Every fall for at least 3 years, I have gotten the intense urge to de-junk, reorganize, siffer through "stuff"...and this fall (though a tad early) is no different except that this year, the kids are here instead of with mom (which makes it slow-going).
I began this yesterday, and worked for almost 7 hours "reorganizing." We went to bed afterwards with stuff piled in both mine and Shawn's bedroom and in Grace's room. You know...it gets worse before it gets better.
I used to think our 1800 sq foot home was so small that we should move to have more places for our stuff, but then we started house-shopping. I saw houses the same size as ours (but on a little 1/4 acre lot and definitely older) for the same price as ours. Umm, no thanks. I also saw big houses that were definitely NOT the same price as ours. Umm, no thanks. I told Shawn I really didn't want to go back to work to afford a lifestyle and meant it with all I have. We decided to stay put. Then, separately, I decided things had to change. Not that I had ever let it go completely by any stretch. It's just that as my kids get older, they get more stuff too, even their clothes take up more space because they're bigger. Who would have thought? :)
I'll probably never be a minimalist (that would be too cool), but I had a grandmother who was (because back then, it never registered to her to do anything different). She was also enviro-conscious. She didn't do it to be cool, or to prove any political points. She did it because it was (and still is) common sense to save and reuse because it makes for less waste, thus less trash bags, thus less money out of her own pocket, as well as less "junk" to deal with and handle in the long run.
SO, LEST I LOSE MY FOCUS... (I've broken up near-bloody Easter egg fights twice during this quick post)...I find it a fun challenge to siffer through then keep the things we use and appreciate. I won't discuss the whole 'I-begged-for-an-attic-but-our-builder-did-what-he-wanted-schpeel'. I sure would love a place to stash my Christmas tree and decorations. And Shawn's granddad's flag from the navy, and other things that I don't get rid of in the dejunking process. Oops, I gave my word. I won't discuss the missing attic.
I have to go. Grace has asked me to put a 3D puzzle together with her. Umm, yes! This is her last year before kindergarten. I hope and pray we use the time well. I just wish this ear-piercing screaming would stop. Sibling rivalry stinks. BAD. Why can't they just play and be happy? It would make it a lot more fun for me too!!!
Anyway, it's been a fun half hour. My blog is my therapy. Easter eggs (found in the dejunking process) are strewn everywhere. I'm going to make a game of it and remember a quick MOPS message I read this morning: "roll with the punches." I will feel SO much better and will be able to think more clearly when I am finished with this process. And AFTER I FORCE myself to "roll with it"...the eggs are going up (but not in an attic) until April. Period.
PS I bribed with "whoever gets the most eggs gets to pick the next activity"...and guess what was chosen? Moon dough. Any of you with little kids understand. I need not say more.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Grace's first sleepover
Grace has a friend over tonight. Some tidbits that I want to share while we wait to go outside.
Grace: "Lily, you can wear the pink dress bc pink's your favorite color. I'll be queen. You be princess. There will be no princes."
Lily @ the prince comment: "yuCK" with a disgusted emphasis on the last part of the word.
Noah: "I'll be prince."
LOL
And next...before they put makeup on each other. Grace came down the hall and this is what she said, "Mom, Lily wants to know if she can have your real credit card for juuuuuuuust a minute."
Huhlarious. They have changed clothes 4 times already and we've just been home a little over an hour! These little girls are so cute.
Matching pjs!
Now it's the next day and I can say, Grace's first experience of having a friend spend the night went well! No big problems at all. Just lots of giggling :).
Grace: "Lily, you can wear the pink dress bc pink's your favorite color. I'll be queen. You be princess. There will be no princes."
Lily @ the prince comment: "yuCK" with a disgusted emphasis on the last part of the word.
Noah: "I'll be prince."
LOL
And next...before they put makeup on each other. Grace came down the hall and this is what she said, "Mom, Lily wants to know if she can have your real credit card for juuuuuuuust a minute."
Huhlarious. They have changed clothes 4 times already and we've just been home a little over an hour! These little girls are so cute.
Matching pjs!
Now it's the next day and I can say, Grace's first experience of having a friend spend the night went well! No big problems at all. Just lots of giggling :).
