Wednesday, March 31, 2010

365/93







a few projects today...

since faye's crib is in our room, I had to do something with the empty space...

Olivia's Cafe
is what we're calling it.

seeing that there are some little friends coming over on saturday for olivia's birthday party, it was some good motivation.




- posted via my iPhone

pulled in all directions...

Everyone needs something... Something always needs done. Nothing is ever finished.

I brought into this world most of the things that need me to do something.

I am always giving and giving... I rarely receive. Most days, that's ok. But lately, I feel buried by everything I should be doing and everything I'm not doing well enough.

I'm screaming out inside and trying to save myself from being completely eaten alive by life.

There are too many things that scream for my attention all at once that I find myself unable to function and just barely getting by.

At the end of the day I have so many regrets...

My own thoughts are eating me alive. I am trying to save myself. I feel in over my head.

Alone in some ways...

I'm the only one it all relies on and yet I can't really turn to anyone.

I wouldn't have it any other way. My life that is...

I just want to figure out how to live it better and turn my mind off more. I don't want to be pulled in all directions to the point of immobility anymore...

I want to enjoy the little things and not think of everything else that also needs my attention...

I want to accomplish the things I want to ignore without thinking about what I'm missing out on...

I want to enjoy life and at the end of the day I want to feel like I tried my best, and be happy with the result.

I want to know that I am good enough. I want to feel it.

My standards are much too high though... I fear I will never know that feeling...

I've had recent glimpses and I've liked what I've seen.

I read once that it takes 11 days to form a habit. Doesn't work for me. It takes a mind-blowing realization...

Waiting for that to happen...

Tomorrow is coming. I'm exhausted already. But I'm gonna put on a brave face and fight this battle.

I must remind myself that I am not alone. HE cares for the same things I do. HE will renew me. In HIM I can find strength and validation...

I am off to find it!

But first I must sleep... Tomorrow is a new day!










Sorry all. Another wordy late night post.
I hope this makes sense in the morning...

- posted via my iPhone

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

365/92


a rare moment...
(she usually falls asleep in my arms not my shoulder) 

looking into vacation rentals online and she fell asleep. 
i found an excellent place! just working out the details.
it'll be the first real vacation for us. EVER. it's sad... 

i hope it becomes a yearly thing.







365/91





- posted via my iPhone

Friday, March 26, 2010

i was looking back...

at my old blog posts and i am so so glad that i blogged
all that i have. it truly is a little journal of my
 life with my family and something that i can
share with my kids as they get older. 

i just had to share again this adorable clip of my kids
singing and dancing to their uncle's song that amy did
back in september. 

so cute!

Livy & Liam Dancing to "Truth From Lies" from Amy Dunham on Vimeo.


Wednesday, March 24, 2010

We got to talking about Easter and...

Today I got to lead my daughter in a prayer to ask Jesus into her life.

It was a very simple prayer and a very sweet moment.

My grandpa led me in a prayer when I was four. I still remember.

Looking back at my life, I'm so blessed that I haven't wandered very far from the call that God placed on my life. But when I did wander and tried to do things on my own, He always gently and lovingly pulled me back to Him. Life is better when you are close to Him and His plans for you.

Most of the times I wandered off were out of confusion. I didn't understand who I was in Christ and I didn't understand His grace.

I like this little saying -

Grace is not a license to sin. It is the answer to sin.

Sad that some churches don't preach more on grace. I use to base my faith on what I was or was not doing for God versus just accepting the finished work of Jesus Christ. Life is easier when you aren't working so hard at getting God's love...

I was very careful to explain salvation and grace as best I could to my daughter. I don't want her to see herself as a sinful person that always needs to repent and get right with God. I want her to see herself as a person who was forgiven and who was saved from a life of sin and sadness and defeat.

I also explained that the Lord guides us and lives through us by prompting us to be nice and giving us the desire to do so. And how He gives us eyes to see the good things in life and in others. I don't want her to think that there is a tiny Jesus living in her heart like I did.

Telling kids about God and having to simplify it really makes you think...

Why do we make it more complicated then it needs to be?His grace is such a simple truth...





- posted via my iPhone

faye louise is...

4 months old!
(4 days ago)







she is now giggling, partially rolling over,
still not sleeping through the night, she loves 
people, gives open-mouth slobbery kisses,
and is currently teething! we all think that she
is pretty awesome. can't imagine our lives 
without her...

we ♥ you baby Faye!







(every month i'm taking her photo with a blanket my mom made for her)

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

365/82




Just a picture of me and my girls from over the weekend. I love them so much!



- posted via my iPhone

365/81




Yesterday I cut my first pineapple... Fresh pineapple is amazing!


I just realized it's a bit strange that I use my stove as a counter. It's usually because my free counter space is occupied by dishes that are air drying.


- posted via my iPhone

Monday, March 22, 2010

365/80







Yesterday we took the kids to a children's museum. It was a lot of fun! We had a great weekend.




Saturday night we had girl's night watching Shirley temple with my mother-in-law and Amy while our boys went to a basketball game (liam's first).

Sunday was church, lunch, museum, groceries, husband injuring his ankle, youth group, a deep conversation with a wondeful friend, and agreeing to talk to the girls in the youth group next week... Yikes!


Now to embrace the week I have ahead of me...

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and that you will all have a wonderful week!






posted via my iPhone

Saturday, March 20, 2010

365/79

I ♥ Saturdays!





everyone in our bed in the morning....





my men checking basketball stats...





she looks small when he holds her...






lunch at our favorite local Mexican restaurant (again)...












and now nap time!





posted via my iPhone

Friday, March 19, 2010

365/78































Today we went to the zoo. It was wonderful! We went with my friend Hannah and her daughter Ava.




