Think about this MO Friends...

Claire McCaskill supports abortion up to 6 months. Marissa was born at 6 months.

Dear Missouri Friends...

On the ballot November 7th there is a yes/no vote on Amendment 2. Those for this amendment want you to think its about stem cell research but it is actually about Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT). That is the process for creating a cloned human embryo. It has nothing to do with embroyonic stem cell research for cures!! It's about making our tax dollars available and legal for research on cloning by amending our state constitution.

When you read the amendment on the ballet beware because the language is very deceptive. It says it calls for a ban on human cloning or attempted cloning but somatic cell nuclear transfer are human clones.

There is a big debate about embryonic stem cell research which has been going on for awhile now. Those for embryonic stem cell research want to make you feel like you are against cures for terrible, horrible dieases. Research done on embryonic stem cells has produced NOTHING but defects and tumors. They need federal funding for this research because biotech companies are not putting their money behind losing research. Have you ever heard about the success from adult stem cell research? You can get adult stem cells from umbilical cord blood, placenta, bone marrow and more. Nothing (no one) is destroyed and it has been successful in treating over 65 illnesses! Why they focus on embryonic stem cells is for cloning.

Please, just be informed when going to polls on Tuesday the 7th. Go to www.nocloning.org for more information.

Thank you!

Can you taste that tenderloin now?

Deer season is fast approaching! Bruce has been busy every Saturday getting ready with a new tree stand. Last Saturday Bruce saw a total of 4 deer on our property and 1 more up the road. He's pretty excited about opening day!

Isn't fall beautiful? I just love the colors of the trees as I drive into town! Ever year I think fall gets prettier. God is so awesome! 

Do you like this??

The bottom one with the rust, gold and teal colors. We are switching rooms with the kids. It is just too cramped in there for two twin beds and a crib and a toy box and a big book shelf! By us switching rooms it will give them the walk in closet, more floor space and a bathroom they really don't need. That will be the hardest giving up our bathroom! But, it's better than fighting with them to make their beds. It really is next to impossible to do a good job making the beds with them shoved against the wall like that. Bruce is going to measure all the furniture and put it in the CAD program to make sure it really is going to fit. Because I ordered those bunk beds from e-bay just by eyeballing their room saying, "oh yeah, it'll fit!".

Anyway, since I have to give up my master bedroom Bruce let me order all new bedding! So now I am going to paint the smaller room to match all the new stuff. This is so much fun! I feel like I am on an HGTV show or something. We are going to paint the kids new room as well and their bathroom. If anyone wants to come over and help let me know! It will be lots of fun! :) 

Homeschool Track Meet

Last Saturday was the Homeschool Track Meet. The kids weren't sure what 'track meet' meant but were game to try it out. They did really well and are ready to train for next years meet! 

The Ribbons

 

Standing Long Jump

Molly took 1st in this event. It was hard trying to explain swining your arms and jumping on the swing! 

50 meters and 100 meters

The running races were fun! We were really proud of Jake for finishing both races! Notice Molly coming up on Ike to pass. That was Ikey's race but at 100 meters he ran out of steam! Those Shelby kids sure can run! That's Lindsey in the lead. 

Sit ups and push ups

Ike had a little problem doing the push ups...mostly attitude! The offical was trying to be encourging telling Ike "Good job, good job!" Other parents probably thought we were terrible parents when we told Ikey, "You are NOT doing a good job!" He changed his attitude after that competition!

Jake got 2nd in his age group in sit ups and push ups. Molly got 1st in push ups and 3rd in sit ups and Ikey got 3rd in push ups (but there was only 3 doing them!) 

Sack Race

This is the first time my kids tried sack racing. The bags were as big as the kids! Ike placed 2nd in the race. 

This is how the family warms up on the frosty mornings!

 

Ancient Chinese secret, huh?

Anybody remember that commerical from the '80's? Some guy on the radio made reference to the commerical about "Calgone, take me away!" and it reminded me of that commerical where they are in a Chinese laundry mat or dry cleaners and the customer peeks in the back and catches them using this product. She says the ever catchy "Ancient Chinese Secret, huh?". But I can't for the life of me remember what the product was! What was it? Anybody know?

Is it possible this commerical was pulled for being polictial incorrect and I am opening up Pandora's box? I really just want to remember what the product is before I go crazy! Ya know how something gets stuck in your head, like a part of a song??

Maybe I should give a prize to the winner of the correct product as an incentive to answer. I know that I don't know the correct answer right now, but as soon as I hear it...it will all click! So let's just say maybe there will be a prize and answer and take me out of my misery!

Thank you!

Yes, Please!

Marissa had her first spoon feeding today! She had rice cereal with a little formula. Wow! I think she liked it! She grabbed the spoon from me and put it in her mouth and wouldn't give it back! I had Molly bring me another spoon so she could hold that one and I could continue to feed her. That didn't work...she only wanted MY spoon!

I've wanted to feed her for awhile now but I could not for the life of me remember what order you are supposed to feed the baby in. The doctor stressed to me that it was most important that Marissa got all her calories she needs daily. He said it didn't matter if it was food or formula but that food would fill her up and she wouldn't be able to finish all her formula. So, I got some advice from Molly Claire's mom and figured out how to do it. I didn't start with breakfast but at 7 p.m.

Marissa is 8 months old and 2 weeks. (Adjusted age 5 months) Yesterday, we weighed her at the doctor's office and she weighed 13 pounds 9 ounces. We were a little disappointed because we thought she was around 16 pounds. (Bruce would weigh himself then hold the baby. I guess that's not very accurate!) 

Read about us in the Springfield News-Leader!

http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061002/NEWS01/610020373/1007

Wow...THAT was NOT fun!

