Valentine's 2012

So you know the tradition right? Fancy fancy fancy fancy. Well this year was the same :) Dating our kids on Valentine's Day is something we all look forward to as a family.

Handsome 4 yr old

Pretty (and slightly toothless) 6 yr old

So cute 8yr old

Dad who is NOT 30 yet

Mom who is 30! (sigh) and who doesn't know how to act like a grown up in front of the camera .... proof below

Me and my valentine. :)

And the following shot is what usually happens at some point when we are trying to do family pictures...

It was, yet again, a great night. Going around the dinner table taking turns naming things we love about each other and God. This year it made me cry.. probably for womanly hormone reasons, but it was still sweet and memorable. :)

These little people will only be under our roof for a short time. They are on loan from God. I hope they feel treasured and loved.

I Love Fall

So I am not the world's greatest baker, or the most creative person, or even that good of a copycat. My friend Angel posted this on her blog and I wanted to give it a try. It came out decent.. not fabulous looking.. but I am pleased.

Fabric Photo Board

Our walls are naked, especially in the kids' rooms. So I searched the web for projects for the creatively challenged simple projects and found this tutorial. If I can do it .. well.. a blind monkey probably could as well.

This is my first one for J's room. I want to do one for each of the boys as well.

Valentine's Day 2011

Today is a day we LOVE at our house. Valentine's night means we have a date night with the kiddos. The children picked the menu this year. They requested roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, and cornbread. Daddy requested a cheesecake (which I have always been leery to attempt, but it turned out fantastic!). But our night did not go as planned.

What did go as planned: We got all dressed up, we had dinner together, we went around the table and everyone said why they loved each member of the family - finishing with God and why we love Him.

J dressed up and having her fancy dinner .. (what? you noticed it is a peanut butter and honey sandwich?).

L looking like a little chipmunk with his mouth full of dinner.

M was exhausted and passed out and couldn't be woken up. All our children have been battling colds for over a week - and today it got the best of him. But he is dressed up. :(

Auntie Heather is visiting!!! She and my brother (who will be down later this month) and their family are moving to JAPAN! Sniffle, sniffle. I will miss them so much! But praise God for the Internet.

This handsome little man is my nephew! I am in love with him! He is so stinkin' adorable.

So why did our fancy dinner turn out to be this hearty and delicious (meh) PB and Honey? Because...

The inside of the roasted chicken I prepared was GREEN!! when I cut it open! Seriously... bluck!

And this is love right here. After a failed meal and a wife who was trying not to be grumpy (oh but I was when my chicken was green in the center), this good man did all the dishes and cleaned up. :)

This is my VALENTINE! The love of my life. The father of my children. The spiritual leader of my home. The man who loves me like Christ loved the church. And the man I look forward to growing old with. :0) - mushy mushy - I know but it had to be said!

A Quiet Afternoon

On Thursdays the mobile library comes to base. It is an excellent resource that I am trying to make the best use of. Of course the kids may choose books and I have items I have put on hold delivered. This one... this one was the mother of excitement for me. :)

Ok.. so it might seem as though my life revolves around sewing right now.. but it doesn't. I have a passion to learn it, but I spend very little time doing anything pertaining to it.

Instead we have been focusing on family time, schooling, reestablishing good routines and praising the Lord in ALL CIRCUMSTANCES!

Now, for how I came upon a quiet afternoon. A friend of mine with a large family keeps a gorgeous and tidy home. She has 5 children, 3 of which are 1 year old triplets! - but you can be welcomed into her home at anytime and her home is just beautiful and welcoming. So I asked her share her secrets with me and she did! To which I am very grateful. Her cleaning routine suits our family very well. And because of this, I found myself yesterday afternoon with all of my chores done, children schooled, house tidy, and a new library book.

J's nightgown

As I mentioned in the previous post - I REALLY!! want to learn how to sew better. I am so eager to make things! With some extra fabric I had from pajama pants I made last year, I decided to make J a nightgown. (I just got the materials for making her an Easter dress and NEED to practice my skills before attempting her dress). It is not the cutest material (I LOATHE character stuff), but she thinks it is wonderful and I am pleased with progress.

This was taken from a pattern that was supposed to be used for a pillow case night gown. I got it here. I don't have any cute pillow cases so I made do with the Princess fabric.

Learning to Sew

I am eager to learn how to sew better. When I was a young girl, maybe 6, my mom would take me to sewing lessons. I learned on a machine pretty young. I didn't do it for very long and then never tried to pick it up again until a couple of years ago.

