Better and Faster

One of my most favorite kids book is "Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel". I love how even though all the steam shovels get cast aside for the newer and better models, Mike keeps his Maryann. And how a re-occurring line is "we always work better and faster when someone is watching us". And how the town mayor "smiles in a rather mean way" until the very end when he smiles in a way that is not mean at all. I never really thought about WHY I like the book so much, I just knew I did.

Well, yesterday Craig was home sick and so it was a really awkward day. First of all, he never gets sick, and second of all he's never home when the kids are in school and I'm going about my daily routine. It just doesn't happen so it felt kind of weird. But I continued as I would on any other day, and at the end of the day I was reflecting on just how much I accomplished. I folded clothes, I cleaned both bathrooms, the kitchen was tidy, I practiced piano with Wyatt, I went grocery shopping.....it was just a good day. I kinda realized that part of it was because I had someone watching me (even though he was napping 1/2 the time :). Then I thought of good ol' Mike Mulligan and Maryann and realized that I, too, work a little better and a little faster when someone is watching me.

There are days I feel lazy and the daily tasks around the house seem very unappealing. But what I realized is that even though no one may be here to watch me, I can still take every day as an opportunity to work a little better and a little faster.....cause God sees.

Enough of my rambling. Just go check out the book. Maybe you'll love it as much as I do!

The costume saga...

Wyatt is an imaginative and creative child and he really likes to do things "outside the box". So coming up with a Halloween costume he's happy with seems like a saga every year. We have half a dozen costumes here at home that he could choose from, but like I said he has his own ideas. His first one was an artist. I thought that could be doable but Craig wasn't real excited about his son wearing a beret and Wyatt quickly moved on with his ideas, anyway. Since then he has suggested:

The statue of liberty (cute idea, but she's a girl)
St. Patrick
A yodeler (I'm not kidding, he begged on this one saying he really wanted to wear knickers and a purple vest)
A person from China
A Duke or Knight or Prince (but once he's heard that Anna was really excited about him being a prince he changed his mind)

Our most current idea was a mouse, more specifically fieval (sp?) the mouse from An American Tale. I tried making him a mouse costume by sewing felt ears on a gray hooded sweatshirt....but then I realized fieval wears clothes and hat....so would anyone be able to tell what he was?? It just wasn't working out for me and I need simple this year.

I think I have finally convinced him to be a ninja (a costume from our trunk). I just hope he can stay convinced of that idea for another two days!

Company girl friday......

I couldn't get the company girl coffee logo to post, but if your here from Home Sanctuary you're at the right place. I am slowly getting used to fall and settling into a routine. My body is adjusting to the cold and it's kinda fun to pull out sweaters and sweatshirts I haven't seen for a year! This past weekend I took the boys down to the park for some photo's. I only order the smallest package of school photos cause they usually don't turn out so good....but ya gotta have at least one for the scrapbook, right?

So I took a few fall pictures to give to family. And, today I need your help. I picked the best ones and you get to vote on your fav:

Wyatt #1

Wyatt #2


Wyatt #3


Will #1




Will #2





Will #3

Pick one favorite of each boy and post it in a comment. I'm making reprints, but I'm having trouble deciding which ones.....

I've also caught the sewing bug again lately and have been whipping up a bunch of these re-use able grocery bags. I'm intending on giving a lot away as gifts, but I got to thinking....what if I could sew up even more and try to sell them at a Holiday Bazaar? That is where I need your help. I am terrible at deciding how to price things. So, if this were something you would buy, how much would you pay for it? It's lined inside with a coordinating fabric and the dimensions are very similar to a brown paper grocery bag. But it's easier to carry, holds a lot, and is way cuter. And what mommy doesn't want to look fashionable while carrying their groceries from their mini van to their kitchen?

Leave me a post of what you think would be a reasonable asking price. Anything goes....I won't be offended!



The inside lining and straps....

Ready to put those groceries into your pantry!

I'm continually inspired by Home Sanctuary to create one of my own. My favorite place to decorate is the top of my piano. It's kinda like my mantle since we don't have a fireplace. I found these little tea light holders at Wal-mart for $.50 after a friend told me about them. Actually she and Craig conspired a plan in which she had our whole house filled with glowing tea lights right before we came home from a date! They are great for adding a little glow at a low cost (and they can be quite romantic as well!)

The kids and I gathered leaves on a walk the other day so I scattered them about, too. And a few weeks ago I used some old wood Craig had snagged for me to make the "Faith Hope Love" sign above the piano.

