Wouldn't it be nice...

Someone snuck a taste of brownie batter...
when it was still just oil and cocoa powder.  YUCK.

...if the dishes were done?

...and the floor swept?

...and the food cooked?

...and the laundry finished?

...and the children bathed?

...and the lesson plan planned?

...and the dessert baked?

...and the emails answered?

...and the bathroom cleaned?


A friend asked me if I was tired last night and said something about how every mom she knows always seems tired.  I hope I don't always seem tired although I think there have only been a few nights that I've slept through in the past 3 years :)  What I told her is - "Moms that stay home with kids are constantly going all day and that can be very demanding and draining.  Moms that go to work all day and come home to kids are constantly going and that can be very demanding and draining.  Moms that constantly focus on how tired they are and how bad they have certainly don't appreciate the beautiful lives they've been entrusted with."

We all have our moments.  We all have our bone tired, can I even do this, my body is so exhausted and I lost my mind days ago moments.  But in the end, moms that remember the beautiful beings that are THEIRS generally have fewer of those days and know that soon their little ones won't be so needy which is both good and sad all at the same time.

I am off to wash, sweep, cook, fold, bathe, plan, bake, write and clean! At least my to-do list is written!  :)  Hope you have a delightful Saturday night and experience some peace in the midst of it!

Elizabeth


11:45pm Update:
...if the dishes were done? As done as they are going to get.  Will unload dishwasher and finish in am.
...and the floor swept? Done.
...and the food cooked? Done.
...and the laundry finished? Last load in dryer, Hubs needs clothes put away still.
...and the children bathed? Done (and asleep!).
...and the lesson plan planned? Done (although I'm nervous about it!)
...and the dessert baked? Done.
...and the emails answered? Done-ish?
...and the bathroom cleaned? Ehhhhh, that.  I did put a scrubbing bubbles stamper thing in my toilet...

Thankful Thursdays Top Ten #50

1. I am so thankful to the Lord for the birth of two beautiful babies who are healthy!  Mom is good, no c-section was needed and I am just amazed at His goodness.

2. A friend who understands and lets me have my emotional swings :)

3. Family time at the park!

4. A gate on our deck so my kiddo can run around to her little heart's content.

5. Almost crawling!

6. Bible studies, Princess and sparkles oh my!

7. My hardworking husband.

8. Playdate at the park with some friends.

9. Better focus and calm.

10. Knowing that I don't have to have it all figured out today.


(Sorry, my emotional rollercoaster of a day is making it difficult for me to make this a prettier post)

Oh they joy!

March 2011

I woke up this early to hit my office before the kiddos were up.  As typically happens they started making noise as I descended the stairs.  Fortunately I was able to get a devotional read and coffee made without alerting them to my presence.  Now they are happily "chatting" (I say because only one can talk) in their room and who am I to interrupt that cuteness?

As I usually say when I post after not posting for awhile life has just taken over my life!  It has been one of those hard to get a break type weeks but it is also so important to say that I wouldn't change it!  I think sometimes I get caught in the "grass is greener" mentality.  I think the moms who stay home and "get" to "just" focus on their kids/home have it better - forgetting that there are so many aspects of my job that I really think would crush my soul if they were taken away.  I also think that moms who "get" to go to work in the morning then turn off work and switch on home life have it better - forgetting that although it may be an interruption or make typing more difficult, a two year old that wants to cuddle is better than a bunch of office co-workers any day!

Here are some updates:

Grace
 - She is delightful.  I am amazed every day at what she knows and how she is growing as a person.  Sometimes when I watch her I feel like I am watching and talking to myself at two years old.  It is the closest thing to an out of body experience I ever hope to have and sometimes it is startling how much it really feels that way.  The other day she caught me just staring at her and I'm pretty sure she thinks I've lost my mind.

Abi
 - She is delightful!  I think this one is getting some teeth in so she has been a bit fussier than usual...but when you consider how not fussy my kids usually are I have no room to complain.  Her hair is still as red as ever (where did that come from?) and I think she is looking more and more like her daddy!  She has been rocking up on her knees a lot so crawling will be here soon!

Hubs
 - He is good and working so hard!  But I don't think he really wants to be featured on the blog so lets just leave it at he's a wonderful man and I am blessed!

Princess Program
 - This is the program where we get 5-10 girls and do a Bible study with them for about 12 weeks then take them on an awesome pampering fun day.  Usually we work with the school calendar but I have a LIST of names of girls who want to participate so our next group is staring in two weeks!

Experiencing God
 - I have some Princess graduates that wanted to do another Bible study...this starts Monday!  (These are the crushing soul things that I could not live without)

Coupons
 - Coupons are awesome.  I think my tendency is still to try to do too much...but then I get deals on board games for less than $2 each or 15 cups of yogurt for $1.75 and I can't complain.  I recently got full size toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, 2 packs of "feminine care products" and body wash for a TOTAL of $.50.  It was AWESOME (especially when my husband guessed $5-$8 and was amazed when I told him).  Remembering that yes, it is to help the family budget but also a hobby and not a life consuming activity is important!

