Random Wednesday

A couple of summer’s ago we were living with my parents while we were waiting for our house to get finished.  We had to come up with our own entertainment.  Out of desperation one afternoon I sent the kids out with sponges and kitchen soap.  I pulled out anything in the garage that would be entertaining for them to “wash”.  It ended up being called the Bike Wash.  It kept them entertained forever.  This is one of their favorite summer past times.  It is the first thing they ask to do during the summer.  It is one of our summer traditions created at Grandma’s house. 

 

Random Wednesday

I finally get to sit down at my computer for the first time all day.  In silence.  SO nice!

I just want to record a couple of stories real quick.  Time for me to journal.

*I love my kids.  Both of my stories have to do with them.  Casey has been out of town the last couple of days.  We always have Family Home Evening on Mondays.  Casey usually gets things rolling with it.  Well, now it was up to me.  I was trying to juggle everything in the evening; dinner, clean up, baths, clean up, Ady down to bed and I really wanted a shower.  By this time it was almost 9:00.  The kids were getting impatient with me, wanting to start FHE.  BUT I was going to have my shower…NOW.  So I did.  With 3 kids coming in and out asking me if I was done yet…sheesh! 

Finally I am done and I’m walking towards the stairs and Jake leans down from upstairs and says, “You know mom, you really aren’t keeping track of time.  It’s almost 9:30.”  I said, “I know what time it is Jake.  Thanks.  Why do you guys want to do FHE so bad?”  They all say, “We just like to!!!”

Hearing that  made me smile and get goose bumps.  My kids enjoy having Family Home Evenings.  Who knew!  It made me happy to think that we have taught them something.  I realized that all of that hard work and being consistent really does pay off.  Their daddy would have been proud of them.

*Today we tried something new around here.  After I woke up this morning I came out and had a little chat with my kids.  I told them that we were going to try something new today and I didn’t want to hear their opinion until they thought about it for one minute.  Then I told them that we weren’t going to turn the T.V on all day.  Not once.   Kaylee said, “Reeaallllyyy???”  (with excitement in her voice).  I said, “Yes.”  Then Kaylee said “Yeah!  Lets go do a puzzle Jake.” and they both ran upstairs to start a puzzle.

Hmmmmm…OK what???  I was left standing there thinking my kids were CrAzY.  Weren’t they supposed to be thinking I was CrAzY?  Whatever.  It worked.  They played so good and got along the best I have ever seen them.  It is only day one, but we are going to keep this up and see how it goes.       

*Today I did a little photo shoot with Miss A.  She is 8 months old.  Here is a sneak peak.  I’ll do her post and share more photos soon.  I love, love, love her!

 

 

P.S.  I have had some questions about printing blog books.  Blurb is a good site.  I did my 2008 blog book with them.  I also print my scrapbooks there.   My friend Alison has printed a couple of books from them  and another company. Here is her post on what she recommends.

Random Wednesday

Today for our alphabet we chose the letter D.  Drew loved doing his worksheet this morning because that is his letter.  We went with our friends the Dickamore’s to see a movie.  D is for Dad, especially in the month of June.  Dad  made us shishcabobs tonight for dinner.  They were Dang good.  We love our Daddy! He’s the best! He is ours for Eternity. 

Random Wednesday

I have been doing a lot of thinking lately.  I ran across this quote a week or so ago.  It’s been on mind since.

Hmmmm…

I want to teach that to my children. 

I want them to know that they can do anything they put their minds to.  Even if they aren’t the BEST at something, they will still learn so much about themselves from trying and grow in ways they can’t imagine.

I want them to know that their Dad and I will be behind them, cheering them on in whatever dream they work to aspire.

Then I started thinking about myself.

Hmmmm…

What dreams do I have?  What am I trying to aspire?

I was stumped and felt a little frustrated. 

I have lots of loves/hobbies in my life.  Photography, Blogging, Scrapbooking, Decorating, (to name my faves) but nothing I was really trying to shoot big for. 

The more I thought about it, the more I got confused. 

I kept wondering if there is a path out there that I am  supposed to take that I haven’t thought of yet.

Something that I am supposed to do more of or do more with.

Just yesterday I ran across this quote: 

"God expects you to have enough faith and determination and enough trust in Him to keep moving, keep living, keep rejoicing. In fact, He expects you not simply to face the future (that sounds pretty grim and stoic); He expects you to embrace and shape the future--to love it and rejoice in it and delight in your opportunities.

God is anxiously waiting for the chance to answer your prayers and fulfill your dreams, just as He always has. But He can't if you don't pray, and He can't if you don't dream. In short, He can't if you don't believe."
— Jeffrey R. Holland

Hmmmm…

So I did just that. 

I prayed and pondered for some direction.  Some sort of revelation that I am on the right track. 

Once again I received my answer. 

For me, it’s always the same answer. 

Family, Family, Family.  My time and talents need to be used to bless my family right now.  I have them to bless the lives of my husband and children and others around me. 

That is my big dream right now.  The thing I am trying to aspire.  My family.  My season for other dreams will come later.  And I feel good about that. 

I am thankful for prayers being answered.  Even the ones that seem so obvious.  Even the ones I already know the answer to.

Even when all I need is a little clarity.

********************************************************************************************

And on a totally different note,

Since this is a Random Wednesday post here is a random picture from this morning.

Dear Drew,

This is why mommy tells you not to climb.

