Hello...............

You have reached the office of Supreme Awesomeness.................

so I am just a little nearsighted {I think??? is that the right one??} anywho, I have glasses. But I never were said glasses. Unless I have done something stupid, like getting sucked into facebook for hours, then my eyes get all stressed out and I must find my glasses.

So, I go on a treasure hunt in the bottom of my purse to find my missing glasses. Upon finding them I pop them on my face with out a thought of dirt or smears...........

Well, My sons were completely amused!

Rak alert............. Devo's Mommy is having a RAK! Go and get the deets!!

update

I have been working on a bunch of new things, but can't post any yet... Oh and I won the posh blog candy {below} woohooo, I can't wait for my scrappy mail to get here!

also, I started a flickr www.flickr.com/photos/teresamatz/ check it out. It's mostly my art, but I also have folder for photography.

And, here is Savannah's sweet new smile. She lost her first 2 baby teeth, in just 2 days

The Great tree hunt, 2008

So this is the 1st year we have ever had a real Christmas tree. A friend from Church led us up the side of Mt Sanger, 6500 ft to find a Noble Fir. Its an 11 mile drive that takes over an hour. It was freezing when we left our house at 8am, but at the top of the mountain above the fog and in the bright sun it was warm and beautiful!

about half way up we stopped on a ridge to look down into our valley. It's hard to see in the pics, but the wall of fog makes a really dramatic drop into the valley {were the shadow is on the fog}

Unfortunately, my camera batteries died after taking the pics above.... so I don't have any pics of us looking for or finding the tree. But we had a blast hiking all over the side of the mountain looking for the "perfect" tree! back at home, out 10 foot tree had to be trimmed to 6 1/2 feet to fit in the house with a stand and starThe kiddos did all the decorating notice the bundles under the tree? Right after decorating the tree, all the kids wrapped presents for each other and us from there rooms. The gifts are wrapped in blankets, scarfs and colorings......... the season of giving :)

Autumn Afternoon

This Past weekend we took the kids on a day trip to the Oregon Caves. We had such a blast, even got a ranger to give us a mini cave tour with out having to pay for the full one. And, of course, I brought along my camera! Just couldn't pass up the chance to take some beautiful Fall pictures

{you can click on the pics to make them bigger}

life gets in the way

wow, I can't believe how long its been since I sat down and blogged! Life just seems to get in the way some times! Right after my last entry we found a new home to move into....... and I had two weeks to pack the whole house. It was totally a gift from God! We went from 7 people in 1000 sq feet and two bedrooms to 3000 sq feet 6 bedrooms {and a schoolroom, 2nd family room, and a great-room.....} We had some amazing help getting moved, and got most of it done in one day and were sleeping in our new rooms on the first night. One of the only things that wasn't moved that day was our phone service, so our phones and pc stayed behind. Um.......BIG mistake! Although we live in the middle of no where, down a long dirt road, in a valley not visible from any other road........... someone who knew we were moving came and stole all our computer equipment and our electric piano. I am mostly sad about the 6 years of pictures that I had on the hard drive, UGH!!!
Well, we are much happier in all this space. I was even able to paint {with hubby's help!} before we moved in , and I LOVE the new colors. I can't wait to finish painting the hallway and maybe my bedroom. Right after we moved in my parents came and stayed for a few days so Bubba and I could go up north to a conference. The conference was so-so, but the time away was nice. And, after driving around lost for about an hour...we got to visit with my best friend and her family for a while.
Things are slowly getting back to normal. I am behind on getting my design team stuff done. But my new craft-room is currently storing all the un-opened boxes, so I need to dig out my scrappy stuff.

changing Seasons

I just spent all day washing every piece of clothing my 5 kids own...... that's a lot of loads! We dumped out drawers, folded, sorted, packed away for winter and passed down sizes. I still need to get all of the boxed up winter clothes out of storage, but maybe later this week. I always dread this chore, but it feels so good when its all done, the drawers all neat and the hampers are empty {well for a few minutes anyways} The kids are so funny when its time to pass down clothes. The kid growing out of the item, is sad because they are all their favorites, and the new owner is so overjoyed to get their older siblings greatest treasure. Funny, isn't..... How kids don't make fun of hand me downs. My kids Love it, they also love finding one of a kind treasures at second hand shops

Hair Cuts

My Daughters and I decided to get some new hair cuts. The youngest {third pic} got her 1st ever hair cut and gave a huge pony tail to Locks of Love

*WARNGING*

This Horrible picture of me will self-destruct in 5...4....3.......{I wish}

wowsers, has it been that long?

I can't believe how long I have gone with out blogging!

Life has been crazy busy this month. funny you would think that with my kiddos visiting grandma's house I would have nothing to do. Well, um no! With no kiddos, we have been doing more than normal, because we can....

I think we will be slowing down now though........ My hubby fracture his foot. Maybe God is telling us that we are doing way too much?

Mayberry???

Okay, so the other day we had the funniest experience....

went to the local gas station to fill up {in Oregon you can't fill your own tank, the attendant must do it for you}

So guess who our attendant was?? Our Mayor?!?! Now that is small town! It's like walking through a time warp

tag your it..........

