JWP, It's Your Birthday!

Happy Birthday, JWP! I cannot believe that you are 8 years old today. Time sure does fly. There are so many things about you that I simply adore...a few include your sweet disposition, a willingness to help others, an inquisitive and smart mind, a gentle spirit, a great joke teller, a wonderful son, big brother, grandson, great grandson, nephew, cousin and friend! We all love you so much and couldn't be more proud of you. May all your dreams come true!
XOXO,
Mommy

Jack's 8th Birthday Party!

Christmas 2008

A Child Is Born

"Be not afraid; for behold,
I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people;
for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior,
who is Christ the Lord."
Merry Christmas, to all my dear friends! Many blessings to you and your family.

Happy Birthday, To Me??

Is wishing yourself a Happy Birthday vain? I think not! Everyone should be happy on their birthday. I always despised having my birthday around a holiday, yet I even did it to my oldest, for his b-day is New Years Eve. This year, I expected a nice and relaxing day(and still do) although the day didn't quite begin as I had expected. The Hubby's alarm went off really early this am and I thought he just had to take a business call. He never came back to bed, so I figured he was on the treadmill in the basement. Sis came in the room and crawled in bed with me and we spent a good amount of time reading books and snuggling. The boys brought in the cards they had made and I found one The Hubby had left on the vanity. Snow was falling outside, I was happy & it was finally going to be the birthday I have always wanted. The basement lights were off, The Hubby's car was gone and silence filled the house. "I really want breakfast," the boys said. "Momma, I'm wet and I want juice," Sis cried. Maybe he went to get me fresh cranberry scones and a latte for me. "Uh, mom, dad told me he was going to work today," said JWP. My heart sank...and the tears flowed. You know when you build something up so grand and then it doesn't quite turn out as you had planned? This is how I felt. (The Hubby swears he told me he was going in, but I truly don't recall anything of the sorts.) Today, I'm going to do what I would do any other day. No pouting allowed! I'm getting dressed, going to get my own latte, taking the kids to buy party favors for JWP's party and the to lunch with three of the funniest and craziest kids. I already got my own b-day present as you can see from the pic below...it's never to early to start, eh?

Cookie Catastrophe

I really should have quit after making five cranberry coffee cakes. Yet, I couldn't resist the wonderful cookie tins that I saw at the store today. I wouldn't call myself a cook, a chef, a baker or anything relatively close. I have a small repertoire of meals that repeat themselves quite frequently in our home. The cookie tins....they were calling out to me. "Be brave Eden," they exclaimed. "Be like other moms and bake up a couple of batches of cookies and put them in the adorable tins," they begged. So off to the store we went. Three kiddos in hand, buying ingredients for four different cookie recipes I had found.(baking can get expensive!) Apron on, music playing, kiddos occupied, I measured, melted, greased, floured and thought I was well on my way. That was until I noticed a faint smell of smoke coming from the top oven. I opened the door to be engulfed in smoke... hurry, run, open up the door and windows...let in the -20degree wind. Just then the doorbell rang and there stood my mail-lady packages and letters in hand. She asked if everything was okay as I about broke out in tears telling her how all I wanted to do was fill the pretty tins with cookies. I figured she didn't care. So, I stopped after one bad batch(notice the caramel didn't stay in the pecan rolls(not called pecan surprises for nothing...surprise...they don't turn out.)

I cleaned up the kitchen, feeling very defeated and sat down to open a little package my parents had sent me. In it, I found a wonderful fleur-de-lis cookie cutter(I adore fleur-de-lis and had to giggle if they only knew I had just experienced a cookie disaster). Also in the box was a wonderful little necklace by an artist named, Heidi J. Hale. How wonderful that my moment of defeat could be overtaken by my squeals of delight due to my first birthday gift arriving. Thank you mom & dad...I think I will leave the cookie baking to my sis. btw...if anyone is interested, you may borrow my new cookie cutter to make me some cookies :)

The Letter

I worked retail most of my teen and college age years. I distinctly remember while going through training that we were to specifically say, "Happy Holidays" to our customers so as to not offend anyone. This time of year, I struggle with trying to be politically correct while not compromising my own beliefs. I struggled with it until I received a letter today. Here is what it said....

My Dearest Eden,

It is okay to say Merry Christmas. I actually miss hearing people say it.

Love,
Jesus
May we all reflect on what this season is really all about. Emanuel...God With Us

**Snow Day**

A Compliment? I Think Not!

