I Knew It!!!

**The ORIGINAL Tripp Orrin


I knew I made an impression on George! So much so that he called Sarah Palins daughter Bristol and told her to check out my blog. We are good people... Obviously upon reading my many creatively written posts the name Tripp started to sound cool. I mean I did pick it for a reason. Sadly though it will now be way over used and not quite as unusual as I had hopped for. I guess that's the price you pay for fame.

And to all a Good Night...

These are the last of my finished projects. I had others I did that I did not take photos of before wrapping. First pic is of the bunnies I made for my two nieces. The second picture is of a stranded neck warmer, the red string is just to keep it together for wrapping purposes. The third is a panda that I ended up making Avery. I think I did well with my home made Christmas this year. It remains to be seen if there will be a repeat next year. The final picture is of the kids in their matching pjs I was able to find. I love matching jammies for Christmas....





MERRY CHRISTMAS and remember the reason for the season. The birth of Jesus Christ the ultimate Christmas gift.....

I Met George....

As in President Bush. Avery and I went to the White house yesterday and met the President and his wife. He spoke to us for awhile and then took a group photo and then we had individual shots taken in front of the christmas tree. He gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Let me tell you something he is quite a handsome man up close. It was such a surreal experience and a once in a life time opportunity for Avery and I. What a great Christmas gift....

Keeganism of the Day

"Mommy why aren't your underwear big enough?!!!! Are mine like that?"

need i say more, when he has tested us to the limit with his challenging personality these days, he pulls something like this out and you just gotta love him.

Some Gifts....

So thought I would post a few pics of what I have completed so far of my homemade Christmas. On a sad note we did have a slight mishap with one gift that I had finished. I am hoping I have time to redo it, if not oh well.....Water under the bridge Hattie, I still love ya!


frog softies for the boys. Keegan loves anything that has stringy arms, Tripp got it by default, sad but true..


Afghan for my dad. This is the first blanket anyone has ever crocheted for him. I think he will be surprised. Hopefully more to show in the next few days. I've been taking motrin for the elbow pain ;)

Santas Elf has been busy..

*photo by avery

I have been a busy elf working on secret gifts. I am trying my best to make this a homemade Christmas. I am doing okay at this point. I do realize how ever that if I decide to do this every year I need to start sooner in the year. I think I am getting crocheters elbow from all the work I have been doing. I would love to learn to knit someday, don't get me wrong I am able to do the basics but need to be taught the correct way to do it. Holding the needles between your legs can not be the most efficient method. I am self taught in most of my crafting, looking at books is how I've learned. Knitting has just not been as easy to do. One day right?! For now I will stick to my crocheting which I am very proficient at.

How has your holiday shopping/gifting been going?! (the above picture is in my kids disastrous toy room. Tripp loves checking our ears for infections, must stem from all of his and the tubes he now has because of it)

My Name is Turkey!!

Lillian and "Baby Trupp" (the r is almost silent when she says it TOO cute)

So one of my favorite things about homeschooling is that we can fly by the seat of our pants. My kids were in need of some outside play time. They were also in need of some interaction with their friends. So I called up LeAnne and here crew, who called Angie and her crew, for a day at the local park. It was a bit colder than I realized once we got there (thanks for the socks Angie, you do love me). But we spent the better part of mid-morning and early afternoon enjoying girl talk and snacking while the kids played. It is such a blessing that all 8 of our kids get along so well. It was a much needed break and a great way to spend the day.

At one point Aubrey had gotten hurt by one of the girls swinging on the swing, a pure accident. The older 3 girls ushered him over to us and they were conveying what had happened when Keegan said Hey my name is Turkey! Nothing like feeling compassion for your friend....


My kids were wore out by the time we got home. I was busy hanging some photos in my room when Avery came in to tell me I wouldn't be happy and showed me a mini stamp pad Tripp had gotten a hold of. I said "Oh well, put it up so he can't reach it" I mean what can you do once the damage is done right?! Well a few minutes later in walks Tripp and this is what he looked like:


He must have been applying it like make up. Straight to his cheek then straight to his lips, you can see the perfect square of the pad, I don't think fuchsia is his color. When asked what happened he said "Shawn did it", this is his answer to anything he might have done wrong even if he is the only one standing in the room.

Tough Love

We had sort of a field trip to the beach today. I had a few stores to visit in the area. I give the kids a "pep talk" always before venturing into stores and restaurants about the behavior I expect from them. I think this is just a good rule of thumb. I had told them that if they were well behaved and as quiet as they could be that I would take them to a park we had went past. It was a nice day and the fresh air always does us good, especially Keegan who is a constant ball of energy. Now I do realize kids will be kids and I can't expect them to be silent, but being heard throughout the store is where I draw the line. Well after 2 warnings of no going to the park Keegan finally lost his privilege. This is when it stinks to have to parent. Now I was going to just go home and everyone miss out and then I asked myself where the justice was in that to the other two that had been very compliant?! So we went to the park for a short half hour and Keegan had to sit on the bench and watch. He was not happy when it was time to go and he realized he wouldn't be able to play at all. I am hoping that being tough with my love has sank in a bit more for him, and he will know I mean business next time. (He did have plenty of play time at home this afternoon out side on our swing set/sandbox. so he did get his energy out)