Many of you already know about the forest fire that so quickly started a few miles north of us just a week ago. A tragedy in so many regards as it comes just one year after the Waldo Canyon fire that blazed over the mountains toward the city summer of 2012, with a housing loss in the 500's as of today. Personally, though not immediately affected, it was sad to watch an area with so many personal memories, burn so quickly. Even more difficult to watch family and friends be displaced and so uncertain of their future.
In the midst of it all, I do love the opportunity that it provided for us with the children. The girls went through the obvious thought processes of fear, wonder, uncertainty, and confusion. But we chose to speak with them openly and honestly about it, not painting fear, but rather matter-of-fact conversations that would mentally prepare them and put them at ease.
One such conversation stemmed from a hasty comment of fear that the fire would come and burn us up in our home. "What would we do if we lost all our stuff?" "Are we able to run faster than the fire?" and the list of questions went on. What a great opportunity to talk to the girls about being prepared, watching the news and knowing the timing of things so that we gave ourselves plenty of time. We also talked about stuff and how it's just that - STUFF. Stuff can be replaced, but what is most important? As the girl's rattled off answers to that question, we were able to boil it down to people and memories. As long as family and loved ones are safe, along with those special memories, everything is fine. I certainly do love the moments when we get to remind our children of what is truly important - not just the stuff.
We also were able to have the conversation about how the fire started. Mia, being the benefit of the doubt giver that she is, said that she thought maybe someone was roasting marshmallows and then the fire got too big. Or, she said, maybe someones electricity got too hot. Both plausible scenarios in my mind. Lilia thought maybe it started in an armpit - very seriously.(You should see her serious face) So, we flushed that out a little bit and she finally came to the conclusion that maybe an armpit start wasn't as possible as originally thought.
Finally, on Saturday, we got some rain. The first thing I heard as the girls came charging down the stairs is "MOMMY!! we prayed for rain and God listened!! He really listened!" What a beautiful reminder to the girls to always bring things to the Lord in prayer because he DOES listen.
Their sweet hearts continue to pray for the fire, those who have "broken homes" now, and thank Him for the firefighters who "save people." Such sweet moments and lessons that came out of such a tragedy.
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Friday, June 7, 2013
Kids say the darndest...
Living in the house with two outgoing girls, ages 5 and 3, one is never short on conversation and hilarious moments. More often than not, both of those are combined into one. Here is a sampling of our week.
(1) *relaying the dinner they had at Famous Dave's with Grand mama and Papa
Me: that was so fun that you went to Famous Dave's
Mia: yup! Its all about the pig!
Me: umm...you're silly
Mia: oh and the strangest thing. Famous Dave's only serves chocolate milk.
Me: oh really...
Mia: yup. Grandmama said they don't have white milk or water so we had to have chocolate milk. It was just interesting.
me: lol
(2) *during a nice dinner*
Lilia: mom, why are your bawndles (aka breasts) so big?
Me: well, that's how Jesus made me.
Mia: well ours are so small. When will they get big?
Me: maybe when you get 12 or 13 they will start growing
Lilia: *wrinkling her nose and scrunching her face* maybe when I turn 30 they'll be really big!
Me: lol...yes, dear...maybe
(3) *who knows when*
Mia: how old are you?
Me: I am 29 years old...super old!
Lilia: YOU CANT BE 29!!! THATS TOO OLD...YOU'LL DIE!!
me: lol
(4) *on our way to Ashley's*
Lilia: mom!? *hands on her hips*
Me: yes, sweetie
Lilia: I will not break things today. I promise. Ashley will just love me.
Me: oh thank you sweets! Lol
Saturday, June 1, 2013
SIX years ago today...
To my husband,
Six years ago today I forced myself to stay in bed until 6:00 AM, anxiously staring at the dark ceiling, excited for the day to come. Car wash, coffee with Nikki, nail salon, hair and makeup, and dress up in my princess gown all led to your face at the end of the aisle; best friends vowing to do life together.
The journey has certainly been an adventure, but I wouldn't trade a moment of it. Together we have challenged each other's way of thinking, priorities, and relationship with the Lord and others. We have trusted in ways we never thought possible; we have achieved and lost; we have grown and matured; we have held each other during heartache and celebrated in moments of joy; we have created a life, a family and a world full of blessings. It's been a blast!
I am so thankful for what the Lord has done in our lives together and separately. Even more thankful that He thought me worthy of you and your love and devotion. Thank you, hubby, for loving me, cherishing me, encouraging and pushing me, and ultimately rallying behind me, our relationship and our family to be the best it can be. You are certainly my favorite!!
I love you....(more. ha!) Now on to conquering the "seven year itch!" :)
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
When I turn 4...
Look at this sweet angel...
heehee...and this precious picture...
She is full of personality; funny, spunky, energetic, sweet spirited and a heart of gold. She is also extremely ornery and some would label her as "a handful." She is beautifully strong willed in a way that the Lord will use for GREAT things one day; until then, we help her learn to harness it. :)
Anyway, Lilia's favorite thing to say is "well, when I'm four..." (fill in the blank.) Example: she was dying to sit in the back of the van with Mia. Our deal was that she could sit in the back when she could entirely buckle herself. Instead of this pushing her to try, she cocked her head, shrugged her shoulders and sighed "well, when I'm four I can buckle myself." Please keep in mind that she doesn't turn four until December.
