Our Christmas Greeting

Here are the photos that made it to our Christmas card!

Christmas is a Comin'

and the geese are getting fat, please put a penny in the old man's hat . . . ." 
(Come on mid-1990's EHS chorus members!  Sing it with me!!)

So, how have you all been this week?

Life has been going pretty well around here.  Rachel has been a content baby and has been sleeping for three hour stretches at night--just as all of her siblings did as newborns.  I didn't even have to tell her that was one of the rules!  What a smart little girl.

(This photo didn't make the cut for our Christmas card, but it was my favorite.)
You know when you work and work on a puzzle and you think it is completed, only to get to the end to find out you are missing a piece right out of the middle?  Rachel is that piece in this crazy Melius family puzzle.  We're so glad God was keeping her safe in His plan for us all along! 
We are looking forward to seeing our families over the next couple weekends and Rachel's baptism on January 1.
May you have a blessed Christmas if I don't "see" you again before then!

Rachel Olivia has arrived!

Were you wondering what happened to me?  You probably guessed--baby decided to make her arrival on Wednesday morning! 

We actually went into the hospital to check if I was in labor on Tuesday.  I know that sounds crazy since it was my fourth time, but I just felt weird.  So, the nurses hooked me up to the monitor, but nothing was happening, so we were sent away. 

Since we were scheduled to be induced early Wednesday morning anyway and the road conditions weren't the greatest, we decided to spend the night in Aberdeen.

Thank goodness for Holiday Inn Express' Rapid Check Out because I went into labor at about 4am on Wednesday.  We went to the hospital shortly before our appointed time of 6:00am and Rachel Olivia arrived at 8:06am.  Now that's one efficient baby girl!

She was 8 lbs 7oz and 21 inches long.  She holds the Melius baby weight record by a pound.  I guess when you are the baby of four siblings, you have to arrive ready to hold your own.

We came home on Friday.  It was difficult to leave the cocoon of our quiet hospital room, but it was time to start our new adventure in a family of six! 

A Gingerbread Village

What was the very first thing in my WalMart cart on Wednesday?  A kit for a gingerbread village! 

I waited until Thursday after school to get this mother/child bonding project moving. 

After assembling the (admittedly simple) pre-cut houses with my very excited/loud potential gingerbread decorators hovering over me, and then having to wait an excruciatingly long hour to let the frosting/mortar harden, I started to question my sanity and that of the WalMart employees. 

(Really . . . shouldn't someone have stopped me from buying such a thing?  Did I really look emotionally stable enough to take on such a project with three children?  They don't let 16 year olds buy spray glitter, but they let a 9 1/2 months pregnant woman buy a GINGERBREAD VILLAGE KIT?  What kind of store policy is that?) 

Looking back on it, it really wasn't that bad, but I think next time I will assemble the houses before they come home since that part isn't all that much fun anyway.

So, fast forward to the fun part.  I turned all three of them loose with the included frosting and candy and the project took on a whole new spin.  They each chose their buildings, shared their decorations, made a huge sugary mess, and had a GREAT time!

 They were working so hard, they didn't even ask to EAT.  David called to say he would be late for supper and I told him it was OK since they were building a gingerbread village.  He didn't think I was serious.  Then he came home and found this:

a village complete with parking lots for trucks and machinery.  What else would a Melius Gingerbread Village include? 
(Landen took this photo and was so proud of the view overlooking the combine hopper.)

And then we ate, but they were too excited telling about their creations to eat much at all!

Will we do this again next year? 
Sure! 
Sometimes crazy ideas can turn out to be pretty good ones!

Help!

I just noticed today that links are showing up in my posts that I haven't put there.  (Words are different colored or underlined and take you to a web page or ad.) 
Just ignore these and I will see what I can do.
If anyone has any suggestions on how to get rid of these, please share!

Something New

Today Nathan will go to his first birthday party without mom or dad.  He has been excited all week, and a little nervous, too.
The party-goers will walk to the birthday boy's daycare after school.  Nathan remembered going to daycare a few times and, although he remembered it being a fun time, he was a little apprehensive about nap time.  Once I assured him that nap time would be over when they got there, he was just fine with that and looking forward to that portion of the evening.
He didn't quite know what to expect at the party either.  What would they do?  What if he didn't know the rules at their house?  How long would he be staying?
At first I was thinking to myself, "It's just a birthday party!  Why is he over thinking this and considering all of the worst case scenarios that his 6 year old brain can think of?"

I am so glad God kept His hand over my mouth because because before I could verbalize any of those thoughts, He turned on a BIG light bulb in my brain.  Not just a 100 watt either.  It was huge.  Brighter than a LED flashlight held inches from my eyes.  (Gotta love kids. . . .)

Why do I often have many of those same thoughts and fears when confronted with new and possibly really fun experiences? 
When I do have those times, I am often blessed with people who will listen to my fearful questions and reassure me/prepare me based on their own experiences.

What a blessing to be able to be that person for my children.  I hope I can be that person for others as well.

Once again, I am learning from one of my children this week.

It is OK to ask questions in order to make us feel reassured and prepared.  Let us be thankful for those people in our lives who encourage us to take the next step. 
Otherwise, we may allow fear to keep us from experiencing new things. . . like the best birthday party EVER.

And that would be a shame.

Tick . . . Tick

I have reached the ticking time bomb point of this pregnancy. 
It is the time when I don't want to make plans too far out in advance because there's a chance I may be otherwise occupied in the hospital. 
I already have one--possibly two--backup musicians lined up for our parish's Advent program on Sunday afternoon.  I have never had a baby this early (without induction), but still--one never knows.  After our dress rehearsal last night, I know the show can go on without me, but I still really hope to be there!
I have been nesting off and on for 9 months, but now I know it is getting down to the wire.  Keeping the house in order has been a constant project.  How do I really expect to keep a house in order for more than a few hours with a family living in it?  I know it is impossible.  Still, I try!  And, I do realize that no matter how much laundry I do today or next week, I will still probably end up not having something important washed and ready to wear for someone in the family!
I made a trip to Walmart yesterday.  At this point I could probably open a grocery store with the food in my deep freezer and pantry.  Squirreling away food for the winter isn't limited to this year (I hate pushing overflowing carts through snowy parking lots), but baby's imminent arrival has sure contributed to it!
This time bomb phase is also the point where everyone assumes I am having the baby as soon as I am not available to answer a phone call, if I show up a few minutes late to something, or if they see my name on their caller ID.  Lately I have started many a phone call/email with, "Sorry, no baby news yet."  I can almost feel the disappointment in their voices when they realize it is just me. 
I completely understand, though.  I do all of the same things when I'm waiting for my friends or family members to have babies, too!  There is an excitement in realizing that so much can change in a person's life at really any moment!
Now it is 8am.  Teresa has already been dusting for me this morning.  She must be nesting, too. 
I will try to blog tomorrow, but if I don't, don't get too excited.
I am probably just taking a nap . . . or vacuuming . . . or organizing my overflowing pantry shelves.