Let me set the scene for you. An icy and cold morning, school closed, a fire in the fireplace, wrapped up in a blanket just enjoying this time. I couldn't have been any more content in the moment. CEP walks in the room and I call him to come over and sit in my lap. I pulled him up and I hugged him and started to tell him just how much I loved him, when he jumped off the chair, looked at me and exclaimed, "mom, you smell like beef & cheese." So much for the sweet little cherub pictured above. I applaud all the other beef & cheese moms who are trying to get through the next two weeks with the kiddos out of school.

"Mommy, Is Saint Nicholas Real?"

My heart sank last night as JWP asked me this question. He's only 7, soon to be eight in two weeks...way to young to question the existence of Saint Nicholas. Yet, his mind is unlike that of many seven year olds. He is methodical and intentional in everything he does. Inquisitive would be putting it mildly. He wants to study engines when he grows up, lines up toys and books, never playing with many of them but rather displaying them just to look at. He is The Hubby's identical twin in looks and personality. I should have prepared myself for this moment. "Yes, he is real. I believe in him and know for a fact that he exists," I said. Today as I ran to the market for a few odds and ends, I heard the story of Saint Nicholas being read on air. I found it to be a wonderful and whimsical tale. It is one that I plan to read to the kiddos and truly captures the spirit of Christmas and Saint Nicholas. I hope you will enjoy it too.

~The Story of Saint Nicholas~
He was a boy when he lost his parents very early in life. It was an epidemic that took them, but not before he was old enough for them to help him discover the gift of faith. Little Nicholas went to Myra and lived a life full of self-offering, and giving of himself. His life was full of sacrifice and love, just like Jesus. Nicholas lived such a Christ like life that when the town needed a bishop he was immediately elected. Later he was imprisoned for his Christian faith, but released by the Emperor Constantine. Thereafter, many stories of his generosity were collected and they spread from mouth to mouth all through out the lands. It was told how he begged food for the poor and how he would somehow get money for girls to use as a dowry so that they could have husbands. The story most often repeated was about how he would put on a disguise and go out and give gifts to the poor children. In fact Nicholas gave away everything he had, plus everything he could get. He died in AD 314; his body was moved to Italy where his remains are believed to be to this day. The story of Nicholas has spread all around the world, and today there are more European churches named after St. Nicholas than any other person in the history of the church, aside from the famous Bible characters. People have done many things to old St. Nick. Clement Moore the poet gave him a red nose and eight tiny reindeer. Artist Thomas Nast gave Nicholas a round belly and a red fir trimmed suit. But those things really aren’t that important are they? What is important is that he lived in the mind set and the life style of Christ. And because he lived that lifestyle, the life of Nicholas touched the whole world and it does to this very day. But here is the really important part of the story. That same Christ like mind set and that life style is supposed to be in all of us and lived by all of us. And that is the true story of St. Nick.

-- Author Unknown

This Season

This time of the holiday season is difficult for me. While I love Christmas, the next few days, no matter how beautiful in thought, are difficult for me emotionally. Tomorrow is the birthday of my dear friend, Lee. She would have turned 47 this year. I have written about her before, yet certain dates always stir up emotions. Her birthday is the 18th, mine is the 23rd, she passed away on the 24th, and Christmas is the 25th. It is as if my emotions are all just fighting in my mind to figure out what comes first. Happy, sad, elated, guilt, anger, blessed, spiritual, denial...they all are making a place for themselves. I truly believe that the time of my life that I was with her was written just for me. Yet, I also wonder when the guilt, sadness and questions will leave. I don't like to talk about her or the stories anymore. I don't believe that things get any easier with time...perhaps, they just get harder. Now that I have moved, who is there to visit her grave? Who is there to take their children to the cemetery to tell her story? Her life is still very much alive in our home. She is very much a part of my childrens lives, just as if she just got in her car and drove off. So, what do we do to keep someones memory alive? I sit looking at her nativity as I write this post, and I can't help but reminisce about only the good times. The coffee mug, the wreath, the big wheel, my pots & pans, the watch...all gifts given from her. This year, I wonder what I would have given her...my last gift to her were porcelain egg cups and a tea pot. I'm not sure where those things are now..probably sold at auction. Regardless of their place, I hope whoever is using them thinks of the person to whom they once belonged. Everyone has a story...a legacy. How do you want to be remembered? Blessing & love to all. -E

A Little Bit of This & That

A potpourri of random pics for your viewing pleasure!




An outdoor mall is not my idea of fun when you live in northwest Ohio. Who thought of this idea? Must have been the same person who builds houses without large closets for storage. Must be a man! (I want this ornament for the front yard next year!)


We have a wonderful little studio in town(we aren't called the "Glass City" for nothing)where the boys each made ornaments. Originally they were grandparent gifts, but I can't bring myself to part with them. Sorry, Ma & Nana!


