Winter Wonderland

WIC

So now with number two on the way and a steady decline in work we qualify for WIC.  I can already see that it is going to save us a bundle (just in milk!!).  Danny just went out and got all of our free stuff from the store... it was awesome!  I love my husband! then we walks in the door he says to me:

"I'm really surprised that they don't give us butter."

"Danny... WIC is to support healthy eating."

"Yeah...???"

"Butter isn't healthy!"

"What?  it's a staple!"

Haha... Yeah, Danny, tell that to your Dr. the next time you go in for a visit, see what he says... like I said, I love my husband! 

*Christmas Cheer*

*cough, cough, eyes roll*

I know, I know, bah humbug!  But really, if I were to sum up christmas in one word it would be WASTE (in every way that I can think of, but for the sake of this post I will concentrate on the one that makes me the most crazy... cutting down our beautiful forest).  Being the semi-hippie that I am, it makes my stomach turn to see all of those beautiful trees leaving our area thrown in the back of pick-ups, and tied to the top of mini-vans. They're used for a month tops and then thrown into landfill and whatnot... bah, I hate it.

This year we have decided to try and do something about all of those good trees going to waste... our goal is to keep a couple of those trees out of our landfills and put them to good use.   

Our vision is to cut the trunk into rounds and make recycled christmas tree coasters out of them.  Obviously, we won't be able to do anything until after christmas when we recieve some 'left over' trees, but we'll keep you posted. 

Oh, and we will be selling them at CreationInspired.etsy.com if you're interested in purchasing any. 

Makings

October and November were busy months of creating at the Harmon house.  Here are a few things that we came up with...

pies... yummy

Art of Whimsy t-shirt for the Booterbaby.

little girlie tie pants and shirt for little Bella.

little boy tie pants and embroidered tree shirt for my new little nephew.

the "joint effort" project that my sister-in-law and I finished for Finn.

There are several others that we don't have pictures of (including Danny's famous crocheted baby beanies).  But it's no wonder that I'm so pooped, it's a lot of work for a big pregnant lady that is completely drained.

The Hair

I'd love to do this again.   I love waking up with my hair already "done".  Just wish it didn't take 13 hours and a hundred bucks for those 5 months of bliss.   Any suggestions??

A Day to Remember

We get a call last night from one of the cutest little girls we know... our niece.  I actually never got to talk to her, but that's beside the point.  She was calling her uncle Danny to wish him a happy anniversary.  

Danny says, "What?!?! Today, really???"

Yep, that's right he had no idea... can you believe it!

So after that he comes over to me and says, "hey guess what... Happy Anniversary!"

Me: "What?!?! really... Today???"

This was around 5:30 in the afternoon, after a very, very long day for both of us.  So we pretty much just went about the rest of the day as normal, and went to bed early. When we talked about it later we decided that we're not like most couples and, as it turns out, the date just doesn't matter that much to us.

So... it's been 4 happy years, and the time has flown by!   We're totally perfect for each other :o)  I love you Danny!!

Our Little Hippie Girl

Peeved (part 2)

Don't worry, I'm not going to give you any more of my lip about what makes me unhappy.  I just got to thinking...

I'm pretty sure that I drive people more crazy than they do me.  Here are some things that I do that I KNOW drive some people crazy (most of them have to do with parenting, because that's when I hear their opinions more often):

• I put Sati on a sleep schedule her second day out of the womb (and on her tummy to boot).
  
• I don't vote.
• I drink Dr. Pepper even when I'm pregnant or nursing.
• I let Sati put just about anything in her mouth (unless it could seriously hurt her). 
• I'm not the least bit patriotic.
• I let Sati cry for as long as she wants.
• I guess I never dress Sati warm enough.
• I'm either too organic, or not organic enough (depending on the crowd)... humm.
• I liked living in another country and would do it again... and take my kids!
• I hate school.
• I don't care what's happening on the news.
• I want to put my kids in public school (even in another country).

I know there are more, but this is all I can think of right now.  

Peeved

So, the other day my friend Kyle posted about his pet peeves.  That got me thinking, and I realized I have a lot of them.  I think they multiply in intensity when I'm pregnant too (I'm not very nice for those nine months).  

Well... I've decided to share my big pet peeves with you (just keep in mind that I might not feel quite the same in June... haha).