A Little Surprise

As I was going through my Facebook newsfeed yesterday morning, I saw something I wasn't expecting. 
Ignatius Press featured my recent "I Love this Advent Calendar" post/review on their Facebook page! 
I don't suppose this is a huge deal for many bloggers, but I haven't had any national attention for any of my posts before.  To be recognized by Ignatius Press was especially an honor!
People from nearly all 50 states visited that post yesterday.  Fun!

Making Room for (the real) Santa Claus

Every year, I have an unwritten rule that our home's Christmas decor is primarily Nativity centered.  I have a collection of many sets and place them around the house to remind us of the true reason for Christmas. 
Our children even received a Little People nativity set a few years ago.  I used to put it away, but now I let them play with it all year long.  One year we had all of the people accounted for except for baby Jesus.  We thought he might show up on Christmas morning, but I think it was closer to Epiphany when we finally found him!  (And, no, we weren't prepared with any gold, frankincense or myrrh!)
Any Santa related decor is pretty much limited to the stockings hung on our downstairs railing. 
I have absolutely NOTHING against Santa Claus.  He has been arriving at our house even before Landen was mobile.  (He brought a dump truck and construction hat that year.)  We follow the same rule in this house that I had growing up--"If you don't believe in Santa, you don't get anything from him."
As we we were returning from mass on Sunday, Landen started asking about how Santa Claus came about.  I had a vague recollection of the real St. Nicholas and how he helped the poor by leaving gifts for them.  I was stumped, though, when he asked me where the elves came in!
Today is the Feast Day of St. Nicholas.  I've been doing a little online research to learn more about this early bishop of the church and his life.  Some parts of the world open their St. Nicholas gifts on this day--Dec. 6--in order to focus more on Christ's birth on Christmas morning.  A fun custom that some families have is to leave a carrot or a bit of hay in the children's shoes on the eve of Dec. 6 (for St. Nicholas' horse).  Then they receive a small candy coin or treat in return in the morning. 
I would like to find a children's book on St. Nicholas and how he came to be our modern day Santa Claus.  If anyone has one they like, please let me know.   It would be a good reminder for our children to read it each year as we make our way through advent.
There is a lot of information on the history of St. Nicholas and how families celebrate this day around the world on www.stnicholascenter.org.  I found the following poem on the website. 
It is entitled "A 'Word' from 'St. Nicholas'".  Although the author is unknown, it is something St. Nicholas might have said and would want us to know in a world where Santa Claus and celebrating Christ on Christmas can sometimes seem so far apart.

In my own heart I cannot separate Christmas



from that Boy Child born in Bethlehem


some two thousand years ago.

I believe that Boy Child


was the Child of the Divine Mystery,


and He came into the world for love of us all.


I believe He came to bring healing,


forgiveness,


reconciliation,


freedom, and peace.

I believe He also came to invite everyone


to forget themselves and remember the needs of others.

For me, the religious meaning of Christmas


is a source of deep joy.

You must understand that my message


echoes the message of that Child born so long ago.


I am not the offspring of the Divine Mystery,


only His unworthy servant.

I am Saint Nicholas,


and the religious meaning of Christmas


will always be close to my heart.

Maybe our Santa Claus decor and the nativity sets can co-exist in harmony after all.   
I'm thankful for Landen's curiosity about St. Nicholas and getting me interested in the real story.  I didn't research far enough to get to the elf question, though.
Maybe I'll get to that one later!

Christmas Tunes

I hope you enjoy the Christmas tunes I added to the playlist this year. 
As with the rest of the playlist, there is a little something for everyone--even Grinches!

Collecting Data

Earlier today, Nathan was drawing charts on his Magna Doodle and "collecting data" like he does at school.  Landen, Teresa, and I took each of his surveys.  We had to choose our favorite foods a couple of times (we had three choices for each) and then what we liked to do most with our time. 
He was very formal with his survey taking and I was proud of his siblings for seriously answering his questions.
I found the last of these surveys to be the most interesting.
"Who do you like better--Daddy or Callie?"
Daddy won 2 votes to 1.
Who voted for the dog?
Not me!

I Love this Advent Calendar

Long before I knew our children would be so interested in advent . . . or blowing out candles . . . this year, I ordered this pop-up Advent Calendar from the Ignatius Press catalog. 

Until we made it to December 1, I was taking snippets from the Word Among Us meditations or reading a bit from Isaiah for our advent wreath time.  It was alright, but it was going over their heads (and attention spans).  I needed something more simply worded and geared toward children. 

Once December 1 rolled around, I unwrapped this calendar and found just what I was looking for for our family.

They like the pop-up design that will eventually make a nativity scene when all of the doors are opened.
I really appreciate the companion booklet.  Each day provides a Scripture passage, a short explanation/meditation, and prayer--just right for children to understand.  The calendar continues through

Epiphany and has one last reading for The Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, which is on February 2 this year.

That's all I have time for today.  It is time for our advent wreath lighting. 
It's Nathan's turn to blow out the candle tonight. :o)

Preparing

There are all sorts of preparations underway around here.

Sunday afternoon was very productive.  David set up the crib in record time (which was impressive since he had only set it up once before over 8 years ago) and my three helpers put up most of the Christmas decorations. 

One of the first things they found were the Advent candles.  I have put these out before, but we have never lit them as a family.  This year they could not wait to light the first one!  I was so impressed that our children had such an interest in Advent.  Then I realized, as I read an Advent reflection and prayer with our family gathered around the wreath, that they were most interested in who would get to blow out the candle at the end! 

We'll continue this practice throughout Advent--and take turns blowing out the candles!