Monday, August 15, 2011
Parenting
Today is one of those days I ask myself if it would be better for the kids if I just went back to work already. They wouldn't fight as much (since they would be in separate rooms at preschool/daycare). I would have more patience for them (since I wouldn't be with them so many hours of the day). Ahhh!!! See, I have failed yet again at disciplining 101. Or whatever it is. I feel like it's graduate level discipline but the kids are just 2 and 4! Sigh :o. I woke up happy as a lark and ready to love and care for my family. Hot breakfast by 7:10. Check. It began to spiral from there but I kept trying. The kids sat on stools near me as I played hymns on the piano. I planned a picnic lunch on the deck. I even prayed in the middle of a tantrum (the 4th BIG and I mean big-defiant-blowup for the day). I seriously tried. I failed. It stinks. It stinks not just because I wanted an easier day but because I wanted a day that glorifies God. Have I mentioned I hate satan?
I asked God for some scripture because today has D.R.A.I.N.E.D. me. You know when you can't discern His voice because while you're praying, the kids are throwing fits (okay, just the girl child) and when you open your eyes, the fit intensifies. After I prayed, this is what came to my memory. It's from the book of Isaiah, but it came to me in the way of a song I sang at church as a kid.
There will be peace like a river, peace like a river, peace like a river in my soul.
-excerpt from Isaiah 47:17-18
I learned recently that the Bible says whatever we ask, if it's in the will of God, HE will do. So, I ask for peace. Not just inside me in my quiet moments but more than that...I need it when dealing with my kids IN THE MOMENT. Rivers flow. They twist. They turn. Yet Isaiah equates peace to a river. I guess that means we are to experience peace no matter how many twists and turns life takes...constant flowing peace.... I JUST read about 5 different scriptures in Isaiah about peace. God says we can have peace and that He will not take it from us. It is a gift that Christians have because Jesus Christ suffered on a cross to give it to us. It doesn't mean always leading a peaceful life. It means having peace in our lives. Oh, do I ever need it now. And do my kids ever deserve it. And I need forgiveness too. First I must forgive myself :( which is the hard part. And I must re-enroll in that course on discipline that I obviously missed along the way!
So frustrated.
The end.
PS This is a picture of the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized.
I asked God for some scripture because today has D.R.A.I.N.E.D. me. You know when you can't discern His voice because while you're praying, the kids are throwing fits (okay, just the girl child) and when you open your eyes, the fit intensifies. After I prayed, this is what came to my memory. It's from the book of Isaiah, but it came to me in the way of a song I sang at church as a kid.
There will be peace like a river, peace like a river, peace like a river in my soul.
-excerpt from Isaiah 47:17-18
I learned recently that the Bible says whatever we ask, if it's in the will of God, HE will do. So, I ask for peace. Not just inside me in my quiet moments but more than that...I need it when dealing with my kids IN THE MOMENT. Rivers flow. They twist. They turn. Yet Isaiah equates peace to a river. I guess that means we are to experience peace no matter how many twists and turns life takes...constant flowing peace.... I JUST read about 5 different scriptures in Isaiah about peace. God says we can have peace and that He will not take it from us. It is a gift that Christians have because Jesus Christ suffered on a cross to give it to us. It doesn't mean always leading a peaceful life. It means having peace in our lives. Oh, do I ever need it now. And do my kids ever deserve it. And I need forgiveness too. First I must forgive myself :( which is the hard part. And I must re-enroll in that course on discipline that I obviously missed along the way!
So frustrated.
The end.
PS This is a picture of the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Labor of Love
Shawn's birthday was this week, so the kids and I made a red velvet cake to celebrate. (The recipe was from Bakerella's Blog and I have to say...the best cake I have ever made. I will be going back to her blog).
Looks like paint! TWO bottles of red food coloring...thankful none of us have red dye allergies!
No, you can't cut into the screen (I'm a wee bit proud of it hmm?)
A way to my man's heart is definitely without a single doubt...through his stomach. Slice number one was served to him and you would have thought he was king. (I can't over-estimate the way his heart and stomach are connected).