My hope is to get a good pattern in life again soon.  Abi was kicked out of our room (again) and so hopefully we'll get them sleeping well, a schedule in place and I will find those fringe hours for writing and being. 



March 2012

Thankful Thursdays Top Ten #49

What a week!

1. I am thankful for continued health for two teeny tinys I cannot wait to meet and their momma!

2. I am thankful for a fun night with the family including pool (above), yummy dinner, project time and hang out time.

3. I am thankful for busyness although a nice calm week of really finishing some checklists would be nice too.

4. I am thankful for my best friend Joie and her 28th birthday this week!

5. I am thankful for mi hija and her 22nd birthday!  (Mi hija = my daughter in spanish.  I "adopted" her when she was about 15)

6. I am thankful for our upcoming Playdate at the Park!  I'm just hoping people show up!  If not my kids will have fun playing anyway!

7. I am thankful that my husband is my rock.

8. I am thankful for attic fans.  (And I mean literal attic fans, not "Attic" "fans")

9. I am thankful for allergy medicine and pretty pretty flowers.

10. I am thankful that I beat midnight on my list!

11.  I am thankful that although it has been a seriously busy, somewhat stressful and crazy week what matters most is my kids and my family and ya know what, they're good.

Link up here:

Took a picture to remember....

I took this picture of Mr. Potato Head today in order to remember something to write about.  Then I sat down at my computer and could NOT remember what it was.

....how awesome my kids are?
....how awesome Morgan is?
....how I hate toys with 500 pieces?
....toys...that sounds familiar...

Toys.  We have a problem in our house and I'm going to call it the abundance of toys effect.  Essentially when there are SO many toys accessible NONE of them get played with!  I think it is because we can never find all the pieces for those dreaded toys with removal parts and we forget about what we have!  So I took all of Grace's toys and went to work!

First, I set apart "all the time toys".  This included books, puzzles, a few specific lovies and a couple things she plays with every day.  Then I piled everything else on the floor and started sorting.  All the pieces went with the right toy.  Toys we didn't play with EVER but were in great shape went to the church pile.  Toys that were loud and annoying went to the donate pile :).  Toys that were broken, missing pieces, or didn't work right went into the trash. 

Grace discovered a few treasures and started playing - that became pile one.  The rest of them got divided into four other buckets.  A few balls, one in each.  Here are a few cars, a couple in each bucket.  Lovies?  Divide them up!  By the time I was done I had toys she was playing with and four buckets of toys that I put back into the toy box where she can't get to them.  My thought is that when she seems to get bored with these toys, I'll swap them out for a new bucket.

I know part of it is the warm weather and the ability to run at free will on our back porch, but lately I feel like she has been happier, playing more independently and more self-entertaining.  I'm not sure how much this system comes into play but I'm pleased that she seems to be a happy little girl lately and wearing herself out having fun!

Thankful Thursdays Top Ten #48





It's Still Thursday!  :)

0. I am thankful for "Hey, are you busy?  Oh good, I'm currently in your hometown and I've got an hour."  from my best friend who was unexpectedly in town from 8 hours away!

1. I am thankful for the absolutely ridiculous playlist that is currently keeping me company including but not limited to Dashboard Confessional, Kenny Chesney, Roper and Good Charlotte.

2. I am thankful for a continued good bill of health for some twins I'm stoked to meet soon!

3. I am thankful for three young friends who came to play this morning.  I saw my life in a few years when I have five kids...and I kinda liked it :)  (Yes, I know it is ALL up to God and we may or may not even have more kids...but I liked it)

4. I am thankful for an awesome planning session and friend time with two of my lovely friends and Princess co-leaders!

5. I am thankful for sillyness:


2010.............GRACE...........2012

6. I am thankful for some awesome time lately with my husband and my parents!

7. I am thankful for little girls who were SO cooperative when their mommy was sick! 

8. I am thankful for this genius idea I had if I ever have another baby...it goes like this:

Facebook: BTW, I have a blog

Blog: BTW, I'm having a baby...

we'll see who pays attention!....and no, that was NOT an announcement or even a hint.  PS, if I do announce I have a blog on FB don't get too excited right away, I've been thinking about it.

9. I am thankful for getting stuff done which has meant trying to get up early and burning the late night oil.

10.  I am thankful for both my girls asleep in the same room (AND OUT OF MY ROOM!...at least for tonight).  It only took 45 minutes for Abi to stop crying.  I wish I had a recording.  Grace sounded something like this...

(concerned) Abi, it's ok...

(gently) It's ok Abi, don't cry...

(firmly) Abi.  It's ok. No crying.

(seriously) ABI. No Crying.

(meaning it now) ABI NO CRYING IN BASEBALL.

Then she was upset because I wouldn't let her sleep WITH Abi in the crib...at least I think that's why she was upset...it was noisy.