I was tagged by Christy http://scrapsofme.wordpress.com/
Here are the rules:
1) Link to the person who tagged
2) Post the rules on your blog (this is what you are now reading)
3) Write 6 random things about yourself (see below)
4) Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them
5) Let each person know they have been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
6) Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

6 Random Things About Me:
1. I want more kids
2. I want more tattoos. Hopefully one for my kiddos soon
3. I'm older than my Hubby {cradle robber}
4. I HATE coffee
5. My fave place to eat is chipotle
6. I miss my best friend
And I tag:

Tessa
Colleen
Ellen
Jennifer
my sisters blog Shawna
Chelle

just an entry

I just got back from watering my garden. Something about walking around in there just makes me happy. I love checking over the plants to discover new things growing or to check and see if anything is ready to be picked. It also makes me happy to see how excited my kiddos get over being the one to discover ripened tomatoes or new "baby" veggies. Just today we discovered 3 fuzzy little melons growing, gobbled up a few ripe cherry tomatoes, picked three pickle cucumbers, found a yellow squash ready to be picked for dinner and noted that all of the bell pepper plants now have tiny fruits growing on them. Our bunny rabbits were happy to gobble down all the lettuce plants that have overgrown and gotten to bitter to eat. This garden has been such a blessing and a great learning experience!

MMmmmm, Salad

Just had to post a pic of some yumminess from the garden. I can't believe how easy it is to get kids to eat veggies when they help grow them! Even my self professed carnivore is telling people that he likes veggies now!!! Music to my heart

squash alert

We have tons of giant squash plants in the garden, and I have been waiting and waiting for some edible goodness to grow on them...........

woohooo, the wait is over! The squash are finally maturing.

these are the first, but there are lots more on the way {maybe more than we can eat...} These 3 made it into a pot of homemade marinara this evening, yummo

lunch today

oh, how yummy it is to have a green salad right from the garden on a hot day! Our garden is just over flowing with lettuce, and is it yummy!

Okay, I can't stand those squishy, mushy tasteless green things that come in cans or in freezer bags.......... but WOW, fresh peas straight from the vine.... OMGosh so good!

{went great in that salad!}

Oh MY

How can flour, yeast, salt and water taste so good?

I made this yummy "no knead" bread for bible study this morning, and there wasn't a crumb left~~

No-Knead Bread
Yields one 1 1/2 pound loaf

3 cups all-purpose or bread flour, more for dusting
¼ teaspoon instant yeast
1¼ teaspoons salt
Cornmeal or wheat bran as needed.

1. In a large bowl combine flour, yeast and salt. Add 1 5/8 cups water, and stir until blended; dough will be shaggy and sticky. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rest at least 12 hours, preferably about 18, at warm room temperature, about 70 degrees.

2. Dough is ready when its surface is dotted with bubbles. Lightly flour a work surface and place dough on it; sprinkle it with a little more flour and fold it over on itself once or twice. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest about 15 minutes.

3. Using just enough flour to keep dough from sticking to work surface or to your fingers, gently and quickly shape dough into a ball. Generously coat a cotton towel (not terry cloth) with flour, wheat bran or cornmeal; put dough seam side down on towel and dust with more flour, bran or cornmeal. Cover with another cotton towel and let rise for about 2 hours. When it is ready, dough will be more than double in size and will not readily spring back when poked with a finger.

4. At least a half-hour before dough is ready, heat oven to 450 degrees. Put a 6- to 8-quart heavy covered pot (cast iron, enamel, Pyrex or ceramic) in oven as it heats. When dough is ready, carefully remove pot from oven. Slide your hand under towel and turn dough over into pot, seam side up; it may look like a mess, but that is O.K. Shake pan once or twice if dough is unevenly distributed; it will straighten out as it bakes. Cover with lid and bake 30 minutes, then remove lid and bake another 15 to 30 minutes, until loaf is beautifully browned. Cool on a rack.

garden goodness

okay, so its only two yellow cherry tomatoes..... but they are the first tomatoes to ripen, and oh were they good!!!!

the kids are loving going to the garden every morning to pick fresh pea, both pod peas and snap peas

My Beloved

I just wanted to say I love you Darlin!

{he wrote I ♥ you with a sparkler, and I got the ♥ on film}

Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule
For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd.
If Scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.
And anytime my head
I bow Becomes a Federal matter now.
Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.
The law is specific, the law is precise.
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.
For praying in a public hall
Might offend someone with no faith at all
In silence alone we must meditate,
God's name is prohibited by the state.
We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks.
They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.
We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.
It's 'inappropriate' to teach right from wrong,
We're taught that such 'judgments' do not belong.
We can get our condoms and birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles
But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
No word of God must reach this crowd.
It's scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns the school's a mess.
So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot; My soul please take!Amen !
If you aren't ashamed to do this,
please pass this on.
Jesus! said, ' If you are ashamed of me,'
I will be ashamedof you before my Father.
'Not ashamed.

lifes just a bowl full of cherries

Or, atleast a teacup full.....

the cherry trees have started to fill up with yumminess!

Hopefully we can get our fill of them before the birds do

first fruits

okay, this may look like a ordinary plate of lettuce
and a normal, everyday, super yummy club sandwich......

but........

what they really are, is the first offerings from my garden!

woohooo, so excited!

more mouths to feed

Gabby
Fluffy

Mia

Our family has grown, again