• The biggest thing that drives me absolutely bonkers is how patriotic most christian churches are.  It really doesn't bother me that individuals. themselves, are patriotic because I know that God gives us all different convictions and passions and whatnot.  I just don't like that a church would support the singing of patriotic songs,  flag salutes, and their political views from the pulpit and in front of the congregation. 
• Drives me crazy when people over react to Sati falling down or getting hurt.  It's really sweet of you, but it makes my job sooooo much harder.
• I don't like it when people overly freak out about germs... germs are good people! 
• The "I'm better or worse than you" mindset just throws me off, where does somebody even get an idea like that???
• Last but not least is the victim.  A person who always thinks of themselves as the victim, and looks for opportunities to be the victim in every situation makes me want to avoid contact... at all costs!

So now I want to hear about your pet peeves... 

Update... I just thought of one more thing that really bugs me.  That is... Missionaries that write way too long and boring news letters.  I still read them, but I fear others are going to miss out because it is so uninteresting.  

Under Worked

As I'm sure some of you have been experiencing, there is very little work to be had out there (especially in construction we are hearing).  

Danny's work has been more off than on lately, but we're keeping our head above water.  Mostly because we are super thrifty and cheap (by nature) and saved a lot when the work was good and money was plentiful.  Of coarse we were saving for something cool, not for bills.  I just got word, though, that Danny's work is picking up, so we will have at least a couple months of good steady income... wha who!

I truly feel for those of you that have been laid off, or just simply can not find work, and those of you that have no savings, or have debts to pay.  I really don't know what's going to happen with the economy, and who knows how bad it's going to get before it gets better.  But the thought in my mind that keeps me from feeling sorry for us Americans is this: 

We, even the broke ones of us, are hundreds of times richer than the rest of the world.  We have all the conveniences of indoor plumbing, electricity, heating and cooling, washing machines (even if they're at a laundry mat... I don't know anybody in America that washes all of their clothes by hand), and pretty much anything you could ever NEED.  We really lack for nothing.  I don't know anyone that is starving, or without some kind of shelter.  So all and all I would say we're doing really well (I guess it's always relative).

What do you think?  How are you guys surviving with this economy?  

Every little thing she does is magic...

I'm told, if I don't write this stuff down, I'll forget it.  So here are some cute/funny things that our Sati has been saying, signing or doing at around 14 months. 

• First off, it is obvious to me that our little one is left brained.  She MUST listen to dad's music anytime we go for a walk or just any old time she catches him with his MP3 player and headphones.  If we have music on in the house she goes straight for the speakers and either lays down or dances in front of them.  Also, if you mention colors she lights up with anticipation (of coarse she also thinks of them as a food source...) she loves to draw or do pretty much anything creative.  Maybe she is my child after all.
  
• She is picking up some funny sayings from all of us.  (1) My mom says "Oooo Dogs" when she's exhausted or over exerted (don't ask me why).  Well our little mimic has picked up on this... so when she does something that was really hard she lets out a big "oooo dogs!".   (2) Sati has taken up talking on the phone (her play phones) She says "Hello" and that's about it, until a couple days ago.  Me: "Sati, who is it?" Sati (with a questioned look on her face) "who is this".   (3) We've been taking Sati into church on Sunday mornings so that she can listen to the music before going into the nursery.  The problem is that she doesn't like to pray.  As soon as everything is silent she thinks it's her turn to talk so i've been "shhh" -ing her.  As of this week she puts her finger up to her lip and says "shhhh" and then laughs hysterically. (4) She has two songs that she sings almost constantly... "Manamana" from sesame street (she knows the words manamana and she sings that over and over), and "Poor Sati", a song that my mom made up for when Sati is tired, sad, or experiencing an injustice. The only words to the song are poor and Sati.  Sati sings it over and over... It's her favorite!
• Sati also "frees" the bunny from his cage every morning and, feeds him fruit and crackers (which the bunny LOVES).  She's always petting and loving on him.  They're best friends.
• She is loving potty training and doing quite well I might add.  Mostly because she gets all kinds of praise and approval... and she's quite addicted to the stuff.
• We think that Sati knows just about as much spanish as we do.  She responds better to commands given in spanish (than ones given in sign or english), but is obviously hearing and picking up more English (sad).  She knows more and more signs and uses them well, but is such a hearing child, that I'm unsure if it will continue when she's able to communicate orally (also sad).
• She is now walking all over, and is just starting to prefer it to crawling.