I am THANKFUL

for the difficult times because they make us more appreciative of the good times.

for growth of all kinds.  It may not always be fun to grow, but wonderful things come from it.

for my husband of over 10 years.  I'm not surprised that we have made it this far, but rather that the time has gone so quickly.

for the gift of a healthy pregnancy (along with its aches and pains) and the baby we are about to meet.  I have learned to never limit the blessings God can pour on us.

for stuffing, pumpkin pie, and cranberry sauce--no matter what The Biggest Loser trainers say.  :o)

for Black Friday shopping.  I'm not one of those crazy up at 4am people, but it is kind of fun to wake up early and go shopping in the dark once a year.

for family and friends.  Again, I have been truly blessed.

for children who play well together and for children who fight--it means they are healthy and a part of our lives.

for faith, hope, and love. 

for God's guidance and protection.

for all of those things I tend to take for granted--a warm home, plenty of food, and closets that don't lack for clothes, shoes, coats and hats.

and for everything else we celebrate today . . . .

Happy Thanksgiving!

This & That

This week finds us just 4 weeks or less away from meeting our newest family member!  In some ways, it seems like I have been pregnant forever and in other ways it has gone by quickly--especially these past few months.  We are all excited and getting ready.  I am hoping the crib gets set up sometime this week, but that might be something David rushes home to do before baby and I come home from the hospital.  That's really all I ask for--just have it ready for when we get back home!
Nathan told us that Jesus told him our new baby is a girl.  I'm not really sure when this conversation took place, but possibly having another sister concerned him.  He asked me, "Mom, can you ask God to make it a boy?  He can do anything and He can change it!"  I assured him that--boy or girl--God will give us the family member that we need!  I still don't think he's entirely convinced that another sister would be a good idea!

Today Teresa and I are easing out of pumpkin season and into cranberry season.  We made a batch of homemade cranberry sauce this morning and this bread.  I'm sorry my photo is not uploading, so you'll have to use your imagination!  I really like how it turned out.  I used a cup of frozen cranberries and did not use any walnuts.  The glaze is something I added and I feel it completes the bread.  A little extra sweet never hurts!

Cranberry Orange Bread

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
1/2 cup orange juice
2 T melted butter or margarine
2 T hot water
1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts (optional)

In a large mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients.  In another bowl, beat egg.  Add orange juice, butter, and hot water.  Add to flour mixture, stirring just until moistened.  Gently fold in cranberries and walnuts.  Spoon into greased loaf pan.  Bake at 325 degrees for an hour or more until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Cool.
Drizzle a glaze made with orange juice and powdered sugar over the top.  It works well to fill the bottom of a baggie with the juice and sugar, mix them together with your fingers, and snip off a corner to drizzle on the cooled bread.
Enjoy!

Candy Bar Brownies

It was a good Halloween for chocolate.  (Way to go, kids!) 
But, after a few days of the boys rushing in the door after school to choose a few favorite treats from their bags and then my enduring the sugar rush after, it was clear that the candy needed to be controlled a bit more. 
I sent the Tootsie Rolls and Smarties to Grandma & Grandpa's house for them to hand out to their grandchildren over the next year. 
Then I put all of the of chocolate it its own bag with the intention of using it for baking.  I have had my share of treats out of the chocolate bag over the past few weeks, but today it was time to put my original plan into action. 
I even found a recipe for Candy Bar Brownies in one of my cookbooks--perfect for post-Halloween!

4 eggs, slightly beaten
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup butter, melted
2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 cup cocoa
7-10 fun-size candy bars

Stir together first 4 ingredients in a large bowl.  Combine flour and next 3 ingredients; stir in sugar mixture.  Fold in candy bars.  Bake in a 9x13 greased and floured pan for 35 minutes at 350.  Make sure the middle is set before removing from the oven.  Cool completely and cut into bars.

Goals

I turned 33 on Saturday.  That made me start to think about life goals.  Hmm . . . lately my goal is to conquer all of the obstacles of the day so I can snuggle up and go to sleep again.  It may not be a life goal, but it keeps me motivated through the day! 
I hardly ever watch the show, but I did watch "19 Kids and Counting" on Sunday evening.  Michelle Duggar is a rock star.  Currently on the show, she and Jim Bob are taking their huge family (and a few extras) on a world tour.  Not only that, but she is pregnant with their 20th child at the same time.  I'm so glad my husband has never seen the show.  He might expect me to have a smile on my face 24/7 and travel the world, too!
My dear friend Cathy once told me of a trip their family (then including 4 boys) took to Walt Disney World for her parents' 40th wedding anniversary.  She knew the work it would entail, but her parents insisted that their entire family be together for the celebration.  As they entered the magical gates, she told her mom, "I don't even take all of my kids to Super Valu."  I thought that was hilarious and so, so true! 
I thought of her after I took my 3 children through the grocery store last night (something I never do unless I absolutely have to).
A trip around the world?
Nope.  Not one of my goals right now!
A snuggly blanket and a couple shows on the DVR?
Now that's something to look forward to!

I Heart Amazon.com

For the past three years, Amazon.com has been my go-to Christmas shopping site.  
It is especially handy when looking for presents for the children in my life.  If I have any idea of what I'd like (Fisher Price, Melissa and Doug, etc.), I just type that in the search box, narrow it down by age range, and I instantly have a huge list of choices to pick from.  If I don't like any of those, it only takes a few seconds to start a new search.  Is there anything you CAN'T find on Amazon.com?  So far I haven't found that one thing!
I also love to use it when searching book titles.  When shopping for children's books, I like to find books with their names in the title.  I'm not always successful in my search, but it is a lot easier than physically searching through a store's collection.
There are other perks to Amazon, too.  For one, it will store items in your cart indefinitely and adjust the prices as they go up or down.  I have had some items in my cart since last year's Christmas shopping.  When I log in, I am alerted as to which items have adjusted in price.  Items can always be placed in your cart to buy immediately or can be saved for later.
Then there's this problem I have with paying for shipping.  I know shipping companies need money, too, but I hate giving it to them.  Amazon has this great option called FREE Super Saver Shipping on most of the items if the total is over $25.  (That is hardly ever a problem for me, or I just continue to fill my cart over several visits until I reach that total.)  It might take a few more days than paying for shipping, but my orders still usually arrive within a week and a half.
Don't get me wrong--I am all for shopping locally and I love the hunt that comes with actually walking through stores to see what's out there.  I never pass up an opportunity for "real" shopping and, as you know, I always adore a leisurely stroll through a bookstore.
But, when shopping needs to be done in bulk, and the rest of the world is shopping at the same time--and for many of the same things--convenience tends to win out.  That's when Amazon.com rescues me from pre-holiday stress year after year.
What shopping sites do you like to use for your Christmas shopping?