Now, don't forget to vote!! :)

crashed

Monday's are early release days for Will so he gets out at 1:40. I love having a longer afternoon at home with the kids, but it sure messes with Anna's nap schedule. Sometimes I put her down a little early and she squeezes in a nap before we leave. Or sometimes she'll fall asleep in the car for a bit if we have to run into town after picking him up. But yesterday her and Wyatt were playing well together and time got away from me, so I never put her down for a nap. Craig had to ref a volleyball game and then go straight into Salem so he wouldn't be home til late, anyway. So, I decided to let her skip the nap and put them all to bed early and have a night of peace and quiet to sit on the couch and read my book. Around 4:00 I came out to the family room where the 3 were watching a cartoon and found this.......

She likes to lay under the coffee table and watch TV....
But apparently she is not quite ready to give up her naps!

My plan didn't work out like I'd hoped. While the boys watched TV and banged around on the piano....Anna slept. I woke her up around 5:00 and she was crabby! She's one of those kids who I try to avoid waking up from a nap! So, much for my quiet evening with kids in bed at 7:00. She finally fell asleep around 8:30 or so. But I did get some cute pictures of my sleeping beauty!

Better luck next Monday!

Cider

This was cider pressin' weekend for us! Everyone in my family has been scrounging apples this past week and we all got together on Saturday to use them up. We ended up with about 12 gallons of cider and it sure is yummy! My mom reminisced about how the year they bought this apple cider press I was 10 months old and watched them make cider from a play-pen! That was a little nostalgic for me as I realized my kids are now older then I was then, and they are participating in the cider tradition.

Here's grandpa giving Will a lesson on tossing in the apples:

Wyatt putting one down the chute!
Sampling the juice.....
Pressing the juice! Each kid got a chance to fill a barrel and then press the juice, with a little help from the strong daddy's, if needed.
Look at the color! We had a good variety of apples to mix in.
We finished up and headed inside for some warm soup. It was another fun fall day!

my sweet stubborn girl

I don't think I realized just how stubborn Anna was until we began toilet training. If you recall I blogged about my gearing up to potty train nearly NINE months ago. Try I did, a handful of times, none of which were very successful. We've been back and forth between princess panties, pulls ups and diapers! Finally, late in July I decided it was time. All or nothing, baby. Three months and I don't even know how many accidents I cleaned up or pairs of poopy underwear I opted to just throw away, but it is FINISHED! She can do it! She's trained, in fact I just had to pause and go wipe her bottom. And only a mom could relate to how excited I was to do it!

Of course she'll still have an occasional accident, I'm sure. But I no longer have to fight the stubbornness or keep tabs on her all day reminding/persuading her to go to the bathroom. She's growing up and this is one milestone I am not the least bit sentimental to have crossed off the list. If I learned anything through this process with my kids it's no two are alike!

Anna can be a mix of sweet and stubborn. Every day I hear at least 15 times, "Mommy, I love you sooooooo much" sometimes it's said in all sweetness with a hug and a kiss. Sometimes it's used as a ploy to get her way. Some days we have the best time together, carrying on conversations, and running errands in the mornings, when she's fresh and more likely to be obedient. But sometimes her stubbornness weighs out......

We were out a couple evenings ago playing at a park. It was surrounded by a chain link fence that had periodic breaks in it for people to pass through, like little door/openings. When it was time to go I was heading down the street and called for Anna to come through the little opening in the fence down where I was. I used a little tactic I hoped she would fall for saying, "c'mon Anna, it's short cut" and she started heading down to where I was. But instead of coming through the opening she stopped about 10 feet back and started climbing OVER the chain link fence. I decided to act like I was ignoring her, and see if she could make it over. I would venture to say the fence was nearly as tall as me and up she went, over, and down the other side. All to exert her independence and show her mommy that she has her own way of doing things.