Her lack of determination in anything we want her to do just cracks me up - in a separate room, by myself, where she doesn't know it is funny of course. Lilia is constantly drawing on walls or floors, breaking things on purpose (I'm not speaking about the many different accidents that happen), or downright disobeying just to test the boundaries. If you tell her to "clean up your toys or I will get rid of them" she will throw them in the trash for you. If you tell her to eat her dinner or she gets it for breakfast, she will put it in the fridge for a leftover breakfast the next morning. It's a constant challenge staying on top of her quirky responses as we try to teach her value, appreciation and obedience.
This morning, Lilia came up to me while working and says "Mom, when I'm four I will not break things. I'll just pour my cereal and eat my breakfast." Processing her very serious comment to me, I asked "Well, why don't we start practicing now?" Her response was simply, "Well, I'm just three."
Yes, sweet girl, you are too funny for your own good. But you always know where you stand with Lilia and she will love you to pieces....and some day she will truly value each of those special pieces. One day. When she's four.
Memorial Day Weekend
I love three day weekends! I love the extra time together and the possibility to say "hmmm...what should we do" that an extra long weekend promises. This weekend was just that for our family.
Saturday started bright and early as I motivated myself out of bed for an early grocery run. Payment for such motivation was a nice quiet morning with the children, doing chores, watering flowers, and a yogurt parfait breakfast. The girls and I wrapped up the morning at a little friend's Fairy Garden Birthday Party. The party was so sweet as the girls each dressed up like little fairies, painted their own flower pots, swung at a flower pinata and indulged in pink sprinkled cupcakes before lunch. Such a fun morning! The rest of the afternoon was reserved for family - naps, yard work and going out to dinner.
Sunday we packed up the van and headed to Grandma and Grandpa Samuel's house where the family was grilling out. The occasion? My Aunt and Uncle were visiting from Idaho. We grilled burgers and ate Popsicles. The children splashed in the pool until they turned into Popsicles themselves. We laughed, teased and conversed the afternoon away. The highlight for the girls was an impromptu tea party on the deck, organized by Great Aunt Donna as a surprise for Great Grandma! What fun memories we are making with these loved ones. Tucking the girls in to bed that night, it was fun to explain to the girls that this Monday was a special day; we get to spend extra time together as a family and be thankful for all those people who fight for our flag!
Monday we spent outside...yay for summer!! After watering the flowers and the grass, we headed out back where the girls played with their slide, bubbles, and water table. I brought Kasen's jumpy outside so he could have some fun too. I propped up my feet and enjoyed a good book - and a slight sunburn. We ate lunch on the deck and then after naps we took a family "hike" (really a slightly strenuous walk) with the kids - one of our favorite things to do! Fried chicken for dinner, quiet times and snuggles before bed rounded out the weekend.
So in love!
oh, and just for fun...this pretty much sums up the in between times! LOL
Monday, December 10, 2012
Advent Activities - first week (1-8)
This year has been so fun preparing for Christmas with the girls. With my schedule how it is, I finally feel like I have the time to enjoy the season with them and truly make each moment magical.
Each morning, the girls take turns on the various advent preparations we do. One of them gets to move the star forward a day on our countdown calendar. The second gets to open that day's advent activity envelope which is always propped up for them next to our small, antique Christmas tree in the morning.
The first day, we enjoyed making Christmas picture frames at Home Depot. The first Saturday of every month, Home Depot does their kids workshop from 9 AM - 12 PM. I thought this would be a fun advent activity for them, as they love being creative and doing their "art projects." The time was complete with swinging hammers, screwdrivers and lots of paint. Home Depot even gives them their very own orange apron and a pin for every workshop they complete. We will definitely be doing this more throughout the year!
On the second, after Kasen went to bed, we took full advantage to the hot chocolate bar permanently set up in our house right now and watched some Christmas movies. One of the movies we watched was Veggie Tale's Christmas Story. It was such wonderful timing for questions that have already been escaping the girls' mouths; since we have never made a huge deal out of Santa around Christmas, the questions about who he is and how he does what he does have been coming up. Without trying to kill the magic about that side of Christmas, we have tried to give them the answers they were looking for. The Veggie Tales Christmas story talks all about St. Nicholas and his desire to help people in need. It also talks about why we give gifts on Christmas because God gave us the greatest gifts - Jesus - because He loves us so much! It was fun for them to understand that Christmas gifts are given because we love people - not because we have to. It was also great for us to encourage that the idea of Santa comes from a real man who loved to help others because of God's love, so we should long to help others in need too.
The third day was a sad day....we were supposed to make ornaments. However, we have a rule that if we aren't obeying that day, we don't get to do our fun activity. And it was that kind of a day (probably because I let them stay up late and have lots of hot chocolate...dumb mom....). So, we didn't get to do this activity. I'm saving it for next year. The good news is, though, that we have had fairly obedient children since then! :) However, they did have a fun night as Grandma came over to play with them so mommy and daddy could escape for a few hours!!
Following our discussion about St. Nicholas and why we give gifts on Christmas, I thought it was important that the girls go through all of their toys and donate those which they don't use or feel like they could give to others who don't have a lot of toys. Their playroom is seriously exploding and knowing that Christmas and birthday's are right around the corner makes it all the more urgent to purge where necessary. So, why not make it an advent activity so that they can bless others and be grateful for what they have? This was our fourth activity.
