite.
silly silly children.

Linda - Just got caught up with your blog…always a treasure!
Linda
xoxo

jeanetta - o my that to funny. seesh kids theese days.

Jennifer P. - oh it’s too late to be laughing this hard! I have too vivid an imagination I guess, because I actually pictured every one of those things slapping eachother. Glad Dad got thrown in against a clown :)!
Now I’ll go laugh myself to sleep and wake up my husband.

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color

i am noticing color today.
here is some color from my kitchen.

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this is what made me start thinking about color today…
the veggie backdrop of annie.
she almost always gets to pick a donut to eat while shop.
(do you think that’s why they put them at the front of the store?)

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this isn’t about color.
look at these absolutely adorable little ice creams containers.
it’s like less a scoop.
i think they were .50 cents.
i love cute packaging.
they are 2.5″ tall.
that is a real spoon…not a giant novelty spoon.
(that would be funny though)
oh ben and jerry…
you know the way to a ladies’ heart don’t you?!

Lauren - I’m with Amy on this one…the little wooden spoon in the lid is the icing-on-the-cake! It so reminds me of getting ice milk at the fair when I was little and by the time you were doen eating the little spoon was so soggy that I would walk around knawing on it like I was a doggy with a bone.
Okay – maybe that was TMI. Sorry!
Thanks for the color infusion to my day Meg!

danelle - I love the colorful pics. I never thought of laying cereal boxes on their sides either. Duh..makes sense. Love the blog!

amy - I want to see the sweet little spoon that comes in the lid!

Lee Ann - See how we all help each other with blogging. One mom gets the idea to lay her cereal on its side, another a treat while shopping and I had no idea there were mini Ben and Jerry’s. You’ve helped three people with one post of “color”. Way to go Meg – you can surely feel good about yourself today 🙂 And as always, your photos are beautiful.

meg duerksen - i was going to talk about the zweibach
but the post was getting long…
and i thought people might ask for the recipe
and then it would be one more reminder for craig that i still don’t know how to make them!
or the jam!
but yum. they are so very very good.
love you too!

lorel - for those who may not know, the 4th picture from the end features fluffy Mennonite zwiebach and homemade refrigerator strawberry jam (made by Meg’s mother-in-law). These are two of the best reasons ever to not go on the Atkins Diet.
Beautiful pics Meg, as always. Love you!

Liz - Great photos Meg. And a donut while shopping, that is a genius idea.

jeanetta - how orderly it all looks. it would never last at my house. haha
yea the ice rink is gone, can you hear my sadness… NOT. no broken bones though so that was good.

Elena - Hi Meg, I’m Jennifer P.’s friend and thought I’d better be an honest blog lurker and leave a comment after her Private Eye post. 🙂 Yes, it’s true, I pop in here once in a while. But I HAD to comment today and say, “Why on earth have I never thought to lay my cereal boxes on their side?” and “Those strawberries are BEAUTIFUL!! Even their green leafy tops are pretty.” Thanks for the fun pictures, it makes cold wintery days a little more bright.

Jennifer P. - I think you could totally get a job working for Gourmet magazine– you make food look lovely! Glad to know another mom has no qualms about sugar cereal and the “treat” (donut, cookie, whatever) to keep her kid-o’s happy while shopping. And I love the Ben and Jerry’s “minis” too, and the sweet little spoon that comes in the lid. I can buy them from the store and eat them RIGHT AWAY (like in the parking lot!), and not need to worry about self-control. Aaaaah!
Thanks again for more wonderful photos!

prairie daze - mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm eye candy

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weekend

it’s been a wild weekend.
friday night scrabble.
lauren had nothing to do so she played with us.
i only play to be a part of the family…
making a moment…bonding and all that.
i don’t have a scrabble kind of brain.
they play for points.
(it takes forever)
i am lucky if i can make a word let alone put it somewhere worth points.

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craig makes killer tapioca pudding.
he has made it for us since we first got married.
it’s one of his specialties.
pancakes is another.
he and i are the only ones who like it it.
which makes it an even better treat.

i taught annie how to play memory.
now we have to play it everyday.

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she got a match!
this game was bright and early…
8:00 AM saturday morning i believe.
the sun was just coming up over our neighbor’s house.
she’s getting pretty good.

and even more wild…
we went swimming.

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the hot tub was great.
other than everytime i went in it annie would scream and cry
until i’d get back in the pool with her.
i guess if we are going to go swimming close to bedtime on a day without a nap…
that’s what i get.

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and wrapped up the weekend
making straw and bead necklaces with my kindergarten sunday school class.
oh yeah…there was also a 10 hour cleaning spree in between games & swimming.

this place is just too exciting.

traci - i haven’t played scrabble in years. i have my grandparents old set. i think i should get it out. looks like you had a wonderful weekend!!

Emily Loria - I love the pool picture. I was thinking of taking the kids to the pool this week but then the horrid thought of myself pulling out the suit made me shudder. Should I, shouldn’t I. I’m still deciding.
My mom use to make tapioca weekly. Fresh raspberries on top (or thawed frozen) is my favorite way of eating it. Mmmmmmmm.
Thanks for your comment! Your blog is stellar!

Karin - It’s good to check in on your family. Looks great. I must tell you that my mom made tapioca pudding for me over Christmas for the first time in probably 20 years and I LOVE tapioca pudding. Your blog has inspired me. I must go buy some and learn to make it!

Jennifer P. - Scrabble sounds like heaven! No one around here will play with me anymore because I’m a bit too….competitive. I’m actually a horrible speller, but Scrabble words are different. You can’t mis-spell xi on a triple word, right?
The pudding looks tasty. I haven’t had tapioca in years!
And swimming, and memory, and straw necklaces—what a great mom you are!
Your comment about the 45’s on the smurf record player cracked me up. I had David Bowie and Mick Jagger singing “Dancing in the Street” and the Thompson Twins “Doctor! Doctor!”–I wore those things right out! Man!– we’re old :)! (or at least I am!)

prairie daze - have i told you that the coupld of times that the topic of pancakes comes up (and it does), annie announces to her preschool class that HER daddy makes them?

Mom - It sounds good to me! I took your grandma with me to see “Juno.” She didn’t like it too much, but I thought it was very well done. Take your kleenex!

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LiSa

happy birthday to you!

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oh how i miss you.
i miss your sheer honesty…
with me…with yourself…
everyone needs a friend like you.

so i was thinking of you as i went through my pictures
trying to find one of you
and i pulled photos that i thought you’d like.
you like coffee…

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unflavored (blech)
with the cream warmed up before you add your coffee.
you like this girl…

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alot.
you like burn’s cafe.

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who wouldn’t? mmmmm….pie.
you like kids doing this…

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i knew it would make you laugh.
you like chocolate chip cookies…

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burning hot right out of the oven.
that’s crazy.
you like reading all these…

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even if i don’t…”Knowing God” is HARD lisa!!!
you like these guys…

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and these guys…

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i do too.
and you more than like this guy.

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what a lucky guy he is.
and you like salad…

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but you like butter more…

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me too. especially with sugar.
you like kids showing their arm pits…

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as much as the next person does.
you like uncle gary’s pigs…

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did you ever think you’d like holding a pig?
you like this sweetie…

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so handsome in that photo.
you like emily…

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the laziest cat in history.
i wish so much i could celebrate with you today.
i hope your birthday is full of yummy cake….

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and no treadmills.
or airplanes.
love you lisa.
happy birthday.

Linda - What a sweet thing to do for a friend! I bet you are the best friend a girl could have…you just seem that way!
linda

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