Sewing is also a skill I would love to be able to pass on to my little girl. Overly ambitious, I handed J a large needle, thread, a fold piece of fabric and gave her instruction. That was WAY too complicated for my poor girl. She was very frustrated and gave up. Not what I wanted. I want her to learn to love it the way I do. So a new approach was needed.

This time I started much simpler. I took foam board, cut it into a heart, and poked holes around it. I handed her yarn and showed her how to weave it in the front and bring it around from the back. She was THRILLED. She sat content on the sofa next me, in her dress up clothes and a huge grin on her face, working steadily. She kept repeating, "I can sew now!" and giggling. That was what I wanted.

I need to remind myself.. little steps, little hands, little hearts. I don't want to overwhelm and discourage. I want to guide and encourage.

Creating New Traditions

This year is the first year that my parents have lived in the same state as us! Christmas Eve tradition was to go to my Uncle Bob's house and have an Italian family dinner. Since we all are in Colorado this year, Jeff and I decided to host the Italian family dinner. One of the menu items - homemade raviolis. My mom would make them in Christmases past, so we got together and she taught me how to make them. It was a fun time!

Home Notebook

My notebook is a big help when it comes to running my home. I have been asked by a few people if they could have a look at it to see how I fit so much into my day. So here is a glimpse into my handy little notebook.

I made it pretty - after all I look at it every day. Currently it consists of 7 sections:

1. Calendars & Agendas: This includes my weekly calendar with tasks for each day, a yearly calendar with goals to be accomplished through out the year, and my daily and weekly routines.

2. Devotions and Book Notes: Where I right down passages and quotes that speak to me. I keep a list of people to be praying for here.

3. Menus and Grocery Needs: I keep a seasonal menu to put together my weekly menu. I got this idea from here. There is also a food inventory, I shop my house before I go to the store. When I do need something I jot it down on my grocery list also located in this section.

4. Recipes: I print from the Internet so I have quick access to them.

5. Housework: Tips for ways to keep my home clean found here (also where a lot of my notebook pages came from. The rest came from here).

6. Hospitality: Ideas for things I can to do to bless others. For example sending cards to friends, baking for neighbors, inviting people over for meals. I also keep verses that are encouraging to include in my notes.

7. Homemade and Crafting Projects: This is print outs of projects in progress and a list a to-do list of things I hope to make. Currently for my baby nieces and nephews :)

In regards to my schedule and routine I was asked, "What happens if something comes up?"

To that my response is that the notebook is a tool that helps me make the best use of my time and resources for the glory of the Lord. If something comes up it is okay. I don't want to be a slave to my schedule but a servant of the Lord. The whole purpose is to help me best serve my husband, children, and to be able to use my resources to help others. Hope this answers some questions.

Fresh Wheat Flour

I am so stoked! The mill I purchased (from a friend whose children can no longer have wheat) came today!!! What beautiful flour it made! Thanks again Ember!

Starting our Garden

I'll admit it, I have no idea what I'm doing. Gardening is something I failed miserably at when I last attempted, but this time I've done some homework. Hopefully it pays off. Here are the kids planting Oregano, Lemon Basil, and Cilantro. We shall see how this goes, regardless of our success planting was lots of fun!

I think he liked it... but I'm not sure ;)

A Wife's Kingdom

“Home is the true wife’s kingdom. There, first of all places, she must be strong and beautiful. She may touch life outside in many ways, if she can do it without slighting the duties that are hers within her own doors. But if any calls for her service must be declined, they should not be the duties of her home. These are hers, and no other one’s. Very largely does the wife hold in her hands, as a sacred trust, the happiness and the highest good of the hearts that nestle there. The best husband—the truest, the noblest, the gentlest, the richest-hearted—cannot make his home happy if his wife be not, in every reasonable sense, a helpmate to him.

In the last analysis, home happiness depends on the wife. Her spirit gives the home its atmosphere. Her hands fashion its beauty. Her heart makes its love. And the end is so worthy, so noble, so divine, that no woman who has been called to be a wife, and has listened to the call, should consider any price too great to pay, to be the light, the joy, the blessing, the inspiration of a home.

Men with fine gifts think it worth while to live to paint a few great pictures which shall be looked at and admired for generations; or to write a few songs which shall sing themselves into the ears and hearts of men. But the woman who makes a sweet, beautiful home, filling it with love and prayer and purity, is doing something better than anything else her hands could find to do beneath the skies.”

From Secrets of Happy Home Life (published in 1874) J.R. Miller

Something about Spring

There is something about Spring and the anticipation of it that makes me giddy. As the weather warms up, the colors slowly turn from brown to green I can't contain my excitement. It gives me an overwhelming joy to know that soon the windows can be open the entire day, the children can play outside and we can spend more time in the sun light.