The fifth day I had to go into the office for work. So I had a simple activity of coloring Christmas sheets. I printed about 30 free ones off of the Internet and let them go to town. Now we have Christmas Coloring Sheets as decoration on our art project door. Totally festive and fun for the girls to participate in the decorating with their creativity.
On the sixth day I had the kids make a Christmas gift for daddy. I wish I could post it here but, alas, he will read it and know. So you will have to take my word for it that it was really fun and the girls are reminded every day to keep the secret (it's torture for sure!)
Friday night, the seventh day, lent a little more time to do something more in depth, as the next morning wasn't as early. So that night I had planned a trip to the mall for dinner, ice-cream and visiting Santa. The kids' cousin Ella and friend Gavin joined us as we had Chick-fil-a (or Chicken Way) for dinner, Baskin Robbins for dessert and then stood in line for the magical experience of visiting Santa. Kasen did not meet Santa this year as he is pretty nervous around...well, anyone except mommy when it is night time. The girls loved it, though, and I loved how even through they know the truth, it is still a fun, magical time for them!! (I wish I would have a picture, but they wouldn't allow us to snap our own this year...boo!)
Saturday...the day I had been looking forward to forever!! We had found out that one of our downtown parks put up a free skating rink for the first week of December, with skate rentals. So, this definitely had to be added to the advent calendar for my girls who "ice skate" with their socks on the wood floor whenever possible. Opening that envelope was priceless as they squealed for joy. Mia even tried to explain to me that she was so good at ice-skating because of her sock moves on the hardwood...explaining any differently to her would have been a waste of my time that would never return, so we let her live in her delusions for a few more hours. The rink was wonderful...and difficult. Because of the fall like weather we were still having, it wasn't real ice but rather the fake plastic that can be skated on. I found it more challenging than I thought it would be. But we figured it out and the girls slowly got the hang of it. Most importantly, it was a fun experience that they can't wait to do again....on real ice! Grandmama and Papa came with us to watch Kasen and encourage the little ice-skaters....so it was extra special for the girls!
We have moved on to week two as the excitement builds toward Christmas day :)
Each morning, the girls take turns on the various advent preparations we do. One of them gets to move the star forward a day on our countdown calendar. The second gets to open that day's advent activity envelope which is always propped up for them next to our small, antique Christmas tree in the morning.
The first day, we enjoyed making Christmas picture frames at Home Depot. The first Saturday of every month, Home Depot does their kids workshop from 9 AM - 12 PM. I thought this would be a fun advent activity for them, as they love being creative and doing their "art projects." The time was complete with swinging hammers, screwdrivers and lots of paint. Home Depot even gives them their very own orange apron and a pin for every workshop they complete. We will definitely be doing this more throughout the year!
The third day was a sad day....we were supposed to make ornaments. However, we have a rule that if we aren't obeying that day, we don't get to do our fun activity. And it was that kind of a day (probably because I let them stay up late and have lots of hot chocolate...dumb mom....). So, we didn't get to do this activity. I'm saving it for next year. The good news is, though, that we have had fairly obedient children since then! :) However, they did have a fun night as Grandma came over to play with them so mommy and daddy could escape for a few hours!!
Following our discussion about St. Nicholas and why we give gifts on Christmas, I thought it was important that the girls go through all of their toys and donate those which they don't use or feel like they could give to others who don't have a lot of toys. Their playroom is seriously exploding and knowing that Christmas and birthday's are right around the corner makes it all the more urgent to purge where necessary. So, why not make it an advent activity so that they can bless others and be grateful for what they have? This was our fourth activity.
The fifth day I had to go into the office for work. So I had a simple activity of coloring Christmas sheets. I printed about 30 free ones off of the Internet and let them go to town. Now we have Christmas Coloring Sheets as decoration on our art project door. Totally festive and fun for the girls to participate in the decorating with their creativity.
On the sixth day I had the kids make a Christmas gift for daddy. I wish I could post it here but, alas, he will read it and know. So you will have to take my word for it that it was really fun and the girls are reminded every day to keep the secret (it's torture for sure!)
Friday night, the seventh day, lent a little more time to do something more in depth, as the next morning wasn't as early. So that night I had planned a trip to the mall for dinner, ice-cream and visiting Santa. The kids' cousin Ella and friend Gavin joined us as we had Chick-fil-a (or Chicken Way) for dinner, Baskin Robbins for dessert and then stood in line for the magical experience of visiting Santa. Kasen did not meet Santa this year as he is pretty nervous around...well, anyone except mommy when it is night time. The girls loved it, though, and I loved how even through they know the truth, it is still a fun, magical time for them!! (I wish I would have a picture, but they wouldn't allow us to snap our own this year...boo!)
