Well it's been awhile since I have written. Think I'll catch up alittle. Our school is on strike. We knew it was going to happen.... so I thought... ummm... what can I get into since I have the kids to help??? Well I am sick of the wall paper in the kitchen and it is on the agenda to strip this spring/summer..... Well guess what we did???? Yep. Stripped wall paper. It went well and only took 3 days. 9 foot ceilings... 18 x18 room. Yep, I was impressed with their help. Specially the oldest who did most of the work by himself. (cuz' the youngest wanted mama too much) So, $250 later with the physical help of my sister and brother in law.... I have a new kitchen with just alittle to finish.
BUT with the school on strike and a snow storm hitting the area... I have 9 kids here today and CANNOT finish painting. Umm.. 9 you ask... a 6 month old (mine) a 9 month old... a 3 year old and 4 year old.... 10 year old... 2- 11 year olds (one mine) a 13 year old and a 16 year old. Did that add up to 9?????? I am CRAZY.
So I am going to add a few pics of the kitchen.... and I am off here to keep track of the kids....

I can't believe it's snowing. Finally. Although I am personally ready for spring....

Jakoby is teething. Anyone have any ideas of good things to try with a teething baby??? I know I should know something already. But with the older 3 being so much older... I just don't remember. It bothers him mostly at night. (why did I think it wouldn't be??) He was up so much the night before last that I let Hannah stay home from school yesterday because he had us up all night. (her room is beside his) But one good thing.. we had some mother/daughter time while it was nap time. We excercised to my new toy... my very own playstation game. Dance Factory. Which is very neat! and we baked a batch of cookies out of my new recipe book. I got a Beverly Lewis Amish Heritage Cookbook for Christmas.
I just have to share the recipe...

Dropped Amish Church Sugar Cookies

3 1/2 c. flour 2 c. white sugar
1 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. almond extract (we did 2 tsp. vanilla instead)
1 tsp. ground nutmeg 2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 tsp. salt (we omitted) 1 c. sour cream
1 1/2 c. margarine (no substitutes) sugar

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, and salt. In large bowl, beat margarine, sugar and extracts until creamy. Add eggs and sour cream: beat well. Gradually add dry ingredients, mixing well.
Grease cookie sheets or line them with parchment paper. Using medium sized cookie scoop, drop cookies 2 inches apart. Sprinkly with sugar. (dough isn't really dough like, more like a thick cake batter)
Bake cookies for 10- 15 minutes or until set. (DON'T OVER BAKE!) Don't allow cookies to get too golden. Remove from cookie sheet and place on cooling rack. When completely cool, store between sheets of wax paper. ENJOY!

I thought for sure the boys wouldn't care as much for them unless I iced them... I was wrong. They were almost gone in hours! They are very soft and cake like. Everyone just loved them.

Well that's it for now... I need to find something else to get into... :)

Well it's January. Today is "Hunkie Christmas" at our house. (it's actually Jan. 6th, Greek Orth. Catholic Christmas...) I really don't know the whole thing behind it. It was just something we always did when I was a child. My older siblings were Greek Catholic.... What we did as a child, was my Mom would hid a small (fit in your hand size) present in the tree and after dinner that evening, we would undecorate the tree.... listening to last of the Christmas music (till Dec.) and find our gifts. I don't know what exactly my older sibling did as children... I personally think it was my Moms way of getting us to undecorate the tree without any hassels. Of course by the time my children came... They would get a gift from us... my Mom and my in-laws liked the idea so well... they would get a gift from them.... so all in all it was a "mini-Christmas". Minus the undecorating of the tree. I just couldn't let anyone touch the tree.... now when they are all older and careful... they don't want to help. It's "mom's job". (my mistake I guess)
We had a wonderful dinner... a rolled rump roast.. (6lbs) mashed potatoes, brussel sprouts, corn, Amish noodles in beef broth... and portabella mushrooms saute'd in butter then added to beef broth. Marth Stewart's table couldn't look better. Guess... all in all this year.... (since I got tired of the tree and took it down New Years Day...) and we didn't feel like shopping, again....
and Jakoby won't remember this year anyhow... we went with gift cards. (if my Mom was still here, the kids would have really made out.) Each kid is over $50 richer and Jakoby (didn't get money) got his first "cell phone" (toy) Mom and Dad??? Nothing again.... but I'll have fun taking the kids shopping. I love to see them make decisions to spend there own money... I have one that will probably save his money till summer and add it to birthday money. One that has it spent already... before you hit the store. Knows exactly what she wants... and one, bless his heart... wants printer ink and school stuff for a project. (Something that just wasn't in my budget this month.
All in all it was a wonderful 2nd Christmas. The kids are now thinking ahead to vacation.
Me???
I think I'll just think ahead to spring and longer days.... where I don't want to fall asleep right after dinner....

figured since I got it working... I'd send another 

trying this a second time....  

Hannah & Jakoby Christmas 2006 (and Blossom too!) 