*Amazon.com has not reimbursed the writer of this post in anyway, although she would be more than happy to accept. :o)

What I'm Working on This Week . . . .

--Trying to stay active without my treadmill time each morning.  Muscles that have been stretched four times aren't as kind on the fourth go-round!  Sometimes just walking down the hallway will stop me in my tracks lately.
--Getting better at using coupons.  I am a TERRIBLE coupon shopper.  I cut out very few and usually use only a few of those before I find them expired and throw them away.  I started using a coupon organizer yesterday and I actually knew where to find--and remembered to use--three coupons on my shopping trip.  Still, don't expect to see me on Extreme Couponing anytime soon.
--Christmas shopping and wrapping.  I am saving a bit for Black Friday, but staying ahead of the Christmas shopping list has been a huge help this year.  I'm usually not a "Christmas before Thanksgiving" kind of girl, but I'm not sure how much of December I will have free to prepare.
--Sleeping all night.  This happens to me with every pregnancy.  I'm not sure if it is excitement, anxiety, or my body preparing for those 3am feedings, but I wake up most nights and stay wide awake for at least an hour.  It's a good thing we believe in afternoon naps around here.
--Our church's Advent Program.  It follows the same pattern as the one I wrote a couple of years ago at our former parish, but I feel it has improved.  I gave the kids simpler songs to sing and the older students will either be song leaders or narrators, instead of singers.  Teresa plans to make her debut as a baby sheep in the nativity scene.
There you have it--my week so far in a nutshell.  Not too exciting, but ordinary is quite all right with me.  Anything else just gets to be too exhausting!
Have a good day!

Growing or Shrinking?

I'm not sure if my Landen is growing or his dress pants are shrinking!  It seems as though every week I look at the length of his dress pants after church (no time for such details before) and they are short!
Last week he was wearing a pair that was so short I thought I must have forgotten to put them away.  I checked them when we got home and they were 8's, but when compared to a pair from Old Navy, they had obviously shrunk to a 7 or maybe even 6.  I put those away for Nathan and kept the Old Navy pair that he had worn the week before--and had fit--in the closet.
He wore that pair yesterday, and I noticed over breakfast that those were short, too! 
I ordered a new pair last week and this time I'm going to keep a close eye on what is going on--if Landen is growing or if the pants are just shrinking.  David always says that you can see a corn field growing from morning until night in the summertime.  That's about how it is with Landen this year!  He can easily eat more than I can and he no longer looks like a little boy.  He flew through a shoe and jean size last summer.
I just hope no one starts a collection for the poor kid so that he can have dress pants that fit. 
I'm trying--I really am!

Happy 6th Birthday, Nathan!

We started celebrating Nathan's birthday with Teresa's last Sunday when the grandparents and aunt Amanda came for a visit. 

Nathan wanted a Scooby Doo cake this year.  Bless his heart, he also wanted to decorate it himself!

 Here is his cake featuring Scooby Doo and Shaggy in a haunted house.  He may be the new "Ace of Cakes" someday!

 Both of them got to open their presents on Sunday.  If you ask Nathan to hold something up for a picture, you can bet that he will do just that!

 The cake was as yummy as it looked.  No spit showers this year!

 We gave him a Scooby Doo game for his birthday yesterday morning before school.  Nathan loves to play games.  Things have been a bit crazy around here lately, but we will play it soon!

Happy Birthday to our dear Nathan! 
We are so happy God gave you and your energetic personality to our family to give us the spice we needed!

Halloween

Here are our trick or treaters!  Landen was easy again this year--he wanted to be a golfer.  Nathan chose a skeleton and Teresa was a bumblebee with a crown.  I thought that made her a "Queen Bee," but she preferred "Bumblebee Princess."  A "hunny" pot, made by my uncle many years ago for my cousin's Pooh costume, was a nice touch for her bee ensemble.

 Here they go!  The weather was absolutely beautiful for trick or treating.  It is very unusual that their costumes aren't covered up by heavy coats. 

By the time we returned home, their buckets and bags were FULL!  Once again, it was a successful Halloween for the Melius kids!
Next up . . . Nathan turns 6 tomorrow!

Teresa is 4!

Some scenes from Teresa's birthday . . . .

An afternoon with grandparents on
Sunday

 A bumblebee cake

 A new computer (this one was much more realistic than the iPad Landen has already asked for!)

 Our little bumblebee princess finishing off trick or treating with cake at Grandma & Grandpa Melius' house

She is so excited to be 4 like her best friend Lily! 

More on Halloween tomorrow . . . I can only take on one special occasion at a time today! :o)

Peaceful Transition

October was kind to us, and so our lighter jackets have kept us all warm enough--up until now. 
This morning Landen needed his winter coat and snow pants (for warmth--not snow, thankfully!) to help Dad and Grandpa outside. 
In a totally uncharacteristic move, I took an inventory of all the kids' winter stuff when I finally put it away for the summer.  I don't think the weather warmed up enough until June, but eventually the coats, hats, and boots DID go into storage for a few short months. 
Everyone needs two of everything (one for farm, one for good) for each season, and I inevitably forget what sizes we have on hand or which closet I have put what in by the time winter rolls around again!

This conversation happens every year.
The setting:  An unsuspecting fall morning around the Melius breakfast table
David:  "The kids need winter coats today."
Me:  (peering over my coffee cup with a panicked/annoyed look on my face) thinking, "Why am I NEVER prepared for this day?"
David:  "Do you know where they are?" 
Me:  (thinking, "Toilet paper?  Check.  Milk in the fridge?  Check.  Extra bottle of shampoo in the cupboard?  Check.  Homework done?  Check.  Winter coats and boots?  UGH!!!"
Then I say something like, "Umm . . . I guess I have been too busy keeping track of the level of EVERYTHING else in this house." 
David:  Now slightly annoyed; makes some suggestion on how I could be more organized.
Me:  Run to the storeroom and see what the kids will fit into after three months of growing--usually with only a few minutes to look.  If I am lucky, I find what they need before they need to run out the door.