Saturday...the day I had been looking forward to forever!! We had found out that one of our downtown parks put up a free skating rink for the first week of December, with skate rentals. So, this definitely had to be added to the advent calendar for my girls who "ice skate" with their socks on the wood floor whenever possible. Opening that envelope was priceless as they squealed for joy. Mia even tried to explain to me that she was so good at ice-skating because of her sock moves on the hardwood...explaining any differently to her would have been a waste of my time that would never return, so we let her live in her delusions for a few more hours. The rink was wonderful...and difficult. Because of the fall like weather we were still having, it wasn't real ice but rather the fake plastic that can be skated on. I found it more challenging than I thought it would be. But we figured it out and the girls slowly got the hang of it. Most importantly, it was a fun experience that they can't wait to do again....on real ice! Grandmama and Papa came with us to watch Kasen and encourage the little ice-skaters....so it was extra special for the girls!
We have moved on to week two as the excitement builds toward Christmas day :)
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Pear Pie Crescent Rolls
My cravings for pie got the best of me. I, however, am way too impatient to wait for an entire pie and then watch half of it sit on the counter all week potentially going to waste. So I decided to make these tasty treats...and they were super easy...and super delicious!
First I used a traditional pear pie recipe and then trimmed it down for my 8 crescent rolls:
Mix it all together. Try a pear slice, or two, just because you can. (I wish I had a picture of the mixture to insert here)
Next, I pulled out a tube of Pillsbury crescent rolls.
On each triangle I placed a few slices of the pie mixture on the wide part of the triangle. Then I loosely rolled them up. Following the directions for the crescent rolls, I baked them at 375 for 10-12 minutes.
They are perfect size for the little hands in your family, and small enough that you don't feel guilty eating more than one. :)
Enjoy!
First I used a traditional pear pie recipe and then trimmed it down for my 8 crescent rolls:
2 Medium sized pears, peeled and thinly sliced
1 Tbs brown sugar
1/2 Tbs all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
sprinkle of ginger and nutmeg
1/3 tsp of lemon juice
Mix it all together. Try a pear slice, or two, just because you can. (I wish I had a picture of the mixture to insert here)
Next, I pulled out a tube of Pillsbury crescent rolls.
On each triangle I placed a few slices of the pie mixture on the wide part of the triangle. Then I loosely rolled them up. Following the directions for the crescent rolls, I baked them at 375 for 10-12 minutes.
They are perfect size for the little hands in your family, and small enough that you don't feel guilty eating more than one. :)
Enjoy!
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Countdown to Christmas
This year I am getting the family more excited for Christmas (not like we needed any help) by doing Christmas activities that lead up to Christmas. I know there are a lot of fun traditions out there: advent calendar, elf on the shelf, etc. We have always had a Christmas calendar from when I was a little girl that counts down the days by moving the star over nativity characters. This year, in addition, I have added activities to go along with each day.
Each day the girls will find an envelope on the counter with a card inside instructing them of their activity for the day. It also shows the current day and how many days left until Christmas! The design is really simple, black card stock with printed candy cane paper and the item written in a pretty candy like script.
I have been so excited for these little activities. I think it will be a fun way to spend time with each other and a chance to teach lessons like gift giving, thankfulness, creativity and the true meaning of the season.
Here are some things we will be doing counting down to Christmas:
Merry Christmas!! I'll post pictures as we countdown :)
Each day the girls will find an envelope on the counter with a card inside instructing them of their activity for the day. It also shows the current day and how many days left until Christmas! The design is really simple, black card stock with printed candy cane paper and the item written in a pretty candy like script.
I have been so excited for these little activities. I think it will be a fun way to spend time with each other and a chance to teach lessons like gift giving, thankfulness, creativity and the true meaning of the season.
Here are some things we will be doing counting down to Christmas:
- Hot Chocolate and watching Rudolf the Rednose Reindeer
- Make Glitter Ornaments
- Donate unused toys
- Make Christmas Gifts for daddy
- Ice-Skating at the Park
- Visit Santa at the Mall
- Play board game in front of the Christmas tree
- Drive around and look at Christmas lights
- Sledding
- Make a pizza snowman
- Paint toenails in Christmas colors
- Christmas stories by the fireplace
- Make Christmas goodies for the neighbors
- Host a cookie decorating party
- Homemade Carmel Corn and watching Frosty the Snowman
Merry Christmas!! I'll post pictures as we countdown :)
Monday, November 26, 2012
Christmas Decorating
Surprisingly, I have discovered that I truly enjoy decorating for each season in my minimalistic type of way. I don't have a lot of decorations for each season, especially fall, but little touches here and there really get me excited. Add a few scented candles for the appropriate season and you have yourself a masterpiece...but I get ahead of myself...
This weekend we said good-bye to the pumpkins and brought out the Christmas decor. My decor is a healthy mix of sentimental items from when I was young, new items that add some bling, and traditional decorations. And, as always, it's just a little bit here and a little bit there.
First, our beautiful Christmas tree which was given to us by my husband's grandparents. Our main level has 15 foot ceilings, so this 9.5' tree looks perfect nestled in the corner of our living room. I have it sparsely decorated with red, silver and white. Mixed with the abundance of lights, the tree sparkles when lit up. There is a red velvet tree skirt to add pizazz.
On top of the piano in the living room, I have draped pre-lit greenery and decorated it with white and red berries, a few snowmen (my favorite) and some scented cinnamon pine cones.
My newest addition to the winter season is my hot chocolate and coffee bar set up on our built in hutch. "Baby it's Cold Outside" is proudly displayed on my homemade chalkboard, while my decorative snowman pot is displayed next to it. My fun snowman dishes are out of the cabinet ready for use at anytime during these seasonably cold days. Candy canes, marshmallows, cinnamon, cream and chocolate are proudly displayed and ready for use.