CEP came walking in the door from the school bus today carrying this beer can. Someone had thrown it in the wooded lot next door and he brought it home to me. "I'm cleaning up the Earth, mom!" I did question him if he tried to drink it. Suddenly I saw him as an 18 year old college student trying to rush a frat. "Call your brother, not me" will be my mantra. UGH!


My collection of antique ornaments finally made their appearance this year after a leave of absence. Love the old string on the one in front. I amaze myself sometimes that I am really trying to take steps to conquer my ocd's.(old things and I don't get along)


The silver deer that my mom gave me this year makes me happy. It adorned the center of the table I decorated for my Women's Celebration and made its way home to take its place on the dining room table.


Blog Buddy, Ll, should be getting her package from me this week. She was the winner of my little blog giveaway. While I don't give away diamonds, cameras or burp cloths like some other blogs, I still had fun(keep in mind my blog is low budget!) She is getting a little basket with a candle, note paper, beverage napkins and coasters, an ornament and reindeer food for the kiddos to enjoy spreading over the lawn. Be sure to enter next months giveaway for your chance to receive a gift from moi!

The snow is lightly falling this evening. While The Hubby works late tonight, I hope to get the kiddos in bed a little early and enjoy a little reading. Wish me luck..I may have a five year old who is hungover while at kindergarten tomorrow.

If You Can't Say Anything Nice...

If you can't say anything nice, please don't say anything at all. This is what I want to tell everyone these days. The Hubby and I have always had people make "comments" or ask "inquisitively" if all of our children are related. What is it with people? The grocery store ladies are the worst...why is that? Do they have nothing better to do than try and determine the biological genes that each of my children carry. This weekend, we went to visit Santa. While the kiddos rushed over to sit on his lap, the photographer asked if they were all related. If I had I dime for every time someone asked me that question, I wouldn't have to wait for the Appliance Fairy to visit me in March. Yes, the two younger ones do resemble one another and myself, and the oldest looks just like The Hubby. So, the next time someone asks if they are all mine or if they are all related, I will answer with the following statement. "Yes, they are all related, yet they all three have different fathers and The Hubby is not one of them." Ohhh...to see the look on their faces!

Be Still

"Be still, and know that I am God:
I will be exalted among the heathen,
I will be exalted in the earth."
~Psalms 46:10

We Have A Winner!

I knew it had been a long day when I typed, "We Have A Wiener" as my blog post title. Do you all realize how much I wanted all of you dear ladies to win? You are all lovely and I would like to make this small giveaway a monthly event if you are all interested. So....the little Christmas pick-me-up is going to "Ll". Yipppeee! The boys drew the name and were very excited. They are insisting we put in a little kid treat for the winners kiddos too, which I think is a great idea! Pass along the blog address to all your interested friends if they want a chance to win something next month. Much love to all! Congrats to my blog buddy, Ll.

Ll, please send your mailing address to my email perry0711@bex.net and I will be sure to send you your little package this Monday. I will post a pic of her present later this week!

A Bountiful Blessings Giveaway!!

The angel that adorns the top of one of my trees that once belonged to my Great Aunt Margaret

Yipppeee! I love giveaways! Since I have been the lucky winner of some wonderful giveaways from fantastic blog authors, I thought I would host my own. I love this time of year and while we focus on the reason for the season, it is always fun to receive a holiday pick-me-up. Here's how it will work...all you have to do is leave a comment about this post. You don't have to know me, like me, agree with me. You might even think I am marvelous...it doesn't matter. Just leave a comment and a lucky winner will be picked at random. (trust me...the accounting firm of the hubby is pretty random) You have until 12:00am Saturday the 13th to enter. The gift will be a nice gift to help welcome the season that will be mailed to your doorstep. Good luck!

The Boy Who Cried..."No Lunch"

We all know how the story about the boy who cried wolf. We have been reminded over the past two weeks of this little fable. It actually has come to light in our own home. Every evening as we finish up dinner, I ask each one of the boys if they want to pack their lunch from home or if they want to buy. I am always quite certain that JWP wants to pack..not a fan of school lunches(can you blame him). CEP on the other hand enjoys having his id card in hand as he purchases a delish assortment of foods. One evening I asked them, "pack or buy". I heard one pack and one buy. The next morning, breakfast was served and we rushed to get out the door to meet the bus. As we get to the bus stop, CEP starts whining that he changed his mind and wants to pack. "Uhh, too late buddy," I exclaimed. The two staggered on the bus and with that, they were whisked off to school. About an hour later I received a call from Mrs H. from the school. This is how the conversation went:

Mrs H. "Good morning, Mrs. Perry. I have the cutest little red-head here who has a note from his teacher. He says that you forgot to pack his lunch and that you didn't let him eat breakfast, so he is really hungry. He wants to know if you can bring his in".
Me: "Are you kidding me? I fed him this morning and he had the option for lunch. Please tell him that I will bring in lunch if I have time before my meeting."
Mrs. H: "Okay, I'll let him know".