Well, not today, my friends!

Blame it on a fit of nesting or a moment of genius (probably the former), but for ONCE I was prepared for this seasonal transition.  My coffee was still even warm when I returned from my quick run downstairs to find Landen's coat!
I won't become too confident, though. 
Spring is only a few months away and I haven't yet found the time or ambition to inventory our spring/summer gear.

Still, I'll take one peaceful transition over none!

Tractor Time

David kept promising me an afternoon or two in the tractor this fall, but I was beginning to think it wasn't going to happen! 

Harvest is complete--YES!  Now it is time to get the ground ready for planting next spring.  Farmers do this in lots of ways.  We use an aerator over most of our ground, which uses knife-like things to poke holes in the ground--kind of like reeeallly big worm holes to let moisture and air into the ground.  So, here was my view for a few hours yesterday afternoon.

 

This is what an aerator looks like.  The big concrete blocks to weigh it down are just so high-tech--don't you think?  It's quite a cushy job, actually.  When I get to the end of the field, the tractor beeps when it wants me to turn.  After I turn, I push a little button that says "resume" and a satellite up in space steers the tractor right where it needs to be for the next pass through the field.  Then I'm set for another mile until I turn around again.  There's minimal actual tractor driving involved.  In fact, it is best not to touch the steering wheel until it needs to turn.  Crazy--I know!
So, for about 3 hours yesterday, it was just baby and me and the radio on KLOVE . . . and the occasional rabbit who happened to hop by. 
My only complaint was that I had to bring my own snack.  Isn't that supposed to be one of the perks of being in the field?

 And for those of you who thought you would never see me behind the wheel of a tractor, here is proof. 

This afternoon will bring more of the same, except I may have my sidekick along to help me sing along to the radio today!

The End is Near

Our corn harvest should be complete by the end of the day.  I use "should" because strange things have been happening with the combine, tractor, and grain cart this fall.  If they can get through this day without any other unusual breakdowns, this major project will be completed!
I have come to appreciate harvest (after all, that IS how we get paid each year), and the long days with a mostly absent husband/father don't even bother me much anymore.  The adrenaline makes the entire process a challenge to conquer and I do--until about week three. 
Then I start to think about what it was like to have supper as a family (and not cold sandwiches most nights of the week) and I get a little antsy to get it all done!  I don't even remember how long this harvest has been going on . . . I think this is the start of the fifth week.  It's all blended together into a string of bologna sandwiches and Pepsi. :o)
Soon, soon, soon.  Soon our lives will be slowing down for the winter and our family will be reunited in the evenings.  I say it every year, but I love the fall time change.  More time as a family makes everyone happier. 
Thank you, God, for this gift of harvest.  Thank you, too, for this upcoming time of rest!

The Corner Book Shoppe

Reading has become my favorite hobby for the fall months.  Most days when the kids go to bed, I am too tired to do much else, and I've found the promise of diving into a book at the end of the day something to look forward to (as opposed to diving into that basket of laundry that needs folding). 
Our closest library is about 20 miles away.  When I am getting to that town frequently (as I did last winter and summer), it isn't a problem to check out and return books.  When most of my travels take me in the opposite direction, (as they do for most of the school year), it makes it a bit more difficult to be a local library patron. 
In addition to geography, library books have a tendency to stress me out just a little bit.  I can't believe I am saying this since I practically lived at the library as a child, but I lived close enough to walk to our local library then.  Borrowing and returning books on time was never an inconvenience.
I thought I was alone in this library book stress, but I have since found out other people feel the same way!  When I have a library book, I have a deadline to finish it.  Sure, I can renew it, but then I have to remember to actually do that.  Bargain shopper that I am, I would rather buy a book than have a 2 week deadline looming over my head.  I know that sounds silly, but that's how I roll right now.
Enter The Corner Book Shoppe into my life.  It is the perfect combination of library and cozy bookstore--without the late fees or new book prices.  All of their books are used and in wonderful shape.  I buy a pile of books for probably a third of the new book price, enjoy them, and pass them on to someone else.  Many people discovered the store before me and suggested I go there--two friends, my grandma, my cousin, and aunt.  They told me how beautifully it was arranged, the amazing selection of books, and the reasonable prices.
It took me several months to actually make the first stop.  The first reason was that I hardly ever go to Aberdeen without my little sidekick T.  I wanted to have time to look around the store and not be rushed. 
The second part of my problem was that I was a little intimidated.  I love to read, but I don't follow particular authors.  If I come across a title or description of a novel somewhere, I'll make a point to read it if it looks interesting.  I didn't want to walk in and be asked, "What author do you like?"  This former teacher has been out of the adult literary loop for so long that I would probably just blurt out, "Stan and Jan Berenstain" and find myself amongst the hundreds of familiar Berenstain Bears titles my children have brought home from the library way too many times.  Someone really should have told the Berenstains that their books can get a teensy bit wordy at times . . . but that's just my opinion.  :o)
On a rare trip by myself in September, I finally made the time to stop and check it out.  Still not recognizing many authors, I took the "judge a book by its cover" approach with the various novels in the front of the store and it served me well.  I liked all four of the books I chose from their descriptions.  I am hoping yesterday's stop for a new pile of books (using mostly the same approach) is as successful. 
Sure, the books aren't free, but I always figure gas and mileage into everything and making a special trip to the library isn't free either.  Besides that, buying five books for around $25 is a pretty inexpensive hobby in my opinion. 
If you visit The Corner Book Shoppe, be sure to walk through the entire store.  The front room is just the beginning.  There are little coves for different genres, a children's room, a room with almost all cookbooks, and even a bargain table in the far room.
If you love to read, you won't be disappointed!

Some Vacation!