I can say with all honesty that Grace did a whole lot of the work on this cake, even the blending. I measured; she poured. She mixed, stirred, blended to her little heart's content. She has culinary genes :) (Shawn's grandpa was a chef on General MacArthur's Navy ship and Shawn's mom is an excellent cook who passes up Paula Deen by a small margin). I mixed the icing because at that point, said sous-chef was napping. Noah John helped dump a bottle of food color in ("WOOK at that!")
He also asserted himself enough to get an occasional stir in...BUUUUT mostly Grace had it all under control.
In case you're wondering, we only bake in swimsuits and rubber-boots in the summer. The cleanup after is a dip in the kiddy pool ;) lol.
Happy end-of-summer ya'll. Praying for a mild fall. Join us.
Looks like paint! TWO bottles of red food coloring...thankful none of us have red dye allergies!
No, you can't cut into the screen (I'm a wee bit proud of it hmm?)
A way to my man's heart is definitely without a single doubt...through his stomach. Slice number one was served to him and you would have thought he was king. (I can't over-estimate the way his heart and stomach are connected).
I can say with all honesty that Grace did a whole lot of the work on this cake, even the blending. I measured; she poured. She mixed, stirred, blended to her little heart's content. She has culinary genes :) (Shawn's grandpa was a chef on General MacArthur's Navy ship and Shawn's mom is an excellent cook who passes up Paula Deen by a small margin). I mixed the icing because at that point, said sous-chef was napping. Noah John helped dump a bottle of food color in ("WOOK at that!")
He also asserted himself enough to get an occasional stir in...BUUUUT mostly Grace had it all under control.
In case you're wondering, we only bake in swimsuits and rubber-boots in the summer. The cleanup after is a dip in the kiddy pool ;) lol.
Happy end-of-summer ya'll. Praying for a mild fall. Join us.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Big shades and bigger hat....
Today is one of those days. One of those days I'm counting my blessings. Living out loud. Being myself. Headed out to a trunk show in super big shades and a big fat hat. I am turning into my mother, moment by moment. After nearly 35 years, heaven knows I've figured out she's not such a bad role model after all (or fashionista either). And to think...I cried when she wore hats to church when I was a kid. So far, Grace is more of a self-expressed fashion gal than her middle of the road, play-it-safe mom. I don't think she'll bat an eye at my get-up today. Fact of the matter is, it's that or we don't leave the house today. The trunk show we're going to is Matilda Jane Clothing. This is the piece Miss Grace will have...her first MJ piece. VERY pricy. Thanks Nonna :) for this early FIFTH birthday present.
Next week, my friend is having another trunk show. I'll have to scrape up some change to pay for these to go with the dress. Hey. She only turns 5 once!
I'm really looking forward to grabbing my new camera and snapping some shots of Grace in her new outfit this fall. I think I'm going to try to do her 5 year pictures to off-set some costs (like redecorating) this fall. Hopefully that will make me get my tail in gear and learn how to put my Nikon to use. I have done nothing but point and shoot so far when the camera is honestly capable of professional quality. I will definitely try to get a couple uploaded for you readers :). I have some ideas in mind for the field behind our house.
This morning, Grace asked if I would fix sausage and gran's biscuits for breakfast. The kids are crazy about those biscuits. I am crazy about the fact that they are so simple (3 ingredients: sr flour, mayonaisse, milk) and the fact that each time I make them, I think of how simple yet respectable gran was. She thought fanfare was for show-offs. Gran was so rich in character. This fact makes me scratch my head at splurging on the dress above. Gran would really disapprove of such frivolous nonsense! I never splurge without thinking of gran's disapproval. EV-ER. I guess when you have lived through the Great Depression, you learn a lot about necessity versus nonsense.
Speaking of gran's biscuits brings us to the topic of food...I'm fixing chicken pot pie tonight or tomorrow. I have to figure out a way to get more vegetables into my boy child. It will be loaded with celery, carrots, squash, and zucchini. Operation Child will be hungry enough to try anything. Underway today. I'm going to try a new recipe since I have misplaced my mom's. I really like allrecipes.com. Any recipe website that shows reader rating gets thumbs-up from me.