The fireplace mantle, which also houses the TV (unfortunately), has two different groupings of decoration, incorporating my love of snowmen, pretty red sparkly ornaments, and scented pine cones.
A few extra decorations throughout the main level....
...and finally the kids' tree. The girls had so much fun decorating it this year. Every year it is fun to see their personalities come out while doing the project. Mia is so particular in doing it "just right" while Lilia's different approach and creativity is something to chuckle at.
What fun decorating things do you do in your house?!
This weekend we said good-bye to the pumpkins and brought out the Christmas decor. My decor is a healthy mix of sentimental items from when I was young, new items that add some bling, and traditional decorations. And, as always, it's just a little bit here and a little bit there.
First, our beautiful Christmas tree which was given to us by my husband's grandparents. Our main level has 15 foot ceilings, so this 9.5' tree looks perfect nestled in the corner of our living room. I have it sparsely decorated with red, silver and white. Mixed with the abundance of lights, the tree sparkles when lit up. There is a red velvet tree skirt to add pizazz.
On top of the piano in the living room, I have draped pre-lit greenery and decorated it with white and red berries, a few snowmen (my favorite) and some scented cinnamon pine cones.
My newest addition to the winter season is my hot chocolate and coffee bar set up on our built in hutch. "Baby it's Cold Outside" is proudly displayed on my homemade chalkboard, while my decorative snowman pot is displayed next to it. My fun snowman dishes are out of the cabinet ready for use at anytime during these seasonably cold days. Candy canes, marshmallows, cinnamon, cream and chocolate are proudly displayed and ready for use.
The fireplace mantle, which also houses the TV (unfortunately), has two different groupings of decoration, incorporating my love of snowmen, pretty red sparkly ornaments, and scented pine cones.
A few extra decorations throughout the main level....
...and finally the kids' tree. The girls had so much fun decorating it this year. Every year it is fun to see their personalities come out while doing the project. Mia is so particular in doing it "just right" while Lilia's different approach and creativity is something to chuckle at.
What fun decorating things do you do in your house?!
Monday, November 12, 2012
Making it all work
Since having three children, the laundry never lets up, the house is constantly chaotic looking, chores seem impossible and life, well, just happens. With two children it seemed stressful many of days, especially being a mother who works full time both in and outside of the home, but three has brought a whole other level of crazy!
Questions like..
Questions like..
"Is my house ever going to look normal?"
"Which is more important: clean clothes or clean toilets?"
"Should we have a family day or clean the house?"
would cross my mind daily.
When I went back to work after Kasen was born, I was stressed about continuing some of the "Mommy time things" that I had become accustomed to that I knew were beneficial, working out being one of those. So I put together this daily schedule to keep me sane. I still follow this schedule pretty closely except my day does start at 5:00 AM now, giving me plenty of time to workout and get ready for the day at the gym (let's be honest...if I don't get ready there it ain't happening at all!)
Since returning to work, my house has fallen apart. I barely seem to keep the main level of the house acceptable for anyone who may show up at my house; the bedrooms have been classified a danger zone. Now, I have come to realize that I get really stressed out when my house isn't clean, laundry is piled up, dishes are in the sink and there are crumbs on the floor, but I don't have the time, or the desire, to be a crazy cleaning lady all hours of the day. Not to mention that, though a clean house is inviting, an unused house is a turn off. I have three children who I want to enjoy and actually LIVE in our house, so things cannot and will not be perfect.
As I processed through how to keep everything up, I continued coming back to the schedule I grew up with: work/school during the week, chores on Saturday, rest on Sunday. Though I love the concept of this schedule, it leaves very limited time for family activities (especially since the weekends are all we have with Casey working nights.) After scouring blogs, talking to other struggling mommys and finding unique ideas on Pinterest, I came up with this cleaning/home schedule for myself.
Some people have said "as easy as 15 minutes a day..." however, I don't know how they manage that little of time. I do know though, that I have found that no more than an hour a day makes all this possible. Usually that time is broken up throughout the day - kitchen clean up doesn't happen until after dinner; the dishes get in the dishwasher, the counters all cleaned off, spot cleaning on appliances, and the floor swept under the table (I do have 3 kids under 5!) If I'm working at home that day, I will do the laundry and cleaning early in the morning - that leaves the rest of the day for family time and work. Similarly, if I'm in the office that day, I do my "chores" in the evening after the kiddos are in bed. It's just a matter of manipulating it around, and with a small list like this doesn't make it feel overwhelming ultimately causing me to just sit on the couch and eat ice cream and watch TV.
A few rules I've set for myself:
- This schedule is only to maintain cleanliness; it is not meant for deep cleaning
- If for some reason I don't get one day done, I do not try to do two days in one. This causes the schedule to feel daunting and it probably won't get done. Instead, I move on to what is on the schedule and pick up the missed activity the next week.
- It doesn't have to be perfect!! Life happens...you will still find dust balls on the baseboards, crumbs on the floor and fingerprints on the glass but we live here and I'm proud of that!
- Even though I'm mom, I am not responsible for all the mess. My children must clean up their messes before creating new ones and their toys must be completely cleaned twice a day: before nap and before bedtime.