-posted via my iPhone

Thursday, March 18, 2010

365/77














Baby's first time in her swing. Don't worry, I didn't push her. She just hung out!



- posted via my iPhone

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

365/76










Went and visited with my Hubby at a starbucks near his office. I love sunny days and getting out with the kids. This afternoon we're gonna take a walk! It's gorgeous outside!




posted via my iPhone

365/75




If only the day were filled with only kisses and hugs...



- posted via my iPhone

When you try to parent Liam...

When you give Liam a plate of food for dinner he's gonna want something else or none at all...

So you'll bargain and reason with no luck at all...

And when you try to reason with Liam you'll be wondering if the 'lights are on'...

And then he'll either be really cute or really irritating and you'll let him get down from the table...

Then he will go to bed. And if he goes to bed hungry you can expect him to ask for something...

He'll wake you from your slumber as you are just dozing off with a shrill cry for someone to come to his rescue and snuggle him...

And you'll think, as you settle in to snuggle him back to sleep, 'oh how nice to snuggle my little boy'

Within 5 minutes he'll be loudly demanding cereal and in sheer panic that he'll wake the girls you'll send him down to his daddy that is watching Lost...

And his daddy will feed him...

And then his daddy will fall into a deep slumber...

So then Liam will go through his daddy's wallet and pull everything out...

And when he's bored of that he'll roam the house...

He'll wake his mommy from the best sleep she's had in a long time and confuse her so much that she'll actually think it's morning and will continue to let him roam around.

He will destroy his sisters room. Wake up Faye for a second time (you a 4th) and turn on the lights and loudly demand more cereal...

So you'll look at your phone to see the time and much to your surprise it's only 2am.

You'll consider putting him in his bed but you know it will only result in a screaming fit that will wake up Olivia...

So you'll take him to daddy and let his daddy deal with him because there is a hungry tired baby in your bed that needs your attention...

So then he'll get more cereal and he'll watch tv and maybe just maybe he'll fall asleep...

I'll let you know...





- posted via my iPhone

Monday, March 15, 2010

project 52:6

This past Friday was our 6th wedding anniversary. We were to celebrate it on Saturday by going out to dinner and my mom was going to watch all three children.

As some of you know, I've been starting projects around the house and felt a bit in over my head. The house was a disaster. Olivia's room was half painted. The children hadn't been doing well with their temporary sleeping arrangements. Jess' car hadn't worked all week. The basement was wet and things were getting ruined. My weekend to-do list was growing and the thought of taking up a whole Saturday to get the kids ready and situated sounded exhausting. Plus, when Friday came around, I really wanted to celebrate on that day. We didn't get married on the 13th it was the 12th!!!!

On top of that, I had dug through tubs looking for our wedding album with no luck except a bunch of pictures of me when I was younger. Didn't think I had aged that much... and THEN my husband told me about a necklace he bought that I had wanted a while back and that it hadn't been shipped yet. I felt horrible because I hadn't gotten him anything because I wasn't informed that we were getting gifts...

So, I came up with a plan of sorts that I wasn't sure would work out. I wanted to keep it a secret from Jess. I asked my mom to take Olivia and Liam for the night vs. all three children on Saturday evening. She agreed to do it. Good. One thing down...

Next was the house. I kept telling myself to just make it look good enough for one night. No need to deep clean. So I shoved a bunch of stuff into our office and Liam's room, shut the door, lit some candles, and vacuumed....

I also made pot roast that was going to be for dinner anyways and made a mad dash to the store for some sparkling grape juice (i'm nursing) and the makings for cookie sundaes.

I got home with 30 minutes to spare to throw it all together. And I did just that, knowing that my husband would be 30 minutes late.

An awesome co-worker of my husband's, who lives down the street, graciously drove him to work all week. She had a de-humidifier that she had been wanting to give us since we moved in here so they stopped by her house and picked it up.

When they came to the door he was fully expecting to come home to a chaotic household and I think even warned her so. (she's lucky that i'm not an answer-the-door-naked kind of girl) I greeted them with a half naked baby I was in the middle of changing but other then that the house was clean and dinner was set up and the older two kids were at my moms.

He was really surprised. As far as he knew we were just gonna have a regular evening and celebrate on Saturday. The good dad he is though, he missed the kids and was sad he hadn't seen them all day and now all evening but I don't think he minded too much...

How could he complain when he saw this?




We sat and talked. I ate way too fast (as usual). And, we enjoyed a quiet dinner at home. I have always wanted to do this and it was perfect...




Then we got bored and decided to tackle our to-do list. So, we headed out to Target and Lowe's and bought a bunch of crap to tackle more projects... Happy Anniversary to us! 

I am sooo my mother's daughter... Sorry babe!

BUT we did get back around 10 and had our cookie sundaes and caught up on our shows. Then we woke up on Saturday and worked on our daughter's room all day. Literally. (we didn't finish until 1am on Sunday). The kids wanted to stay another night at my parents' and my parents were crazy enough to agree. We were thrilled!  We took a dinner break and ate at one of my favorite local mexican restaurants. It was lovely and was a bonus date to us.. Not to mention, we ended up getting a whole weekend practically to ourselves!

It was a lovely way to spend our anniversary weekend and we are so thankful to my parents for keeping the kids. (Thank you!!!!)


need a change in your marriage? it's never too late to join!

Project 52: Date Nights logo


(2 things: you finally got another picture of me. i met all the necessary requirements for this date. AND that is the dining room re-do i hinted at last week. it was a horrible smoker's yellow/poop color two tone thing and then we had painted it all white and now that lovely shade of sandy beige aka valspar oat bran)


a little update...

on olivia's bedroom...

over the weekend we took it from this....



to this...





it has a little ways to go but, for now, it's pretty cute...