As I sit here typing, Noah John is about a foot away from me, looking up at the tv with big, clear blue eyes and a thumb in his mouth. The tv is a treat that Noah particuarly likes. I'm going to post a clip of the Chuggington theme song on another post. It's 2 minutes long :) if you want to watch and learn, chuggers! (It's his favorite!) He is such a precious kid. I completely and totally adore his personality. He is a clown, loves to laugh big loud laughs, loves to make others laugh by making faces, & loves to dance with his big sister. He knows some colors and can say part of the alphabet (he smiles, cuts his eyes at us, and stops for applause after maybe 10 letters). He runs and jumps all the time, except when he is sleeping. He is an accident waiting to happen, which I've said here many times before. I relish all prayers that he will be safe and unharmed. He goes 90 to nothing, climbs everything, and falls and bumps his head a lot. His favorite foods are bananas, tomatoes, peaches, pretzels, and any manner of junk food he can get his hands on...sigh. BUT alas! I am the vegetable-hider-extraordinaire! Soon (hopefully) he will be eating more veggies. Plus he's a farmer's kid...how can he not?
Few people know that Shawn and I have contemplated moving to town for about 2 years. I have been hesitant to the whole time...& I think I have convinced him that we don't need to move right now. Frankly, Shawn is tired of driving to town and he would upsize to a little bigger house on less ground, while I like being close and cozy and away from the hub of town. In my opinion, we need to redecorate and reorganize (and do some minor remodeling). I'm kind of fascinated by the challenge! The upside is we built the house 8 years ago so it only needs some simple updating (unfortunately simple does not mean cheap). We certainly need to add some closet organizers to make the best use of space too. I guess what I mean is things are structurally great, but I'm ready to get some new paint on the walls, move things around, add some new furniture, and maybe even a fireplace like this for those winter nights I love....
Can you believe this little fireplace is on sale for less than $250?
The downside is I will have to get a part-time job to help fund this. The theme is "Victorian Old South meets small house with smaller budget" so we'll see. Don't you think this bedding we just bought at K-Mart I might add, fits the theme!? I do! And it definitely met our small budget at $99.
(Sorry the bed wasn't made...I'm not sure where I left my brain that morning)....I've always been a Scarlet O'Hara at heart and I think this bedding looks like something she might fall down on and throw a good ole fit! Of course now, I would just never, ever do such a thing.
Back to paying for all this redecorating...I'm looking at a job opportunity that would require me to work 20 hours a week. Sometimes more. I should be working by September 1st. I need prayer about going back to work and putting Noah John in school 2 days versus the 1 I had planned on originally (before we decided to redecorate). Grace will be there anyway. I know for sure it would be harder on me than him. He is a social, friendly kid. Here's a pic of the friendly brother and his big sister...just for you Nonna! Woody and Buzz all washed and clean!
On another note, I definitely cannot end this post without asking for prayer for some friends of mine who have just receieved very discouraging news. The Merimees have 3 little girls and are a great, fun, most importantly Christian, couple. They are giving Craig's health situation to God, knowing that He can keep them stable even when test results are not stable. Please pray for Craig, Michelle, and the kids right now. God has heard and delivered them and can again. My praise for this post is my new little cousin-nephew Jack was born and after a few bumps in the road is doing remarkably. Yay Chelsea and Dan and a big hug from me!
Next week, my friend is having another trunk show. I'll have to scrape up some change to pay for these to go with the dress. Hey. She only turns 5 once!
I'm really looking forward to grabbing my new camera and snapping some shots of Grace in her new outfit this fall. I think I'm going to try to do her 5 year pictures to off-set some costs (like redecorating) this fall. Hopefully that will make me get my tail in gear and learn how to put my Nikon to use. I have done nothing but point and shoot so far when the camera is honestly capable of professional quality. I will definitely try to get a couple uploaded for you readers :). I have some ideas in mind for the field behind our house.
