Merry Christmas!

Christmas time is here again! Our tree , lights, stockings and garland are up. A Christmas Story village and a plethora of Christmas knickknacks are out. And the joy of all of my THINGS being out has already come and gone. Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas. Love it. In fact, my birthday is tomorrow. The wonderful memories I have of everyone being in a happy, friendly, charitable frame of mind all around my birthday are some I will never forget. But now, as a parent, it all falls a little flat. I desperately want my children to know WHY we celebrate Christmas. And they do. They know and will quote that "Christmas is about giving not getting." They only ask for 3 things to represent the three gifts given by the magi. They know inside and out that Christmas is about Jesus. And Milo no longer believes in Santa. A tradition that I never wanted to start but followed my husbands lead into. I was so relieved when Milo told me. Poor boy was afraid he wouldn't get any presents if we knew he didn't believe in Santa. But he told us anyway "because it was right." So, why am I so unsettled?
Then a thread came up on cmomb.com last week asking why some Christians don't celebrate Christmas at all. And for privacy reasons I won't go into detail but the whole discussion really pushed me over the edge. So, I don't know how much the appearance of my house will change at Christmas time but my heart is certainly changed. Worshipping God in the way He instructs us through His Word should be our only guide. I am now studying what that means. And I do it with JOY.

May your hearts be lifted in praise this Christmas for the wonderful gift of Jesus and all the joy He brings to our lives.
Have a wonder filled Christmas and a
Blessed New Year!

The Bennetts

Oh and...

Last night Matthew and the boys did this puzzle. "I want to go to there." ;)

Meet the teacher day!

My boys are nervous. And I'm anxious. Not about meeting the teacher but this whole new thing we're jumping into. I'm nervous about being away from my kids for almost 6 hours everyday. Everyone is telling me I'm going to have so much free time to do things with the little boys. And I do want that. That sounds like a great thing. But do my big boys have to be schooled elsewhere for half the day in order for that to happen? So I'll pick them up at 2:15 and then I get to hang out with them for just a little while before the evening rush. And bedtime will be earlier, too. So, I'm nervous. I know it's going to be good for us to have some time apart, right? Right?

Jack's Pond with new friends

This morning we met up with some new friends at one of our favorite parks. Lael and I have only met once before and are still just getting to know each other but over the last 2 weeks we've been texting everyday. I really love her obvious heart for the Lord and how attentively and gently she mothers their son. I barely remember a time when I could be right with Milo every step, before Autry was born. Watching her reminded me of that and I hadn't even realized how my parenting style has transformed over time. I'm so much calmer, more at ease and better able to enjoy each of them than I was when the big boys were tiny. But now I wonder how much I might be missing when I give them more freedom to roam and explore without me shadowing their every step. I'll be praying about how to regain that intensity while maintaining my new calm. I don't know if it's possible. But quitting IG and FB last week has definitely been so freeing that I will not be going back. Maybe just to print photos from IG but seriously, that's it. Anyway, we had a wonderful morning.

School is approaching

Long time no see! Well, since last time, the boys have grown by leaps and bounds, Matthew built a massive treehouse in the backyard, Declan is already standing up on his own and will take a single step before falling down, we've added 6 hens to our homestead and we've decided to give school a try for this coming year. Milo and Autry got into the Montessori Learning Center at our charter school and we're going to see how it goes. I'll be homeschooling Fin with Rod & Staff this year and I just signed up the 3 oldest for Awana. I'm so excited for them and I get to serve as a Cubbies leader. It's going to be an exciting year but good grief all this back to school shopping is expensive and stressful. I've personally decided to quit Facebook and Instagram which has been so freeing.

Long time no see

I swear, I didn't die. My life seems to be on fast forward. Autry just turned 6 two days ago! It got my mind spinning. I can't believe he's 6! And Milo is almost 8! And my 10 year reunion is this September. I wonder if I'll be the one with the most kids? I now have been married 10 yrs and and have four boys. How have I been so blessed?

New soaps and praise

"Hi Holly,
Wonderful to see you and the boys today. My hands smell AWESOME! BUT MOST OF ALL THEY SMELL CLEAN. I love it! I have tried the homemade soaps before and there just isn’t that clean smelling smell and feel you are incredible!!! " - Lisa
I am so humbled by this generous compliment sent to me via email today. I have two new batches of soap ready for sale on my etsy shop as of right now. I really enjoy making soap and am very excited about my new Chamomile Lavender Goat Milk soap. I hope you'll all check out my shop and enjoy the fruit of my hands. Link to my shop is to your left. 

Sorry it's been so long

So I now have my Etsy shop up and running and have been receiving a few orders which is very exciting! The last two weeks has been pretty challenging though.
The boys all got sick one by one and it was pretty miserable. But then Declan caught it, which worried me because I don't remember any of the other boys getting so sick this young. And sure enough, he developed bronchiolitis.  So he's been on a nebulizer treatment every 4 hours and oral steroids twice a day since Monday. He and I haven't gotten much sleep at all. But the wheezing is gone and he's back to his joyful self so, we just keep on keeping on. 

Lavish Love Handmade

My shop is now legit! I am so excited to start posting more listings in the shop. More batches of soap are in the works, I'm knitting a Ruffled Baby Afghan and I just need to buy minky to back my baby quilts before they go up. But I do have a few Fun items ready to ship that I'll hopefully have time to post today. You can click the link at the top of the page to your left or copy and paste:
lavishlovehandmade.etsy.com

Have a great Sunday everyone!