So, I debated what to do. Do I let him learn a lesson and make him buy lunch? Or, do I just take it to him. I didn't have time to even make a sandwich, so I reached in and grabbed a bologna lunchable from the very back of the fridge.(I must be honest and say I have no idea how long it had been in there). To make it worse, I also threw in a tub of cottage cheese with pineapple. The look on the face of Mrs.H when she looked into the lunchbox made me feel like I was the worst mom ever. How could I feed my child this..it wasn't payback, I just needed to make a point. That evening I discussed with CEP that he had to listen to the options so this didn't happen again. Immediately following, he ran to the bathroom and got sick. Now the guilt really set in.

Yesterday, the phone rang about an hour after the boys got on the bus. "Hi, Eden. It's Mrs H and Mrs S and we have a little red-head here again saying he forgot his lunch again". "Please put him on the phone", I said. "CEP, you decided last night you wanted to buy, did you forget our conversation"? He replied, "ummmm....ohhh, yeah I forgot. Ok, mom I got it". He has been warned not to bother his teacher or the front office with his lunch antics.

Moral of the story...
1) kids will say anything, even if its not the truth (i don't feed them breakfast)
2) Get to know everyone at your childrens school. They will become an ally.
3) Never serve kids food from the back of the fridge. Especially expired nitrates.
4) Having red hair, freckles and an adorable smile can't get you out of everything.
Just most things!

Let The Traditions Begin

One of the wonderful things about this time of year is celebrating traditions that we have grown up with or have begun with our own families. One tradition that we do every year with the kiddos is decorating our gingerbread house. This year, it was very messy due mostly to the curiosity of Sis Margaret. She just couldn't keep her fingers or mouth off of the thing. I caught her several times throughout the evening sneaking off to try and get a bit of icing. (I tried to convince her not to eat it due to the fact that I couldn't pronounce any of the ingredients on the box). The boys had fun but for them the highlight was making sure the gingerbread boy had a private..nice!(The hubby and I don't encourage this behavior but they were adamant that he be anatomically correct). Enjoy the many traditions you have as a family as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior.

Sometimes I Wonder

Sometimes I wonder why I try. Have you ever felt this way as a mom, an individual, as a friend? This weekend, I took the younger two to a Christmas display to view lights and holiday cheer. Let's just say, CEP was less than thrilled(can you tell from his expression). He whined, I got grumpy, Sis Margaret wailed...less than cheerful. I took them out kicking and screaming and decided everyone needed an eggnog milkshake and fry. As we sat in the parking lot eating a scrumptious little snack watching the snow fall down, a man approached the car asking me to roll down the window. I refused and sent him sauntering away with a wave of my fry. As CEP questioned what he wanted and why I didn't roll down my window, I struggled to answer his question. While not wanting to cause him alarm by telling him all the reasons why I didn't, I wanted to be honest that you never truly know someones intentions (this incident made me very grumpy...why would someone approach a woman in a minivan with her kids in the front seat eating). I felt very uneasy and vulnerable after this incident. I am always cautious when it comes to things like this, but I really was caught off guard. In the end, I realized that I bothered to take the kids there to try and make a memory. I wasn't about to let another persons actions ruin my plans or cause anxiety.

A Few Of My Fave Things

Things that make me happy...
1) clementines
2) Starbuck's apple cider with caramel
3) volunteering in my kiddos classroom
4) lights from Christmas trees in the early am
5) Christmas carols & my K-LOVE station
6) french fries with mayo(see #3 on next list)
7) bell ringers
8) finding the perfect gift for a "hard to find" recipient
9) people who hold doors for others
10) senior citizens grocery shopping with smiles
11) jasmine rice
12) Facebook
13) my dad for teaching me about tools...i bought a new drill bit!

Things that make me grumpy...
1) people who tailgate while driving
2) a bad bed pillow
3) relatives telling me my rear is like a temper-pedic pillow (see #6 on above list)
4) people who can't smile or say, "thank you"
5) finding boogies on my walls...gifts from the kiddos
6) McD's that don't carry fresh lemon for my ice tea
7) dirty oil changing stations
8) Madonna, Larry King & MSNBC's Rachel Maddow
9) not getting my bulbs in the ground this year
10) northwest Ohio weather