Updated

I figured this would be a good time for a family update.  

Danny ~ Work has been slow, so he's been at home helping his wife with the house and baby.  He is anxious to leave the snow, and he longs for the ocean.  His wrist is still bothering him (after his accident wake surfing this summer), and we're praying that the weather change doesn't give him too much trouble.  He came back from hunting last weekend with a deer in the ice chest, so we are good on meat, praise the Lord.

Brittney ~ Is feeling sick, and tired with baby number two.  She is hoping that the morning, afternoon, evening sickness will soon go away.  And also that she will be able to get a couple full nights of sleep.  She is still taking care of a little boy three days a week, and a full time wife and mom.  She is sooo thankful that she has such an amazing husband to help her when he can!  

Sati ~ Is a wild woman!  She is in the "pull everything out and spread it out all over the house" stage.  She just had a check up a couple weeks ago and she's only in the fifth percentile  for weight.  So, the Dr. gave her permission to eat all of those yummy high calorie foods, like butter (she's loving it).   She loves the little boy that comes over, but wonders why mom doesn't want her to wake him up too play.

#2 ~ Is a picky little fellow!  He (or she) doesn't like the fresh venison that dad just brought home.  "He" loves soups, veggies, and chocolate.  "He" only lets mom sleep for about half the night, and sure lets her know when she's not doing something right.  "He" just had a Dr.s appt. on monday and is officially 10 weeks old.  The Dr. said that "he" looks healthy, and "he" even moved during the ultrasound.

So now that you are in the know about how our family is, how is yours?

 

Comfort Foods

Every time I get sick, or don't feel well, all I want is potato soup!  It's been this way sense i was a kid.  

I have been feeling somewhat awful from day #1 with baby #2, so as you might have guessed I've been through bowls and bowls of of the stuff.  I doubt that this is a good thing because really what is good for you in potato soup... yeah, just about nothing.  Why is it then, that it makes me feel so much better?

I guess it's my cure all, comfort food.  

Do any of you have a "cure all" when you're feeling under the weather?  

A Message from Sati

"... and I don't like it! "

Mountains and Valleys

This is what happens when my husband offers to "do the laundry".

He gets an A for effort...

At least they're clean.

A long day!

So I'm at my wits end... and I guess it doesn't take much (Michelle you amaze me!!)

• Danny's still not home and it's 8:00pm.
  
• Sati has been teething or something... Has NOT STOPED CRYING for like the whole day.
  
• I baby-sat, and he wasn't a happy camper either!
• Everything seemed to take twice as long today (although making messes seemed to take half the time).
• We have a friend over, who also has had a tough day, and is ready to play some games.
• And my back is killing me.

So I know this isn't much to some of you, but it's been a long one for me.

Quality Finds!

One of my favorite things to do in the summer is yard sale.

This year I haven't had many opportunities, but the last couple of weeks I've been to a few (stinking good ones too). I got some awesome stuff!!!  

Pictured right is my, new to me, pot rack (that my husband so lovingly hung for me yesterday... thank you!) and easel. Both I've wanted for a long time!! I also got bamboo fabric, a colander, coffee grinder, and a french press (pictured below the pot rack).

All together I spent about $30 I think I made out pretty well. Anybody else find steals this summer?

Click

Our little camera is on it's way out.

This is the picture it took of Sati sleeping (with  out half of her head apparently)... yeah, interesting.  :o(

penalty for full frontal nudity...

One thing we would like to instill in our children is a love for games. 

What is something that you want to teach your kidlings?

The Can

I've given it up!

The last time I did such a crazy thing was just before Danny and I got married (I needed to prove to myself that I had at least a little self control... I heard it was good for marriage).  The end date to my Dr. Pepper "fast" was our wedding, which at the time was three months away. 

Did I make it? 

Yes!!! but we had to move the wedding up two and a half months. It was a tough two weeks...

It's been 10 days sense my last one, wish me luck.

Just In ~

If you thought her lips where big before...

We just walk in from a day in Reno, shopping, which as you know I hate to do.  I sit Sati down to play so that I can catch my breath and relax for two seconds.

Then, a loud bang and about a minute later (why does it take so long for them to build up to the...) SCREAM, the loudest I've heard coming from her, followed by wails.  So much for resting...

I guess she was playing on the car seat that was still in the middle of the room.  Well it flipped her pretty good.  And from what it looks like the lip took the brunt of the fall.