It also makes me want to accomplish some spring cleaning, both in my home and yard, and spiritually. As part of my spring preparation this year I am going to memorize PROVERBS 31:10-31. My goal is to have it memorized by EASTER! While in my heart I know what God has called me to, it easy to become distracted and lose sight of the beautiful example this passage provides. I encourage you women to join me in this and be prepared to blessed :)

PROVERBS 31:10-31

"An excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far above jewels.
The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
She looks for wool and flax
And works with her hands in delight.
She is like merchant ships;
She brings her food from afar.
She rises also while it is still night
And gives food to her household
And portions to her maidens.
She considers a field and buys it;
From her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She girds herself with strength
And makes her arms strong.
She senses that her gain is good;
Her lamp does not go out at night.
She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hands grasp the spindle.
She extends her hand to the poor,
And she stretches out her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
For all her household are clothed with scarlet.
She makes coverings for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies belts to the tradesmen.
Strength and dignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the future.
She opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
She looks well to the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
'Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all.'
Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
Give her the product of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates."

A Day in the Life of Me

So a friend posted her daily routine and requested others do the same. Us weird stay-at-home mom's get encouraged by how other moms do things. Anyway, I thought I'd contribute - all this is a modified routine because I am still adjusting to Jeff leaving.

My alarm goes off at 6:25 and I get out of bed, make it, and tidy up my room. I brush my teeth and go wake up L for school. We go downstairs together and begin our day. I make a pot of coffee and breakfast for L (usually cereal, although I'd like to start switching it up more). While L eats I make his school lunch and draw a picture on his napkin. I check to make sure all his things are in his backpack and set it on the counter. I turn on the news unload the dishwasher. I almost always try to have the sink empty and counters clean when I go to bed. It puts me in such a better mood in the morning. I also started the washer and dryer up. If Jeff is home he comes downs stairs at about 6:45 has breakfast and takes Landon to the bus stop before work. Since he's been gone, I go wake up the kids and we leave the house and drop Landon off.

When we get home I grab a cup of coffee and make the little two breakfast, It's about 7:30. While they are eating I check the Internet quickly and then read my bible and do my study. When they are done they either play quietly or watch a cartoon while I exercise. Then I put on a cartoon and jump in the shower. I'm usually out and ready for the day at 9am which is when the other two get dressed as well. We go upstairs and they help tidy their rooms and make their beds. They are responsible for putting away their laundry and making sure their room is neat (it usually takes a minute as I don't allow toys out of the playroom). With rooms tidy we go downstairs and play. We play for about a half an hour. Currently we play a lot of duck duck goose, tinker toys, color, or Mr. Potato Head.

By 9:30 it is snack time, sometimes this can be earlier if the kids ate with L before he left. After that I try to tackle a major task, such as bathrooms, dusting, moping, or scrubbing of some kind. I have the kids help as much as possible. It is amazing how much they want to do what I am doing. Most days I will have the kids straighten up their playroom before nap, but sometimes I let it slide until the afternoon. By now it is around 11 am and it is time to make lunch. Everyone can help or they can play, just depends on them. We eat about 11:30 and then nap time at noon.



I'm not going to lie, most days I try to nap as well. Nap time usually last from about noon until 1:30 or 2. If I am not napping I am probably editing photos on my computer or doing something on the Internet. When everyone gets up from nap we remake beds and have a snack. Then more playtime. By about 3:30 we clean up the playroom again, I set out anything that needs to be thawed for dinner. The kiddos get their shoes and coats on and we head to the bus stop to get L. When we return home with L it is about 4:45 and time to start preparing dinner. The kids play nearby and I make dinner. Usually having dinner ready by 5:30 or 6.

After dinner I immediately sit L down to do homework, load the dishwasher, wipe off the counters and tables, sweep, and vacuum. This puts up at about 7pm. Usually while I am straightening up the little two play while L does homework or they help load and unload the dishwasher or hold the dust pan. 7 is wind down time. If it is bath night that is next on our schedule. If not we will all sit on the couch and watch a cartoon or America's Funniest Home Videos. Then each child picks a book and we sit on the couch and read together. Then it is upstairs for tooth brushing, jammies, and into bed.

8pm. The house is quiet and clean! I usually will do some laundry, get on the computer, watch a TV show (my favorite thing to DVR is the show Adoption Stories, it is so heart warming), read my bible or a book. Sometimes I'll take a bath and then I try to be in bed by 10pm.

Are you riveted? How about you? What is your routine?