I have high hopes that, as this continues, any part of my house will be welcomed to guests and that my feeling of stress at the end of the day will be non-existent on the home front end.
My final suggestion: find yourself an awesome husband like I have! My hubby helps me out whenever he knows a clean house = happy wife! It makes it so much easier when you can tag team on it. :)
If you have any creative ideas about how to make life work smoothly, I'd love to hear them!!
Monday, October 8, 2012
Kasen's Dedication
For each of our children, the moment that we have been able to dedicate them to the Lord has been a really special for us as parents. Consequently, we have tried to make it a big occasion, celebrating with family and friends the wonderful gift that the Lord has entrusted us with.
This Sunday, we had the pleasure of dedicating Kasen, 3 months old, back to the Lord. As parents, Casey and I consider it a blessing to stand humbly with our family, admitting that our child is a gift to us for a time, fully belonging to God and what He has in store for his life. We believe that the Lord has wonderful things in store for our son, and commit to raise him according to His ways so that our son can learn to love and know the same God that we serve.
Following the ceremony, we do what we do best...PARTY! Everyone came over for a potluck lunch and yummy desserts. We fellowship, laugh, and watch the kids run around. All in all it was a special day for us, one that we pray stays on our hearts for the years to come.
(I have a great video of the event that will not upload for some reason. Hopefully I'll have it up soon.)
This Sunday, we had the pleasure of dedicating Kasen, 3 months old, back to the Lord. As parents, Casey and I consider it a blessing to stand humbly with our family, admitting that our child is a gift to us for a time, fully belonging to God and what He has in store for his life. We believe that the Lord has wonderful things in store for our son, and commit to raise him according to His ways so that our son can learn to love and know the same God that we serve.
Following the ceremony, we do what we do best...PARTY! Everyone came over for a potluck lunch and yummy desserts. We fellowship, laugh, and watch the kids run around. All in all it was a special day for us, one that we pray stays on our hearts for the years to come.
(I have a great video of the event that will not upload for some reason. Hopefully I'll have it up soon.)
"Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had hold plans for you: A prophet to the nations -- that's what I had in mind for you."
Jeremiah 1:5 MSG
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Reality Sets In
As the afternoon wears on, I sit here mentally making a to-do list and emotionally preparing myself for a day that has held so much meaning these past few months. Six months ago it felt like an eternity; 3 weeks ago it seemed like an impossibility; today it is reality. The event is Wednesday, October 3, 2012, the day I head back to work after 12 glorious weeks off with my new, expanded family. The time I have spent focused on family has truly been a blessing beyond what I expected (you can read about it here), one that I will treasure for always.
A few weeks ago I panicked at the thought of returning to a full time schedule of work. Life still seemed out of sorts, schedules were often varying, and our world didn't quite feel "normal" yet. Today, I feel ready...well, mostly. Life has created patterns again throughout the days, children have settled back into daily schedules, and I feel like I could conquer the world. My only fear is making it all happen once again.
As always happens, I have created patterns throughout the day of things to do and accomplish, strategically placing them within the allotted hours of the day. Most of these patterns I don't want to give up, nor do I think I should, so the challenge comes in re-arranging the day once again. So, in order to help me cope with the change, here is what my "new" first day looks like:
5:30 AM - Rise and Shine
6:00 AM - Feed baby boy
6:30 AM - Work out at the gym
8:00 AM - Arrive at the office
2:00 PM - Head home
2:15 PM - Throw a load of laundry in
2:30 PM - Work at home during kids' naps (husband heads out for gym & work)
4:15 PM - Start working on dinner
5:00 PM - Dinner Ready
5:30 PM - Bath time for baby boy
6:30 PM - Kasen in bed, girls clean up playroom
7:00 PM - Girls in jammies and read books
7:30 PM - Girls in bed, clean up kitchen/house
8:00 PM - Fold load of laundry (one load of laundry each day keeps in manageable)
8:30 PM - Finish any additional work, mommy time, prepare for next day
10:30 PM - Bed Time
I know it can all be accomplished with grace and dignity; the prayer comes in asking for the strength and rest to do so.
The challenge I fear the most: the emotional pull. I have thoroughly enjoyed the dedicated time I have had to my three children the last few weeks. The ability to focus on being mommy for a little while without the mental pull of my job has been a delight and much needed for my mommy's heart. As I look at tomorrow and the change it will bring, I am so thankful for my family and what they mean to me, and to my husband and the support he brings. His dedication to our children throughout the day makes it possible for me to love and enjoy my job outside of the home, ultimately making it easy to come back home to slip the mommy hat on once again.
I truly treasure every aspect of my life: family, children, job...I'm, once again, up for the challenge of making it all flourish within any given day. That is after I do the ironing, cleaning, writing out children schedules, making my lunch, etc.
Bye! Must get on with it :)
A few weeks ago I panicked at the thought of returning to a full time schedule of work. Life still seemed out of sorts, schedules were often varying, and our world didn't quite feel "normal" yet. Today, I feel ready...well, mostly. Life has created patterns again throughout the days, children have settled back into daily schedules, and I feel like I could conquer the world. My only fear is making it all happen once again.