I apologize for the excessive use of punctuation.  I'm tired :)



Recovering From Sick

I should definitely be in bed but I wanted to brag on my kids for a minute.  I spent a good part of today REALLY not feeling well.  My little girls spent the day playing in the living room while I hung out on the couch.  They were troopers!  I was so proud of them - how well they played, how nice they were and how much rest I got.

I decided Grace deserved a treat (and lets face it, I was really hoping the ice cream truck had orange push pops). 

Coupons Delight Me

Target: Spent 18.18

Johnson's Baby Lotion 2.44
   $1 off coupon, .75 off coupon = .69

Up and Up Sponges 1.69
   $1 off coupon = .69

Aquafresh Toothpaste .97
   $1 off coupon = Free

Up and Up Toothbrush 1.29
   $1 off coupon = Free

Carefree Liners x2 = .98 each
   2 x $1 off coupon = Free

Schick Razor and Refill = 24.49
   1.50 coupon x 2; $4 coupon; $2 coupon; $5 Gift Card Savings: 10.49

Total Saved: 14.66 (45% savings)



Meijer: Spent 40.59

Contact Lens Solution 1.50
   $2 off coupon = Free

I Can't Believe It's Not Butter x2 5.38
   Sale 1.50each; $1 off in store promo; 1.25 coupon x 2 = FREE

Coffemate Creamer = 13.96
   Sale 2/$6; $1 off coupon x 3; $4 register rewards = 6.00

Hair Color = 17.98
   Buy 1 Get 1 50% off; $3 coupons = 10.48

Paper Towels 3.49
   Half off, $1 coupon = .74

Bath Tissue x2 = 9.98
   Half off, $1 coupon = 3.99

Suave Hair Spray x2 3.58
   $1 off in store promo; 1.00 coupon = 1.58

Suave Mousse x2 5.68
  $1 off in store promo; 1.00 coupon = 3.58

Bread 1.49
   1.49 coupon = FREE

Lipton Soup Mix x4 = 5.36
   Sale 4/$5; In store promo $2 off = 3.00

V8 Splash 48oz x3 = 6.57
   On sale $2/4; $1 off 2 coupon; $2 Register Reward = 3.00

Duncan Hines Cake = 1.50
   Sale 1.25; .70 coupon = .55

Meijer Bacon 3.99
   Sale 2.99
Carrots .89
Onion 1.11
Celery 1.50
Evaporated Milk .99

Total Saved: 46.90 (54% savings, would have been better without extra things needed for Church)


TOTAL SPENT: 58.77
TOTAL SAVED:  61.56 (51%)

Thankful Thursdays Top Ten #47

This was a good weekend. 

1 .Grace at Carribean Cove Waterpark

2. Time with my Great Aunt and Great Uncle - the kids LOVED them!

3. My Aunt's great idea to take Grace to a bounce house!

4. Watching her enthusiasm.  Can't wait to crop and edit this picture!

5. MOMMY ROBOT - Grace has been telling me she
is a robot every day since we saw this.  It generally also
includes a sticker on her mouth...not sure why :)

6. Talking on the Barbie phone!

7. My dear friend Morgan.  She made this trip amazing.
Could not have done it without her!  Yes, she was really
enthusiastic about Barbie!

8. They had an amazing Mr Potato Head display.  Grace had a great
time putting them together! (As did Morgan and I!)

9. Digging for dinosaur bones! :)

10. Abi enjoying the soft play area at the museum.  She was such a trooper!

We had a blast!

Thankful Thursdays Top Ten #46

This has been a hard week.  I feel like my kids have been crazy and frankly, I miss their smiles.  I hate having to discipline and thinking about if she understands.  If she gets why it isn't ok to pinch or bite.  Why whining isn't acceptable and why we can't always get our own way.  It has been sleepless nights, runny noses and lots of prayer.

In the midst of it...

1) I am thankful for smiles and laughter and fun and hugs and giggles and kisses.

2) I am thankful for the five young ladies who recently graduated from our Princess Program.

Yes, that is a 22 passenger stretch SUV that we got to ride in...

3) I am thankful for the continued healthy news about babies that I can't wait to meet!

4) I am thankful for a weekend vacation with my good friend Morgan.  I seriously love her and am so thankful for her!  (Also thankful to get this stack of gum off my desk!  Ha ha!)

5) I am thankful - ok, I am super pumped which is the same thing right? - that my Lazy Mom tip is supposed to go on imalazymom.com tomorrow!  Ha ha, nerd much?

6) I am thankful for my no kidding, office grade copy machine.  I said "boss man, I need to order copies" and in return ended up with my very own legit copier.  Its even a Xerox....  no really, nerd much?

7) I am thankful that my kid gets to go swimming on Saturday.  She is EXCITED.

8) I am thankful I found a bathing suit within my budget that I like as much as one can like a bathing suit.

9) I am thankful for my dear friends who are always there for me.  I love knowing that I have faithful friends to call on!

10) I am thankful that His mercies are new every morning.