I have spent the last 12 days sick as a dog! I mean, I have never been so sick like that where I didn't get over it in a couple of days. It started a week ago last Thursday. I was overly tired and low energy, a little achey. Ya know, like how you feel before you realize your pregnant and feeling like this leads you to taking a pregnancy test! Well, knowing that was not going to be the problem I just pressed on thinking it would pass. Went to St. Joe Friday for the weekend still with low energy but managing then BAM...Sunday came I was going down. Fever came on, full blown body ache, headached and dry cough. Suffered through until Tuesday then went to the doctor only to be told...virus. Finally after a trip to Urgent Care on Saturday for IV Fluids and pain medicine on Monday I am feeling halfway human again!

It is so hard for the mom to be down and out for so long! Bruce has done a fine job of taking care of the kids and I'm thankful for Papa and Lula next door! But being the mom there is no time for 12 days of confinement! Now I am going to burn my bedsheets and bleach the bathroom!

Oh SHOOT!

Of course you can't go out to the Farm and not shoot at a few targets! What do you when the squishy ear plugs won't stay in her ears? Believe it or not she didn't mind this at all! I guess after all the tubes and needles she's had stuck in her she's thinking "hey, THIS is no big deal!" I shot a 9 mm and a 380...I think I need some practice. I scared myself! 

And we were swinging!

Bruce, with the help of Keith, put up a swing at the Farm. It was great fun! We enjoyed Labor Day laboring away hanging a swing, making a pulley for the treehouse and cooking over an open fire! Can't beat those fire smoked burgers! Yeah, right! Of course, this was my first time cooking with fire so they were a little chared! Oh well, the dog liked it. 

Be thankful for the small things

Well, after pondering Pastor Eddie's sermon Sunday I decided to I needed to be quick to be thankful for ALL things. (This was a main point wasn't it? I hope I wasn't too distracted while in church!) One thing that I have longed for over and over was a bigger kitchen. My kitchen is 8 X 8. What you see in the pictures is what it is...counter tops, cabinets, appliances and all. I like to cook (soup, salad, sandwiches are my thing!) and could use a little more room. But, I really am thankful for my small kitchen. Here are a few reasons why...

***If I ever wanted to remodel I could put in granite counter tops, it wouldn't be too expensive!

***Not much to clean! One Magic Eraser will clean ALL surfaces without crumbling to nothing! (For more information on the magic of the Magic Eraser, check out my blog on Product Endorsement)

***Saves me money at Pampered Chef parties because I have no more cabinet space to store anymore stones!!

***Easy to change decor just by buying a new rug and hand towel at the Dollar General Store. (If you have never shopped for home decor stuff at Dollar General you are missing out!)

***Clean up is a snap. A 7 year old, 5 year old and 4 year old pretty much have it down.

Yes, I am very thankful for my kitchen! Best of all is that the kitchen is open to the dining room, living room and family room. It makes a complete circle so the kids can run laps through the house. That may not sound like the best idea but it sure is entertaining until they come barreling around the corner and find the dishwasher opened!

So remember there is always something to be thankful for! 

Grrrrrr

Call me irresponsible, but I do NOT like the new car seat law that just went into effect here in Missouri. Here's the deal...you have to be 8 years old or 80 pounds or 4'8". Jake is exactly 7 1/2 years old, 50 pounds and 4'5". So he is soooo close to meeting the requirements of at least 2 of the 3 but close is no cigar. Bruce and I decided we would just take our chances on not having car seats but I heard on the news that is a primary law and we can be pulled over and fined just for that offensive!! To the tune of $250 for each kid not properly restrained.

Now I think most of you know that Bruce and I are protective parents if not even over-protective but this is just crazy! We think the car seat manufactures and the government got together on this one. Evenflo stock must have been falling. (pictured above is the Evenflo Big Kid Car Seat which we just purchased for $39.42 at Walmart) This is the problem...Papa and Lula like to take the kids to the Palace Theater when they have kid movies. They drive a Ford Conture. This is not a big car. There is no way we are going to get three car seats across the back seat! Another problem...the kids like to invite other kids to go to Incredible Pizza, the Farm, swimming, etc. how do we cart other kids around? Sure, transfer car seats yada, yada, yada, but why? My friend told me I would feel really bad if we were in a bad accident and something dreadful happened to my kid because they weren't in a car seat. Sure, but I would feel really bad if they were on their bike and had a bad accident but I wouldn't ban all kids from bikes! Accidents happen, that's why they are accidents. They could walk around in an armour suit all day long but if accident is going to happen, it's going to happen!

Don't even get me started on government intrusion!

Maybe this stems back from memories of standing in the back seat of my dad's old Pontiac boat of a car hugging his neck while he was driving! Sure we got tossed around in the car every once in awhile for a stop short or railroad tracks, but that's what you waited for! (Maybe that's what's wrong with me now...got my head jolted around too many times.) Jake, the next generation, heard that this was they law and he has a really good attitude about going back to a car seat as not to break the law. I'm glad that he is law abiding and not rebellious LIKE HIS MOTHER! OK, I'm not that rebellious...I don't want to pay the fine so they are in car seats! 

Anyone want to buy a picnic table?

Bruce built this picnic table for us to take out to the farm for picnic's and such. He had such a blast making it, he wants to go into business full time building these! It is made of pressure treated lumber and held together with bolts. It's strong and sturdy!

If anybody is interested in a primitive outing of hiking and picnicing in the woods, let me know! We have a blast going to the mountian that we call our farm (Bruce says it's his deer farm). Slowly we getting it cleared out and building our fire pit for weenie roasts! I asked Bruce if he wanted to build an outhouse but until then...