As always happens, I have created patterns throughout the day of things to do and accomplish, strategically placing them within the allotted hours of the day. Most of these patterns I don't want to give up, nor do I think I should, so the challenge comes in re-arranging the day once again. So, in order to help me cope with the change, here is what my "new" first day looks like:
5:30 AM - Rise and Shine
6:00 AM - Feed baby boy
6:30 AM - Work out at the gym
8:00 AM - Arrive at the office
2:00 PM - Head home
2:15 PM - Throw a load of laundry in
2:30 PM - Work at home during kids' naps (husband heads out for gym & work)
4:15 PM - Start working on dinner
5:00 PM - Dinner Ready
5:30 PM - Bath time for baby boy
6:30 PM - Kasen in bed, girls clean up playroom
7:00 PM - Girls in jammies and read books
7:30 PM - Girls in bed, clean up kitchen/house
8:00 PM - Fold load of laundry (one load of laundry each day keeps in manageable)
8:30 PM - Finish any additional work, mommy time, prepare for next day
10:30 PM - Bed Time
I know it can all be accomplished with grace and dignity; the prayer comes in asking for the strength and rest to do so.
The challenge I fear the most: the emotional pull. I have thoroughly enjoyed the dedicated time I have had to my three children the last few weeks. The ability to focus on being mommy for a little while without the mental pull of my job has been a delight and much needed for my mommy's heart. As I look at tomorrow and the change it will bring, I am so thankful for my family and what they mean to me, and to my husband and the support he brings. His dedication to our children throughout the day makes it possible for me to love and enjoy my job outside of the home, ultimately making it easy to come back home to slip the mommy hat on once again.
I truly treasure every aspect of my life: family, children, job...I'm, once again, up for the challenge of making it all flourish within any given day. That is after I do the ironing, cleaning, writing out children schedules, making my lunch, etc.
Bye! Must get on with it :)
Sunday, September 30, 2012
60% there
NOTE: This blog contains serious thoughts and feelings of a postpartum mommy desperately trying to lose pregnancy weight number three.
Five weeks ago I rigorously started a new diet and workout routine to lose the tremendous amount of pregnancy weight that decided to take up residence. For some reason, after number three, the hint to leave is not easily received by the unwanted visitor on my thighs....arms...face...well, you name it! So, I started a ketogenic diet which basically teaches my body to use my fat cells as energy instead of depending on carbs. It is a low carb (under 20 g/day), high fat and protein diet. However, unlike the Adkins diet, it allows me one day of carb eating so that I'm not starving my body from all that is out there, ultimately teaching me how to keep the weight off when I do indulge a little bit. Now, let me please say that this type of diet isn't something to live by your entire life, but rather a means to an end where you feel comfortable in maintaining your weight loss.
My first worry when I investigated this diet was the results it would have on breast feeding. I was unwilling to even try if it would jeopardize that. However, since I am not concentrating on cutting calories, and I am truly eating more wholesome foods like spinach, broccoli, eggs, meats, etc. I am able to keep up my milk supply. I would even argue that in some sense it is more whole as my calories aren't consumed in junk food. Every calorie that is consumed is good for you and not wasted (minus maybe diet coke...lol). And as my son has gained almost 3 lbs in the last five weeks and grown 2 inches, I feel pretty good about my current decision.
So what do I eat throughout the day? Remember that my diet is truly focused on fat with protein.
Sample
Breakfast:
Regular coffee w/ a tsp of Coconut Oil
2 egg omelet with mushrooms, cheese and ham (or bacon)
Lunch:
Chicken Curry Salad (mixed with celery and almonds)
Avocado Half
Dinner:
Meatloaf wrapped in bacon (recipe modified to not contain any bread or tomato sauce)
Broccoli with butter and salt
Snacks:
2 TBS of Natural Peanut Butter with Celery
or
String Cheese
or
Handful of natural almonds
In addition to the strict diet, I also strive to workout five days a week. Tuesdays and Thursdays are strictly cardio days. The other days contain a warm up of cardio (15-20 minutes) with Monday's focus on ab/core strength, Wednesday's on lower body/legs, and Friday's focus on arms and back. It has been a good mix for me and I can feel myself getting stronger and leaner.
Saturday mornings are weigh-in days, as Saturday night is my cheat night ( I LOVE Saturday nights!!). My goal is 2 lbs a week and, for the most part, I have been able to keep to that goal. This will get me to goal weight by the end of the calendar year. Now, I do want to say that at this point of my journey I have technically lost all of my pregnancy weight with Kasen (child number three.) The remainder of the weight is what was still lingering from the other two pregnancies. :)
I'm pleasantly surprised with the results and how I feel while on the diet. I even find that, after carb night, I look forward to getting back into my routine. I will say, though, that I am looking forward to the end of the year when I can put this all behind me and not worry about it any more!
Happy Dieting! (I think that is an oxymoron)
Five weeks ago I rigorously started a new diet and workout routine to lose the tremendous amount of pregnancy weight that decided to take up residence. For some reason, after number three, the hint to leave is not easily received by the unwanted visitor on my thighs....arms...face...well, you name it! So, I started a ketogenic diet which basically teaches my body to use my fat cells as energy instead of depending on carbs. It is a low carb (under 20 g/day), high fat and protein diet. However, unlike the Adkins diet, it allows me one day of carb eating so that I'm not starving my body from all that is out there, ultimately teaching me how to keep the weight off when I do indulge a little bit. Now, let me please say that this type of diet isn't something to live by your entire life, but rather a means to an end where you feel comfortable in maintaining your weight loss.
