Kids and the Things They Say....

Yesterday as I was getting dressed I had 4 extra hands and eyes. They claimed that they were helping me out, but mostly I felt like a fish in a fish bowl.
As they watched my every move Clayton pipes up with a very innocent question. "Mommy why is your belly button so big? It's ugly."

What do I say to that??? As my self confidence quickly evaporated I replied, "Uh, well, uh, I am kinda pregnant! This sweet boy is so big he his making my belly get big, which is stretching out my belly button. "

Clayton "Well, it's still ugly."
Lindsy "Look guys I can stick my belly out too, See my belly buttons all stretched out. Ewww"
Clayton "Oh Yeah? Look I can stretch out my belly more"
Lindsy "EWWW! Your belly button is gross. Mine is still stretched more."
Clayton "No, yours is grosser. Mine stretches more cuz I am bigger."

And so the competition was born. I quietly slunk away and left them to compare while I tried to go repair my self esteem.

Whoa! Look At THAT Belly....

These are a bit blurry because they were taken by my mom with her cell phone. It is very rare for me to post pictures of myself but I couldn't help posting these.

Here is a rare "family" photo. I think this shows what we are really like. Forget those posed portraits. We were having some snuggle time before bed. Clayton was climbing on my back and pulling my hair up, so I was making a goofy face to go with it. Wilfred is playing his harmonica on the couch. Kaleb was up to mischief behind me, while Lindsy was trying to snuggle in as close as possible. Even our unnamed 4th child made himself known. Notice the bulge in my belly up against Lindsy? That is his butt pressing out. Yep, My belly is huge! That is no understatement. I have scooted my seat in the car back as far as it will go, this week I am once again rubbing up against the steering wheel. That makes it a bit hard to make turns. My maternity shirts are no longer long enough....thank goodness for that bright blue maternity panel on all my jeans....maybe I will start a new fashion trend!
We are a goofy family, this is proof. I may regret posting these...so enjoy them before my sanity returns!

BTW, I still have 5 weeks to go...should we start taking bets on how much bigger my aching belly can get? It is pretty much stretched, maybe it will just explode! :)

No, Mr. President: John Piper's Response to President Obama on Abortion

This is pretty good. I never wept for Joy over this president, but I do think this message is right.

Pumpkin Ideas....

Fellow Bloggers I need your help! We have an abundance of Sugar Pumpkins....I am not complaining, but I am out of ideas. I have canned up 15 quarts of pumpkin which will make 30 pies. I still have a wagon full of pumpkins sitting in my dining room. I love pumpkin cream cheese muffins, pumpkin bread, pie, and just baking and eating pumpkin. Can you give me any other ideas for using pumpkin? I would love a pumpkin coffee cake recipe or anything else you can come up with. In fact lets make this a pumpkin recipe exchange.... Leave your recipe in the comments below!

Baked Pumpkin

Cut the top off a pumpkin and scrape out the seeds. Fill cavity with quartered apples, a bit of butter, brown sugar, salt, pepper, and cinnamon. Replace top. Place filled pumpkin in baking dish and bake at 375 for an hour. Your house will smell great and there will be arm wrestling competitions for every last bit of it!

Are Parental Rights About to Be Taken?

http://www.oneplace.com/player-custom/family-talk/parental-rights-at-risk-in-america-138426.html

This begs the question;

Are parental rights at risk in America? You really should listen at the link and find out for yourself. I will just say I am appalled....I think you may be too. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think!