I love you,

Mom

Random Wednesday…on Thursday night, almost Friday

I thought I would do a quick post on some misc. projects I have been up to. 

Clothespin Magnets.  These were Mother’s Day magnets I had the girls in Activity Days make for their Mothers.  They wrote a nice letter to their moms and then hung them on the fridge with these cute magnets for them to find. 

This was a super easy and fun project.  They look so cute on the fridge!  I have them on mine.  We just wrapped one side of the clothes pin with ribbon, attaching it with a strip of hot glue.  Then cut circles out of 3 different fabrics.  Each circle a different size so you can layer them.  I frayed the edges with my fingertips to give it more of a shabby look and then hot glued a jewel to the center.  When I was done with that I hot glued a magnet to the backside.  I bought good magnets.  I don’t like when you get a home made magnet and you can’t even use it. 

Simple and cute!

 

Armoire Makeover.  When Andrea was here we went crazy re-doing the armoire in my family room.  This has been on my list for a long time.  What a wonderful friend to help me pick out a color and paint while on her vacation!  It turned out great and I so appreciate her help, oh yeah and so does Casey.

Before

and After

 

I love it!  It brightened the family room up so much and added a little bit of fun to it.  I love the unexpected punch of color.

Then there is my Summer Banner.

It is hanging on a mirror in my entryway.

 

Do you see the fabric above the S that says “the joy of”?  I knew I would need a reminder about how much I truly love summer.  It is my favorite time of year.  So I made this banner and put it where we (especially me) will see it often.  I hope it will keep me excited about Summer, even on those days when I’m ready to pull my hair out and dying to see that yellow bus come by!

I have been working my little tail off around here getting all prepared for summer.  I’m going to dedicate the next week to posts about that.  Stay tuned for some summer ideas. 

Random Wednesday

 

Weekend + 3 days  = Visit from BFF’s

Krysta + Andrea = Inspiration

Old Armoire + Shabby green paint = Awesome new piece of furniture

Surrounded by Love + Wonderful Memories = Amazing Mother’s Day

Crazy + Beautiful Mess = 8 kids under 9

Baseball Game + Movie + Golf = Happy Husbands

Late nights + Naps = Vacation

A Girls day out shopping + Husbands watching kids = Awesome Mother’s Day present

Being on time + Giving talk in Sacrament Meeting = Spiritual learning experience

Kettle Cooked Jalepeno Chips x 2 = Yummy, yum

Sugar Cookies + Melt in your mouth frosting = Can’t get enough

Tuesday + Moes Kids = Ditch School

All dressed up + Charming Farm = Got to play photographer

Wednesday + Company gone = Sad :(

Random Wednesday

Ten random happenings in my world these days. (no particular order)

1.  I am trying really hard to go to bed on time (11:30) but it just doesn’t happen.  1:00 is normal and has been for awhile.  That is not a good thing.

2.  Ady says mama…melt my heart!

3.  I have to give a talk on Sunday in Sacrament Meeting.  My topic is on being Instruments in the Hands of God.

4.  I have been bitten by the organizing bug!  I am dying to tear my closets and cupboards apart before school is out and the kids are home for the summer. 

5. Being over 30 years old is starting to catch up to me.  I am switching to Diet Coke or no Coke at all.  I hate that I have to do that!  I am trying to watch what I eat a little more and I need to start exercising.  Oh yeah…and go to sleep earlier.

6.  We are looking forward to a visit from our Arkansas friends (family) this weekend.  Can’t wait!!

7.  I am struggling with Drew right now…disciplining that is.  He cries over everything and gets mad over everything.  Nothing seems to be just right.  I do love tokens though and would highly recommend this to anyone.

8.  It is this time of year again.

We are on our third week of daily swim practice for the swim team.  All is well.  Kaylee and Jake are loving it and doing awesome!  Kaylee is going to start competing in the butterfly.   

9.  When swim season comes it means this is what my laundry room looks like everyday and will until summer is over.

(Except add 3 more suits and 3 more towels.)   

10.  It also means lots of ponytails for me.  It means Ady gets a bottle once a day or I feed her in the car.  It means super easy dinners.  It means hanging out with neighborhood friends.  It means I finally need to get smart and invest in one of those hand held fans!

Random Wednesday

This is my new idea for a weekly post.  Hopefully it will keep me in the routine of posting even when I think there might not be anything worth posting about.  There is always something to blog about, right?  So on Wednesdays anything goes for me.  We’ll see if I can keep it up. :)

I figured out my Mothers Day gifts and I am  EXCITED!!! A little blog reading yesterday and I am set.  I love blogs for that reason.  They are so helpful and inspiring and I love that we women share the goods in our life.  We all have been given talents and this is such a wonderful way to share them, whether it be through our inspiring words and thoughts, our projects and ideas, photography, recipes, our personal goals or sharing our cute families and fun things we do.  Whatever it is.  Blogging is inspiring and such a fun way to learn and grow. 

OK enough of my soap box.  Here is what I’m going to be working on this weekend.  Mothers in my life – do not click on these links.  Unless you don’t want it to be a surprise.  That’s up to you.  I will have them in the mail to you next week. 

This is what I am doing for my Mother-in-Law and This is what I’m doing for my mom.  I’m going to get my sewing machine out!  Can you believe it?  I know they are like super easy sewing projects, but I don’t sew, remember?  I’ll let you know how they turn out.  

Another piece of random…I hobbled along with Drew on his school field trip today. 

                       My foot is paying for it now but he was happy.  I sure love him!