Teresa loves reading her little board book Bible.  It's one of those "only Mom can read this right" books as she knows what songs we sing with each story (Noah's Ark, Zacchaeus, Jesus' birth), or which ones we don't have songs for and just read the words (Adam & Eve, Daniel in the Lions Den).
Last night, after she, Nathan, and I sang "Away in a Manger," she asked me again why there was no crib for baby Jesus.  She asks me this almost every time we read it.  She can't wrap her mind around that there was no room in the "hotel" and he had to be born in the stable.  After all, has a hotel ever turned her away?  They wouldn't dare! 
Last night she answered her own question. 
She finished with, "Because there was no room at vacation?" 
Yep.  That's right.
I wonder if Mary and Joseph ever dreamed that 2000+ years later a little girl in South Dakota would be describing their long journey to Bethlehem as a "vacation." 
Well, at least it would have been if they had been able to get a room at the inn with a bouncy bed, continental breakfast and an indoor pool.  :o)

Melius Opening Pheasant Hunting Weekend

Last weekend was the opening weekend for pheasant hunting in South Dakota.  I have come to appreciate the annual event.  It means a relaxing weekend complete with talking, laughing, shopping at our local craft fair and . . . of course . . . plenty of eating!  While we women are enjoying ourselves, the men celebrate the weekend by trudging through fields, weeds, and trees as they shoot South Dakota's state bird.  I think we have the better end of the deal. 

David's cousin Lisa and I took a mommy photo.  She is due in about 3 weeks with baby #3.  I have about 9 weeks left.

 Here is the next generation of Melius family hunters!

 And . . . the whole crew.  My boys and cousin Carter were big enough to go along this year.  They walked with the big guys on both Saturday and Sunday afternoon. 

 Teresa and her cousin Lily are BEST FRIENDS.

 Teresa wanted to celebrate her birthday with her cousins, so we had a little party on Sunday afternoon.  We sang, we blew out candles, we opened presents, we ate cupcakes, and the kids were back to playing in about 15 minutes.  It was the perfect little 4 year old party!

Soon after, the adults showed up and . . . we ate some more!

Remember September

We had another photo shoot down our gravel road on a sunny Sunday afternoon in mid-September.  Teresa is spending the day at Grandma's house today, so I finally took the time to edit a few. 

This was my favorite walking shot.  At first, David and I tried to keep the animals back, but then we realized that they are a big part of our kids' lives and will document our life in 2011 as well.  It is appropriate that Callie is walking alongside Nathan.  They are good buddies.

 Then Teresa and Nathan wanted to take a couple of silly pictures.  The name for Teresa's photo effect is called "1960's."  With those sunglasses, she looks like she could belong there.

 Then there's Nater.  What else can I say?  You just have to love that little boy!

Ever Feel Like This?

I found this on Facebook earlier this week and shared it on my wall.  We all have these days, don't we? 

This picture is complimented very well by the--very encouraging, I might add--quote I read in my November Reader's Digest:

"If you want to know what it's like to have a fourth kid, just imagine you're drowning and someone hands you a fourth kid."  (Jim Gaffigan)

That made me laugh out loud.  If you go back to the beginning of this blog, I was drowning in mommyhood quite often.  Now I keep my head above water most days. 

So why not have another?  In another couple years, I should be successfully treading water again. :o)

Cherry Bars

This recipe has been a family favorite for a long time.  I found this recipe, called "Coffee Cake," in a family cookbook.  Once I made it, I realized it was the same thing we often made growing up, only we called them Cherry Bars.  

These are good for breakfast (I made these and stuck them in the freezer for our church potluck on Sunday) or a dessert (topped with whipped cream).  Either way, they are easy and people who can't have dairy appreciate their dairy-free-ness.  :o)

Cherry Bars

1 cup canola OR vegetable oil

4 eggs

1 cup sugar

1 tsp baking powder

2 cups flour

Mix all ingredients together.  Spread 1/2 mixture in the bottom of a 9x13 pan.  Spread one can pie filling (cherry or your choice) on top of this and spread the rest of the batter on top.  Top with a mixture of cinnamon and sugar.  (I start with about 1/3 cup sugar and add cinnamon to taste.  Use more or less sugar to suit your taste.) 

Bake 350 for 40 minutes or until golden brown on top.

Moving . . . YET again!

For some reason this past weekend, I felt compelled to start packing up my side of the office.  Baby isn't due to arrive for another 10 weeks, but my inner clock was telling me "it is time to make room!"
Wasn't I just blogging about making the built-in dresser into a scrapbooker's paradise?  Well, it's ready to be a dresser again.  My scrapbooking tools will be downstairs for a year or two.
Once my strong husband is done harvesting, he can carry my desk downstairs and the crib back upstairs.  I am hoping to make room in our guest room for my desk, so I can have some place to store all of that office "stuff" that really doesn't have any other place to go.
As always, the blessing that comes with moving is cleaning!  I decided to give some scrapbooking things away that I have either never used or will not use again. 
I sometimes feel guilty for giving things away that I can no longer use, but now I have decided to look at it differently.
I'm just passing on the love! 

Gypsy Day

I hope you don't mind if I reminisce a bit for today's post. . . .
Tomorrow is Gypsy Day, the homecoming at my alma mater, Northern State University.  Not too many years ago, going to Gypsy Day was a HUGE deal.  This year I don't even plan to mention the parade to my kids.  I know I am just being a big gypsy party-pooper, but I'm tired, stuffy from allergies, windblown, in the middle of corn harvest, and this house can't handle one more piece of Frootie candy.
But, as I said, it used to be a big deal.  Someday maybe it will be again, with so many other things, "once the kids are older."  :o)
Gypsy Day was a part of my life long before I became a student at NSU.  Every year the college hosted, and still does, host a marching band competition for area schools.  Rachel and I would arrive at the high school with the rest of the band VERY early on that Saturday morning to get on the bus for the 1 1/2 hour drive and enthusiastically announce, "It's Gypsy Day!!"  Not everyone shared in our excitement, but most did.  That was the best part--our band worked hard to be "one cohesive unit" as our band director put it.  She wanted us to do well and we did our best to make that happen.  We practiced at 7:30am several mornings a week to prepare for the Gypsy Day parade, which didn't make the late sleepers in town too happy, but I loved every minute of it. 
The years I was marching, which would have been 1991-1996, the Eureka marching band was always in the running to win in our division.  We would bounce around the top 3 or 4, finally did taking 1st place in 1994.  The competition was strong, which made the victory all the sweeter. 
I still love watching marching bands and I can still spot a great one.  When I see a band go by with students with their heads held high, shoulders back, serious faces looking straight ahead, and their lines forming perfect diagonals, it makes me a little bit teary eyed. 
Even 14 years out from that experience, I miss that feeling of being part of something great.  Maybe I miss it more than I should.  But, I suppose it is the same for the athlete who was part of a state championship team in high school. and holds onto that feeling of greatness.  The band was my team.
My friend's daughter was lamenting to me a couple weeks ago that our junior high is marching with the high school this year for Gypsy Day.  She was not excited about it.  I offered to take her place--we even both play the flute--and she thought that could work.  Somehow I don't think I would quite fit in anymore, or fit a uniform at this point!
If you make it to the parade tomorrow, or any parade this fall, look for the great bands and show them your appreciation as they pass by.  In addition to the qualities I listed above, there is one more that separates the great from the good.
Great band members sacrifice their shoes and march right through the horse poop. 
Every time.