It's just a small thing really, just a small example of a little thing called stubbornness. But it's amazing how when I really look inside my kids, see their challenges and struggles, try to understand what's going on in their little minds.....how often I am reminded that I can be a lot like them. God has a special path for us to take, our own special "short cut". He sees the bigger picture, and knows the easiest route. Yet, so many times I stop before I even get to the opening he has all laid out for me, and struggle over that fence. Sure, we ended up at the same place. But the process could have been so much easier. It was a real life example of how surrender and trust in Him is what He wants from us, just as we desire that from our children. I mean, wouldn't life be SO much easier if our kids NEVER disobeyed and ALWAYS did what we asked them? Ya, I'm sure that's what God has thought about me a time or two! But just like a loving parent, He is patient with us. And it inspires me to press on in my parenting Anna. To be diligent in teaching and training her. And to be more patient with my sweet stubborn girl.

pics from the patch

Last friday was a no school day so after a late breakfast the kids and I headed out to the pumpkin patch. They had a blast, and I enjoyed my time with them......watching them play and enjoy the season of fall.....

me from A-Z

A. Attached or Single? Attached
B. Best Friend? Craig
C. Cake or pie? cake, something chocolate and ooey gooey
D. Day of choice? Saturday
E. Essential item? my contacts, I'm so blind without them
F. Favorite color? yellow
G. Gummy bears or worms? neither
H. Home town? Salem, OR.
I. Favorite indulgence? pedicure or hair weave
J. January or July? July
K. Kids? three
L. Lfe isn’t complete without? a relationship with Jesus Christ
M. Marriage date? May 30, 1998
N. Number of brothers and sisters? 2 sister, 1 brother
O. Oranges or Apples? This time of year, apples. But I really love them both.
P. Phobias? mice in my house
Q. Quotes? "we love God best when we love each other well" ~Steven Curtis Chapman
R. Reasons to smile? my sweet kids faces. Especially when they're asleep at night. And my wonderful husband who's mowing the lawn right now.
S. Season of choice? Spring
T. Tag 2 people: Alysun, Christi
U. Unknown fact about me? my lamb won grand champion in 8th grade 4-H
V. Vegetable? I honestly can't think of one I don't like
W. Worst habit? not showering 'til right before I have to pick up Will from school
X. X-ray or Ultrasound? Ulrasounds of my little ones.
Y. Your favorite food? coconut shrimp, thai mango chicken, chocolate
Z. Which zoo animal is your favorite? Polar Bears

Hunting 2008

Spending time with family
enjoying God's wonderful creation






camping out in a warm trailer while it rained
rejoicing when the sun came out
crawling through a culvert


Discovering a natural "root wall" and making it to the top




splashing in mud puddles
catching frogs in the creek


taking turns riding the quads
no buck for Craig....but
2 for the camp
watching my kids enjoy nature and being together as a family
carrying on a tradition that lives in Craig's heart












And I couldn't resist a flashback from 4, yes that's 4 years ago, same time, same place!

We are home. I am on my 7th load of laundry. I've washed my hair three times and it still smells like a campfire.

But it was all worth it!

Company Girl Coffee: Mission Statement

I have been following Rachel Anne's blog Home Sanctuary for some time now, but I wasn't around back at the beginning of the year when she wrote about a Housekeeping Mission Statement. She revisited that idea this week and I thought it was great. I am constantly feeling bogged down with everything that needs to get accomplished in a day, and was in need of some perspective. I wrote out words and phrases that were important to me and then pulled it all together to create a Button Housekeeping Mission statement:

Our home will be a refuge. A place with a balance of fun and laughter, peace and order. A place where everyone feels safe and loved.

Our home will not be picture perfect, but it will be inviting to others. I will let go of my needs for perfection and work toward a home that is livable and functional. Our home will be full of things we love so that the people I love can grow and thrive.

I will make it a goal to give my children tasks and teach them the importance of working together as a family to help our home run like a well oiled machine.

Lastly, our home will be filled with prayer and the direction of the holy Spirit.

If you make the Most High your dwelling- even the Lord, who is my refuge- then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; ~Psalm 91:9-11

So there's my new perspective for the amazing and wonderful job I have. My next goal is to print if off and post it. Visit Home Sanctuary for more ideas and try your own Mission Statement!

Rain

As I was falling asleep last night to the sounds of thunder and rain, I couldn't help but think of how this would affect my morning. Anna and I have established a pretty good schedule of walking in the mornings after the boys are off at school, and it is probably my most favorite part of the day. Breathing the fresh fall air and clearing my mind charges me up for the day and I look forward to it. Spending one on one time with Anna and hearing her chatter the whole way is so special.

It was still raining this morning, and I was disappointed to have to put my walk on hold. I started my Life Journaling for the day and was reading in Psalm 147. I got to verse 8 and read:

He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes the grass grow on the hills.

My outlook was immediately changed and I thanked God for the rain I'm sure we needed. Isn't it just our human nature to grumble and complain about things because we don't see the whole picture of how the Lord is working in our lives? I know that is my tendency. But God used something as small as a rainy morning to show me that His plans are the best, and that I can trust him to take care of me!