My first worry when I investigated this diet was the results it would have on breast feeding. I was unwilling to even try if it would jeopardize that. However, since I am not concentrating on cutting calories, and I am truly eating more wholesome foods like spinach, broccoli, eggs, meats, etc. I am able to keep up my milk supply. I would even argue that in some sense it is more whole as my calories aren't consumed in junk food. Every calorie that is consumed is good for you and not wasted (minus maybe diet coke...lol). And as my son has gained almost 3 lbs in the last five weeks and grown 2 inches, I feel pretty good about my current decision.
So what do I eat throughout the day? Remember that my diet is truly focused on fat with protein.
Sample
Breakfast:
Regular coffee w/ a tsp of Coconut Oil
2 egg omelet with mushrooms, cheese and ham (or bacon)
Lunch:
Chicken Curry Salad (mixed with celery and almonds)
Avocado Half
Dinner:
Meatloaf wrapped in bacon (recipe modified to not contain any bread or tomato sauce)
Broccoli with butter and salt
Snacks:
2 TBS of Natural Peanut Butter with Celery
or
String Cheese
or
Handful of natural almonds
In addition to the strict diet, I also strive to workout five days a week. Tuesdays and Thursdays are strictly cardio days. The other days contain a warm up of cardio (15-20 minutes) with Monday's focus on ab/core strength, Wednesday's on lower body/legs, and Friday's focus on arms and back. It has been a good mix for me and I can feel myself getting stronger and leaner.
Saturday mornings are weigh-in days, as Saturday night is my cheat night ( I LOVE Saturday nights!!). My goal is 2 lbs a week and, for the most part, I have been able to keep to that goal. This will get me to goal weight by the end of the calendar year. Now, I do want to say that at this point of my journey I have technically lost all of my pregnancy weight with Kasen (child number three.) The remainder of the weight is what was still lingering from the other two pregnancies. :)
I'm pleasantly surprised with the results and how I feel while on the diet. I even find that, after carb night, I look forward to getting back into my routine. I will say, though, that I am looking forward to the end of the year when I can put this all behind me and not worry about it any more!
Happy Dieting! (I think that is an oxymoron)
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Harvest Festivals
Now, I realize that Summer is chalked full of fun, adventurous things to do with your family. However, there is something about the onset of fall and the anticipation of pumpkin patches and fall festivals that get me really excited! About this time, I start scouring blogs, forums and newsrooms to make a list of these festivals and outings for our family. Yesterday, though, hubby surprised us with a trip to a local Harvest Festival that I had not heard anything about! We were so excited; bouncy houses, cotton candy, snow cones, hot dogs and pumpkin decorating awaited us!
When we arrived, we quickly stopped by the cotton candy stand to immediately sugar up the girls. I'm pretty sure the bag lasted a whole 2 minutes :)
We then moved on to all the bouncy toys. There were about eight different toys, all promising a different level of adventure. The favorite of the group was the big obstacle course ending in a huge slide (see videos below.) Coming in a close second was the old fashioned "jump 'till your hearts content" and the jumpy connected to a slide.
After the girls had officially gotten "all their wiggles out" we naturally got them a snow cone to eat prior to dinner, because dessert before dinner is necessary on adventures such as this. Their cute little lips were dyed red, along with parts of their clothing and fingers.
Then it was hot dogs and apples, just to balance out the amount of artificial sugar we just shoved down their throats!
Finally, it was pumpkin time! This particular venue asked that only one pumpkin per family was taken, which took a little convincing to our two princesses. However, together they found the most perfect pumpkin and I managed to capture a few semi-"Kodak moment" poses. :) Unfortunately, our time was running out for painting and decorating the pumpkin, so that will be a project for another day at home.
We had such a wonderful time! A great way to kick of the start of Fall.
Oh, and Kasen thoroughly enjoyed himself too...
Happy Fall!
When we arrived, we quickly stopped by the cotton candy stand to immediately sugar up the girls. I'm pretty sure the bag lasted a whole 2 minutes :)
We then moved on to all the bouncy toys. There were about eight different toys, all promising a different level of adventure. The favorite of the group was the big obstacle course ending in a huge slide (see videos below.) Coming in a close second was the old fashioned "jump 'till your hearts content" and the jumpy connected to a slide.
After the girls had officially gotten "all their wiggles out" we naturally got them a snow cone to eat prior to dinner, because dessert before dinner is necessary on adventures such as this. Their cute little lips were dyed red, along with parts of their clothing and fingers.
Then it was hot dogs and apples, just to balance out the amount of artificial sugar we just shoved down their throats!
Finally, it was pumpkin time! This particular venue asked that only one pumpkin per family was taken, which took a little convincing to our two princesses. However, together they found the most perfect pumpkin and I managed to capture a few semi-"Kodak moment" poses. :) Unfortunately, our time was running out for painting and decorating the pumpkin, so that will be a project for another day at home.
We had such a wonderful time! A great way to kick of the start of Fall.
Oh, and Kasen thoroughly enjoyed himself too...
Happy Fall!
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