Now she has a gianormas lip (bigger than it was... didn't know it was possible). 

Wealthy in all the wrong ways!

It's long, but oh so worth your time!!  Frances Chan's  "luke warm and loving it" .

Growing up over night

Our Sati is changing from baby to little girl right before our eyes!

The other day I put her hair in little pig tails for the first time.  While it is stinking cute, she looks like a toddler now.  And how sad that can be.

especially for this little girl's daddy!!!

Danny walked in the door and saw our little one with these cute little piggies for the first time.  He says "Awe... She looks so grown up".

Just as soon as he finished Sati says in a perfect little girl voice, "What is this" (she had a book, or something, in her hand).

Danny looks at me in horror, "my BABY!!"

Happy Birthday!

So, sense we don't celebrate christmas I thought I would make a bigger deal of birthdays. I don't know if I can keep this up all year, but here is my first gift.  I gave it to my "sister-in-law" Michelle (my brother's girlfriend).  I painted it with flowers/ leaves from around Portola, and I think it turned out pretty good... what do you think?

The close up:

The finished product:

So... it's been a long day?

Danny : I can't hold her, because I'm too tired from splitting wood all day.

Me: You're too tired to hold your own daughter?  

Danny: Yep.

Me: But isn't she just too cute to resist?

Danny: She's about a 16 in. round (of wood).

So I decided maybe it was best to keep her away from him, in case he decides to stack her or split her or something.

Finger Paints

Sati's Birthday

(looking at her pretty self on her birthday morning, finger painting - body painting, and falling asleep looking at birthday cards)

New Kid on the Block

I started taking care of a little boy three days a week...

  

It's fun!! 

 

Family Camp!

I know it's been a long while, but it's been a busy summer!!

One of my in laws, in laws takes their

whole family to a christian family camp every year. This year there was an extra ticket.  So they invited

my husband and I to join them.  We decided to takethem up on their offer, because (1) it sounded like we might get a lot from it - as in knowledge (2) we would never be able to afford it ourselves.  What I didn't know would happen, is that it would be so STINKING FUN! 

What have you done in the past that was way more fun than you

 anticipated?

The Rock

... in our family the rock has always been my Grandmother.

We talked her into coming to visit us.  I love it... I'm so glad that Sati's been able to get to know her Great Grandmother. It makes me wish she lived here. We've been playing cards, and working in the Garden.  Both are things that she taught me to love.  It's really great to have her here!!

The Hunt

for Ripe Berries...

We went blackberry picking this last weekend, but most of the berries were still green.  Not to worry though, cause we still had a good time.

After we got back we even had enough energy to enjoy some really good live music.  You should check them out...The Art of Whimsy!  We also hung out with family and good friends.  It was a fun weekend!  That's what summer's about :o)

Saving the World

One Diaper at a Time...

Ok, I know that cloth diapers aren't actually going to save the world (its actually arguable whether or not they're any more environmentally friendly than "green" diapers), but I love them.

Why?

~They cost less than paper diapers (even the really fancy cloth ones).

~We think they're just as easy as disposables.

~They feel great.

~You never have to run to the store and get a package of them (and that's great, cause in Portola it's sooo expensive).

~We're not filling up the land fills.

~Cloth diapers are SO much cuter than disposables.

~They don't have harsh chemicals in them.

~Sati never gets diaper rash from her Fuzzi Bunz cloth diapers.

~They seem to be super comfortable. 

~they save more money with every kid... I'm not saying that I want a whole bunch of little ones just to get my money out of them though.

There are a few draw backs 

to the cloth diapers.  We use paper diapers when we travel, because some people don't like using their washers for our babies diapers.  Cloth diapers can also cause a lot more laundry.  

Over all I really like them... if you would like to check ours out you should visit the fuzzi Bunz web sight.  There are other kinds of cloth diapers that I've heard good things about too.  So, I may not saving the world, but I feel good about using cloth diapers.  

Summer lovin

Some pictures of the baby having fun this summer...  

fun and fireworks

Last week we had some friends and their three kids come up and stay with us.  It was a bit busy here... you know with four kids on the go, but it was sure fun.  

some pictures of the 4th in Reno.

hanging out at the park, and letterboxing with the kids... fun stuff

the one Harmon that wasn't sad to see them go ~ the bunny (and yes he's healing fine)