Playing Catch Up

Ahh. . . . time to breathe a bit.  Life has been a little busier than normal with harvest going on and these other little extras. 

To add to it, yesterday we had some work done on our phone and TV.  I had a feeling that something would go wrong.  When the phone, TV, and Internet are involved, chances are next to 0 that everything will connect as it is supposed to.  I was right!  Our "old" router (really, I have socks older than that thing) wouldn't connect to the Internet, so I was Internet-less until just a few moments ago.  Determined to reconnect myself, I went through the new router's tutorial and I still can't believe it actually worked!  

That is a very good thing since between the Internet and the broken toilet handle that is waiting for the man of the house to fix, I was just about to get a wee bit crabby! 

Since I am not crabby anymore (for the moment), let's proceed with this catch-up post!

 Friday was Homecoming!  Nathan's class said "Wildcats are Grrreat!"  This was his first parade and he was loving it!

 Landen got to be a banner carrier with a couple other Toucan Sams for their Fruit Loops theme.

 We also got to spend some time with cousins Luke & Lydia.  Landen took every chance he could to help Lydia, so he could practice for the new baby.  He played with her, helped her, made her laugh, and even offered to feed her.  He definitely passed the "big brother" test and is ready to be promoted to big brother of 3 younger siblings.

Remember that box of pears I couldn't resist?  Well, after sharing several and baking a batch of pear muffins, I still had MORE than enough pears to eat before they got too ripe.  I decided to make a batch of pear sauce (instead of apple sauce) on Saturday morning.  Between my family's first taste for breakfast on Sunday and supper that night, it was GONE.  I can see another box of pears in my future . . . next fall.
It sounds like tomorrow will find me out of my usual post in the kitchen and out in the field!  More on that later . . . .

Tough is Life

When I was little, I could never remember which came first--"life" or "tough" in the saying "life is tough."  Consequently, I ended up saying "Tough is life" most of the time, which gave the adults around me a laugh.  I didn't understand why at the time. . . I thought I was just repeating what my own parents had told me!
It seems that I will have to use "Tough is Life" on Landen.  Boy, is his life tough lately!  When it comes to taking on new challenges, he struggles.  Most things come easily to him and that is just how he likes it, thank you very much! 
Second grade has already given him a few lessons in growing up.  School requires more personal responsibility and his CCD class at church is now more structured than when he was younger.
He was having a rough time on Wednesday after school.  The whole world was against him.  (Just ask him; he'll tell you.)
On the way home from CCD later that evening, he summed it up as only Landen can.  He told me he didn't like 2nd grade because now he had to do all of this extra work with "VERY LITTLE REWARD." 
Oh, Landen.  Welcome to life.
It can be tough that way.

Thankful

What I am thankful for today:
1.  Our phone lines have been reconnected after they were knocked out yesterday.  Depending only on my cell phone with questionable reception and no Internet makes me feel way too disconnected!
2.  For a happy baby on the ultrasound screen.  I wasn't expecting to see baby this morning, but Dr. wanted to take some measurements.  All looks good, but that ultrasound room still makes me nervous!  (Sorry . . . I didn't get any new pictures to share!)  :o)
3.  For the nice man at the grocery store who called me a "pregnant young lady."  That wouldn't be a compliment for everyone, but for a woman, who is in fact pregnant, has been married 10 years and is quickly approaching the age of 33, it definitely is.
4.  For the box of pears I just couldn't resist buying.  I do this every fall.  Do I have time to take on a box of pears right now?  Not really.  But, they just looked and smelled so good! 
5.  I was able to celebrate National Coffee Day with a Pumpkin Pie latte at The Daily Grind.  (That was only 1 shot of espresso instead of a double.) :o)
6.  Spending the afternoon with my nephew and niece and watching them play with my own kids.  It is so much fun to see cousins who love spending time together.  It reminds me of my cousins and me when we were growing up.
7.  Homecoming tomorrow!  Our candy stash was almost in need of replenishing.  (Not really.)  Time to start rationing those Tootsie Rolls again . . . .
8.  For beautiful fall days!  Soon I will be preparing to hibernate, but for now I am appreciating the warm sunny weather.  Let's get those fields harvested and safely in the grain bins!
9.  As always, BEDTIME!
I hope you had much to be grateful for today, too!
Sweet dreams!

Caffeine and Ibuprofen

I have missed these friends of mine during pregnancy! 
After this baby is born, I plan to drink caffeinated coffee until my heart is content.  I am fortunate that my doctor is quite liberal with the amount of caffeine she allows me to have, which is 2 caffeinated drinks a day.  This two coffee (my caffeine source of choice) minimum is not a hardship. That is probably what I usually have anyway, but it is the act of thinking about it and rationing my caffeine intake each day that I will not miss. To help keep the caffeine within the limit, I make half-caf or go decaf--if it's a good morning. :o)
I know some expectant moms quit the caffeine altogether.  That was not a problem for me in my first two pregnancies, but after my Nathan was born, my first thought of the day became, "Where's the coffee?"  Yes, I made it through all of college and three years of teaching before I fell in love with coffee in the morning.  My mom was afraid that I would NEVER turn into a coffee drinker! :o) 
And then there's good old ibuprofen.  We expectant moms are only allowed Tylenol for our aches and pains.  I am not a big fan.  Again, after I had Nathan, I took a bit too much over the course of two weeks for pain and ended up with what was most likely a stomach ulcer.  I don't plan on doing that again, but it will be nice to take something that actually works! 
Put the two--coffee and ibuprofen--together and that is most certainly a stomach ulcer waiting to happen! 
Hopefully I will be able to take it easy on the ibuprofen.
But, I am expecting to require more coffee.