Just getting ready for Christmas. Been really busy here in PA. School programs, Baby's Doctor check ups, visiting, baking etc.... just wanted to let everyone know we here in the Reinhart house hold are ready for Christmas. (guess it's still coming wether we are ready or not) Took some photos of the "babies" in front of the tree.... got some cute ideas for next years card... but I am off to finish a scarf for my Sam for Christmas......
Merry Christmas to all !!!

It's the day after Thanksgiving. On our way home from the Grandparents last night.... everyone on our street had their Christmas lights turned on. It was beautiful. But why not wait till Dec. 1st?? Why cut Thanksgiving short?? Most of the world seems to skip over Thanksgiving... and start with the Christmas stuff at Halloween.... no wonder the world seems so rushed. Why don't people just slow down???? We decided with the baby this year to keep it all real simple. I usually decorate the whole down stairs... this year , just a tree. I thought about nothing outside. Well the front of the house anyhow. (the tree will be in the front window) We ran electric to our daughters playhouse and will outline it along with my light up, moving moose. (I just love mooses) I am rethinking the front of the house. Just because the WHOLE street is in white lights. I think I should add some COLOR to the street. Even if it is just a wreath with lights.

Maybe I am feeling so rushed because this year I have no reason to rush.... my sister came home early this year. She is usually home from Thanksgiving till New Years, this year she was here and left already. AND she spent one whole day with each kid separtately and took them to do their Christmas shopping. And hense..... everything is DONE. (excupt Santa shopping)
I may even do some baking this year. maybe....

Jakobys First Halloween- he isn't impressed 

close up 

finished afagan 

nice stitches (I think anyhow) 

first projects 

November 2- 2006

Guess what?? My dearest friend started teaching me to knit!! I am having alot of fun with it. I just finished an afagan... for a friends "country shoppe" she is going to sell. I do think it would take a LONG time to knit one. Robyn did a great job at showing me how to cast on and knit.... I just have no idea how to take it off the needles! The first one... the little pink swatch I just slid off... Robyn was so nice and left me and article she ripped out of her magazine for knitting basics, but my dear friend forgot I am not the kind of person who can read and do.... I have to see and do. I looked and looked at the pictures and it looks like a kindergarten kids drawing that I cannot decipher. :(
I might have to find someone closer to help me.....
My Mother in law saw how excited I was and went out and bought me a set of needles.... :) I can guess what I am getting for Christmas!

We had such a wonderful visit. I don't know why I didn't take pictures with my camera. She has all the pics on hers!

Guess what else I learned (but haven't done just yet?) making homemade knitting needles! Can't wait to try out the idea.... I'll let everyone know how it turns out.

Robyn will have to put some pics on her blog..... especially of Jakoby and the beautiful blanket she knitted for him!

I just love sleepy babies.... 

Umm.. maybe I could have at least put some make-up on.... anyhow, me, with now short hair. Figured I lost about 8 inches.... 

For those of you (Robyn) who personally know me.... I added a pic of me and my now, very short (for me) hair. Yes, it really needs colored.... and I could have put some make-up on... but what the _ _ _ _ (playing hang-man now) figured I let a "real me" moment in.

I also wanted to update everyone on my son - Jesse. He has the Chairi type 1 Malformation. I am so- so sick of the way things are going. He had a second MRI in July. Results???? I get - "there is nothing significant going on, make a follow up appt. for 1 year, BUT if anything changes, call and we'll see him right away." Ok... anything over 5mm is significant. His WAS 9.5mm in January. NOW (July) it's 11mm. AND they don't consider it significant. (did I spell that right?? I wish someone would teach me how to use the spell check...)

I am glad I am not going anywhere today. They are paving the street out front today. Talk about men and NOISE. (and smell) I am glad it isn't hot the smell would be alot worse.

I am in need of a craft project. Something new, maybe. I am feeling the need to "create" something. I just haven't found out "what" yet. Robyn.... do you have any ideas???? If I could knit.. I would try to make the infant hat I got when Jakoby was born. An elderly group of women make little white knitted hats for all the newborns at the hospital I had Jakoby at. What a wonderful little gift. I can't knit. :(
Thought about sewing. Can't think of anything to make. Don't really feel like painting. Too messy. I like pick up and go projects. BUT I do have 2 pair of old ice skates I wanted to paint as a "M.E." project... I found in her book. But that would mean I need to go purchase paint.

Well.... maybe I will get out some photos and scrapbook.... but that doens't even sound right.

We are finally going camping this weekend. Haven't since the last weekend of July. It will be Jakobys' first camping trip. It's supposed to be BEAUTIFUL this weekend. I really enjoy camping. No phones, tv, neighborhood children. Don't get me wrong, I love my kids friends... but sometimes I want it to be "just us". Give my children a chance to appreciate each other and play with each other. And camp food always tastes so much better than home.

Well I feel I just rambled my way thru all of this. But then again, maybe I needed too.