Finlay!!

So my 3rd born baby is 3 now! I can't believe it. He's growing so fast! Yesterday, 3yrs ago, Finlay Costello brought new joy into our lives and it's has been amazing watching him grow and develop his own personality and carve out his place amongst his brothers. We are so in love with him and every day with this precious boy is a treat. We woke up a little early and Fin went out with Daddy for some one on one time. I know they went to Starbucks and a hardware store and walmart to pick up a few things. When they got back we feasted on doughnuts and he got to open and play with his gifts from us. Then Matthew took Milo, Autry & Fin out to ride bikes while Declan took a nap and I cleaned up the aftermath. Then my parents came up and we went out to eat supper at SmashBurger per Fin's request before heading back home for carrot cake and presents from Nana & Papa and Bama & Papa Mike. It was a wonderful day and we thank God for blessing us with our precious boy, Finlay Costello.

A little this, a little that

I love food. I really do. And that's what got me into this mess. This weight plateau, that is. But now, food is getting me out of this mess. I have been eating following the paleo plan and I've lost 5 lbs in the last 6 days!!! The food is delicious and I feel awesome. And the kids like it too. I will still be buying the bread, crackers, milk, cheese, yogurt etc for everyone else as long as they still want it. But all of our meals have been paleo recipes this week. Anyway, I'll keep you posted on the progress there.
Second semester is back with a vengeance and it is definitely trickier now that Declan is awake more often. But the boys are doing great. We seem to have hit our stride and they each know what comes next and how to do what they can on their own.
Milo had is Brain Highways assessment last week and "passed with flying colors," so to speak. Our little champion will be starting the program this summer. :)
And while my etsy shop is up and running, ( http:/www.etsy.com/shop/lavishlovehandmade ) my husband hasn't had time to design my logo, tags, business cards or etsy shop banner yet. Boo... Soon enough.
So, now, I'm off to mop my floors before my husband gets home. G'night!

Ugh!

Why am I so tired???? Enter Exhibits A,B,C&D
They're so worth it!

Dentist day

Hooray! All three big boys are cavity, or "sugar bug", free! Whew! I get real paranoid every six months, lol. This was Finlay's first ever visit and he did great! I was so proud of all my boys. Milo just needs sealant on his new molars. The only bad news... Autry needs all four bottom front teeth pulled to make room for the two adult teeth trying to come in. I'm so sad for him. Apparently, he's got my hair pin narrow jaw and the adult teeth are twisted, angled like the point of an arrow trying to fit in that tiny space. Poor kid. It looks as though he's going to be our dental problem child. Structurally/ health-wise perfect teeth; cosmetically... not so much.
They were rewarded with balloons and kids dental kits and they were all plenty happy with that. Then we went to Old Poway Park with Matthew's parents, who are here from Indiana. Everyone had a fantastic time running around, playing on the playground and playing a progressively trickier game of Steal the Bacon. :o)

Paleo

So I believe in a young earth and that we're not evolved from cavemen, however, the Paleo Diet makes so much sense to me. Now I will never be 100% (or even 80% probably) paleo because I simply love cheese and bread and such. But if I could reach that 80% paleo mark I know I would be so much healthier( and lighter.)
What is this Paleo Diet, you ask?
Well, it follows the idea that our bodies are designed to digest and make the best use of fruit, vegetables and meat. And that dairy and grains were not part of our original diets because they require the well thought out process of purposeful agriculture. Now, to be clear, I know that God created us with fully functioning brains and we're not evolved creatures as described above BUT I also know that my dependence on dairy and grains for snacking and other favorite but not healthy recipes are keeping me fat despite my best workout efforts. So, this is where I'm at.
Check it out for yourself.
www.paleodiet.com
www.paleoplan.com

Glub glub glub...

Gosh it's hard to pump enough to set aside milk for Declan for tomorrow night when the little goober wants to nurse all the time. We're taking Milo to a Brain Highways assessment and then out to dinner, just the three of us. That hasn't happened since before Autry was born. I think we're all pretty stoked at the idea. I am hoping to have a little time to make some travel sized samples to take to church in the morning to show Rachel from the Bookshop. I approached her about them carrying my Lavish Love Handmade products and she sounds interested. She already has my product list and I need to bring her the samples so that she can, of course, decide if they're up to snuff. I've decided on labels and just need to order those and get my sweet Husband to do my business cards and I'll be ready to go.
I plan to create a page here with a link to my etsy page in the next day or so.
:)

Lavish Love Handmade

Well, Ladies and Gentlemen, it's the beginning of a new chapter in my life. I have come to accept not so easily,yet, but with peace in my heart that our little Declan will be my last baby. I will never be pregnant again. Gah! That's sad... It catches in my throat if I say it out loud. But somehow it's ok. These boys that I have been blessed with are amazing and fantastic and healthy and on and on I go... I am truly blessed. Praise God in the highest!
With that said, I am starting a new business! I have begun making bath products and will have my etsy shop up and running soon. My line is called, you guessed it, Lavish Love Handmade. Here are a few samples of what I'm offering... Vanilla Java Soap, Lemon Tart Hand Scrub and Peppermint Tea Bath Salts.