From Landen

I recently told Landen that when he was still in my tummy, he once kicked a bowl of chips off of me when he kicked.  He asked me, "Are you sure it was me?"

I purchased my first Scentsy a few days ago and plugged it into a bathroom outlet.  Landen thinks it is a pretty neat invention.  He told his dad that if we have a boy, they will need one of those for their bedroom.  With three boys in one room, he is afraid it will start to stink in there!

As David said when he told me, you can't make this stuff up!

Plentiful Pumpkin

It's pumpkin time again and I just had to try out a couple new pumpkin recipes for the Open House on Sunday.  (Which, by the way, was SO much fun!)  My biggest experiment for the day was

Pumpkin Fudge.  Several of my guests gave the fudge rave reviews.

It really is pretty easy!  Here's all you need:

2 T butter

2 1/2 cups white sugar

2/3 cup evaporated milk

1 cup white chocolate chips

7 ounces marshmallow creme

3/4 cup canned pumpkin

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp vanilla extract

Line a 9x9 inch pan with heavy duty aluminum foil, spray lightly, and set aside.

In a 3 quart saucepan, heat milk and sugar over medium heat.  Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon. 

Mix in pumpkin and cinnamon; bring back to a boil.  Stir in marshmallow creme and butter.  Bring to a rolling boil.  Cook, stirring occasionally, for 18 minutes.

Remove from heat; add white chocolate chips and vanilla.  Stir until creamy and all chips are melted.  Pour into prepared pan.  Cool, remove from pan, and cut.  Store in a cool, dry place.

Another pumpkin success came in the form of

Mini Pumpkin Butterscotch Muffins. 

(Sorry, none of those were available for a photo.) :o)

Here's what you need for those:

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp ginger

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

2 eggs

1/2 cup melted butter

1 cup canned pumpkin

1 cup butterscotch chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease mini-muffin pan with cooking spray or use mini paper liners. 

Sift together flour, sugars, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in to a large bowl.  Whisk together the eggs, butter, and pumpkin in a separate bowl.  Mix the flour mixture with the egg mixture just until combined. 

Stir in the butterscotch chips; fill each cup to about 3/4 full. 
Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean--about 10-12 minutes.  This makes about 48 mini muffins.

No School Today!

Oh, what a mixed blessing that is! :o)
It is great to have a long weekend just a few weeks into the school year.  (Our teachers have an in-service today.)  What makes it even better is that it is a beautiful fall day (yes, it is officially fall now)!
Teresa loves having her brothers home with her and isn't constantly calling "MOM!" to make sure I haven't abandoned her and become an over-the-road truck driver.  Lucky for her, I don't have a commercial drivers' license.
So, for the moment life is good.  Landen is working outside and Nathan and Teresa are playing nicely downstairs.  I hear things hitting the wall once in awhile, but no screaming follows, so I consider that playing nicely.  That could change at any moment . . . .
I have been preparing for the Open House on Sunday.  The wine list is complete and I am excited for the menu . . . it is composed of all new recipes!  I try new recipes all of the time for parties and other events.  Just the thought of trying a new recipe and offering it at an event scares some of my friends to death, but it's always worked for me!  Why not this time?  I am most excited to make and try the Pumpkin Fudge.  I'll keep you posted on that!
Here's wishing you a beautiful (and peaceful if your children are at home) fall day!

Applesauce

September 21 must be a good day to make Crock Pot Applesauce!  I see I posted the recipe exactly a year ago.  I put our first batch for the fall in the crock pot this morning. 
I love it when the days turn cooler and it is time for warm comfort foods again!
Here it is in case you missed it--Crock Pot Applesauce.
Enjoy! 

I Believe . . .

in pregnancy brain! 
While visiting Registered Nurse extraordinaire Rachel last week, I referred to my "pregnancy brain." 
She told me some very good news.  It is REAL!
I have always believed it is real, since no other time in my life can I begin speaking a sentence and then completely lose the end of it somewhere in space.  I may forget things and be a little preoccupied sometimes normally, but this particular problem happens only when I am pregnant.
I thought the reasons were purely psychological--caused by being tired, preoccupied with the baby's health and preparing for baby, taking care of older children, etc.
It turns out there is also a physical reason for this. 
As Rachel explained it, the baby needs fat to grow and develop.  Some of this fat is taken from the mother's brain as baby grows.  I was so excited to tell David this news!
Now I also have another good reason to eat more ice cream. :o)

From Today's 1st Reading

Today's 1st Reading really spoke to me.  I could do better in pursuing all of these things today . . . especially the patience part! :o)

". . . Pursue RIGHTEOUSNESS, DEVOTION, FAITH, LOVE, PATIENCE, and GENTLENESS.  Compete well for the faith.  Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called . . . ."
1 Timothy 6 11-12

No Sack Lunch For You!

There are all sorts of things that demand parents' attention once school starts--the homework folders, the library books, the extra projects, studying for tests, remembering money for class parties (still haven't gotten to that one!), and the list goes on and on and on.  Some nights I am so proud of myself for remembering to unpack, have my boys complete, and repack everything, I think I deserve a cookie. 
So I have one.  Oatmeal Chocolate Chip.  OK, maybe two . . . .
One thing I never pay attention to, however, is the lunch menu.  Landen used to ask when he would get to take a sack lunch to school.  He even started to claim to have allergies (as if his own mother wouldn't know) so he could get his own lunch.  He could not believe that I would question something as serious as a food allergy!  Nathan has already pleaded for a sack lunch this year, too.  It's not that they don't like the lunches offered at school.  (Well, maybe our pickier Nathan doesn't care for some of them.)  There is just something so exciting about taking their lunches to school!
I remember asking my parents for the same thing.  So does David.  We both got the same answer from them, "There is always SOMETHING you can eat at school." 
School lunches have a bad reputation, but I have eaten a few of ours and they are quite good.  There is no way I could pack a nutritious lunch for less money than for what we pay through the school's program.  Besides that, I really don't want to!
Oh, poor offspring of ours!  I am sorry to tell you this, but as long as there is a hot lunch program, you have no hope of taking a sack lunch to school. 
Blame it on your grandparents. :o)