This morning, Grace asked if I would fix sausage and gran's biscuits for breakfast. The kids are crazy about those biscuits. I am crazy about the fact that they are so simple (3 ingredients: sr flour, mayonaisse, milk) and the fact that each time I make them, I think of how simple yet respectable gran was. She thought fanfare was for show-offs. Gran was so rich in character. This fact makes me scratch my head at splurging on the dress above. Gran would really disapprove of such frivolous nonsense! I never splurge without thinking of gran's disapproval. EV-ER. I guess when you have lived through the Great Depression, you learn a lot about necessity versus nonsense.
Speaking of gran's biscuits brings us to the topic of food...I'm fixing chicken pot pie tonight or tomorrow. I have to figure out a way to get more vegetables into my boy child. It will be loaded with celery, carrots, squash, and zucchini. Operation Child will be hungry enough to try anything. Underway today. I'm going to try a new recipe since I have misplaced my mom's. I really like allrecipes.com. Any recipe website that shows reader rating gets thumbs-up from me.
As I sit here typing, Noah John is about a foot away from me, looking up at the tv with big, clear blue eyes and a thumb in his mouth. The tv is a treat that Noah particuarly likes. I'm going to post a clip of the Chuggington theme song on another post. It's 2 minutes long :) if you want to watch and learn, chuggers! (It's his favorite!) He is such a precious kid. I completely and totally adore his personality. He is a clown, loves to laugh big loud laughs, loves to make others laugh by making faces, & loves to dance with his big sister. He knows some colors and can say part of the alphabet (he smiles, cuts his eyes at us, and stops for applause after maybe 10 letters). He runs and jumps all the time, except when he is sleeping. He is an accident waiting to happen, which I've said here many times before. I relish all prayers that he will be safe and unharmed. He goes 90 to nothing, climbs everything, and falls and bumps his head a lot. His favorite foods are bananas, tomatoes, peaches, pretzels, and any manner of junk food he can get his hands on...sigh. BUT alas! I am the vegetable-hider-extraordinaire! Soon (hopefully) he will be eating more veggies. Plus he's a farmer's kid...how can he not?
Few people know that Shawn and I have contemplated moving to town for about 2 years. I have been hesitant to the whole time...& I think I have convinced him that we don't need to move right now. Frankly, Shawn is tired of driving to town and he would upsize to a little bigger house on less ground, while I like being close and cozy and away from the hub of town. In my opinion, we need to redecorate and reorganize (and do some minor remodeling). I'm kind of fascinated by the challenge! The upside is we built the house 8 years ago so it only needs some simple updating (unfortunately simple does not mean cheap). We certainly need to add some closet organizers to make the best use of space too. I guess what I mean is things are structurally great, but I'm ready to get some new paint on the walls, move things around, add some new furniture, and maybe even a fireplace like this for those winter nights I love....
Can you believe this little fireplace is on sale for less than $250?
The downside is I will have to get a part-time job to help fund this. The theme is "Victorian Old South meets small house with smaller budget" so we'll see. Don't you think this bedding we just bought at K-Mart I might add, fits the theme!? I do! And it definitely met our small budget at $99.
(Sorry the bed wasn't made...I'm not sure where I left my brain that morning)....I've always been a Scarlet O'Hara at heart and I think this bedding looks like something she might fall down on and throw a good ole fit! Of course now, I would just never, ever do such a thing.
Back to paying for all this redecorating...I'm looking at a job opportunity that would require me to work 20 hours a week. Sometimes more. I should be working by September 1st. I need prayer about going back to work and putting Noah John in school 2 days versus the 1 I had planned on originally (before we decided to redecorate). Grace will be there anyway. I know for sure it would be harder on me than him. He is a social, friendly kid. Here's a pic of the friendly brother and his big sister...just for you Nonna! Woody and Buzz all washed and clean!
On another note, I definitely cannot end this post without asking for prayer for some friends of mine who have just receieved very discouraging news. The Merimees have 3 little girls and are a great, fun, most importantly Christian, couple. They are giving Craig's health situation to God, knowing that He can keep them stable even when test results are not stable. Please pray for Craig, Michelle, and the kids right now. God has heard and delivered them and can again. My praise for this post is my new little cousin-nephew Jack was born and after a few bumps in the road is doing remarkably. Yay Chelsea and Dan and a big hug from me!
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