In which I share my heart

I started this blog nearly 4 years ago. At that point in my life I had a newborn, a 4.5 year old, and a 2.5 year old. I was an at home mommy and blogging for my family and reading other blogs served as mommy time for me. My blog has given me an outlet for all my tales and the things I was experiencing in my days with little ones. I linked up with other mommy bloggers and developed cyber support and relationships. I felt connected to the outside world during those long days at home.


Today, I have two boys in school for 6 hours a day and an almost 4 year old, who is becoming more and more independent as the days go by. We have homework, practices, and/or church most weeknights. Our weekends are full of activity, work, and play as a family. In just a few short years my "season" of mommy hood has changed. I haven't changed my own child's diaper in over a year. And I find myself blogging a little less, and perhaps about different things.


I value the blog and the outlet it gives me. I love peeking in on the lives of everyone on my google reader, and still find lot of support here. I love that my family members and friends who live hours away can peak into our lives and get a glimpse at what we've been up to.
But, as evidenced my my last couple posts, I think I'll be blogging a bit less these days.


As I'm sure I've said before, I don't do change very well. Fall is here, my babies are growing up right before my eyes, and my days feel relatively quiet with just me and my side-kick, Anna. I feel it coming, but in some ways I am resistant. Some mommies dream of the days all their babies are in school. I admit it, I dream of having another baby.


I am not one to give advice, but I have to say: If you are a mommy like I was 4 years ago, live in the moment. Cherish those loud, busy, never ending days at home. Keep on keeping on. Read your kiddos a book, or twenty. Be silly and spontaneous. Take advantage of every impressionable moment. I am hopeful that I did that most days. But I know it never hurts to be reminded.


I am faithful that this new season in mommy hood will be every bit as enjoyable as the last. I do get excited when I look in Will's 8 year old face and can see both a glimpse of the baby he was, and the young man he is becoming. It's an exciting thing. But still, my heart seems to catch in my throat when I write about it. So I cling to this verse:

Being confident of this,

that he who began a good work in you

will carry it on to completion

until the day of Christ Jesus. ~Phil 1:6

There ARE a couple things I don't miss....

....boy, these were sure fun days, though! (She said 5 years later :)

~Wyatt fall 2004

Another first day....

I was feeling pretty prepared for the boys' first day of school. I was about to fix dinner and wrap up the evening when a migraine struck. I took my prescription and headed to bed. "Can you please keep the kids quiet for a little while?", I asked Craig.

I've been struggling with migraine headaches ever since high school, and although it is a pretty minor issue God has taught me so much through my little struggle. Every time I get one, I always find myself in a conversation with God. Asking Him questions like, "why me?", "why now?" and, "why haven't you healed me?"

Yet always, He seems to speak to me in my time of suffering, when my head feels like it's going to explode, and I wish for a hammer to crack it open. As I'm puking and shaking because the pain is just to much to take.

"I've got you though it before, trust me to get you through this one. Have I ever given you reason to doubt Me?"

He did get me through it, and my family blessed me so much last night. Craig fixed dinner. The kids came to check on me, gave me kisses on my forehead and said they would pray for my headache to go away. Right before their bedtime Craig came in to see if I could get up for a minute. Out in the living room were three lit candles each representing our kids. Craig shared about how the candles represented them and how they were to be light in a dark place. He read some scriptures. Then we took communion as a family. We have never done that before (besides at church) and as Craig prayed over the bread (ritz crackers) and juice (kool-aid), the tears rolled.

I felt complete peace, despite my pounding head and I knew God was holding me. What would normally be a hugely stressful day for me, was fun and joyful. Recently I heard a pastor share about fear. His statement was "Fear is the absence of Faith". That really struck a chord with me, so lately when I feel fear rising up in me, over my kids, myself, my future, I try to speak blessings of faith over what I am fearing.

Jesus said to his disciples, "My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth." ~John 17:15-17

Our school year is off....and I will keep praying these blessing of faith over my children.

I cannot take credit for the notes on their cereal bowls. I copied that idea.

The three

First and Third


Sweet Brothers

We are close enough to walk to school....who does that, these days?

Wyatt getting settled....

Will finding his seat...he's like, "okay mom, hurry up and take the picture..."

Can you guess what Anna and I did before brothers got home?

Fun Summer Activity #5: Swim, swim, and swim some more

Step 1: sign your kids up for two weeks of swimming lessons

Step 2: get invited to house-sit for friends with a pool for 10 days

Step 3: watch your kiddos fall asleep everyday as soon as their heads hit the pillows

As you can tell, we've been doing some swimmin'. Lots and lots of it.

Also some sitting on the side with feet in the pool.

Daddy train

Making up tons of jumps, including the turn-around, the star, and the shredder

going off the diving board

and turning into little fish!

I'm really going to miss that pool.

Fort Stevens

We've been busy and on the go lately, and here is a bit of what we've been up to. We spent some more time camping with some of our good friends at Fort Stevens. We had LOTS of fun, and LOTS of pictures to follow:

The three at Fort Clatsop, dressed in Lewis and Clark garb

5 of the 6 kiddos peering off the dock
W & W getting ready to climb the Astoria Column

We made it to the top! Made me dizzy, but was worth the gorgeous view. The kids each had a glider to send down.

Family shot

Finding beachy treasures

Drake and Anna chasing seagulls

The daddy's helping built the ultimate sand castle (while mommy's sat on beach chairs and relaxed!)

Sippin' a capri sun in Front of the Pirate ship (Peter Iredale)

Exploring Battery Russel

Not Pictured:

S'mores

Kids playing the in sand in our campsite

Numerous bike rides

Late night talks around the fire after the kiddos were asleep

Yummy breakfasts

Dogs being pulled in baby bike buggies

Fishing at Coffenbury Lake

& countless other memories

Thanks for a GREAT trip, Williamson's!

Cute Quotes

Will--the deep thinker---said in all seriousness after Wyatt ruined one of his lego creations, "Mom, sometimes having a brother is bad, but sometimes having a brother is good."

Wyatt--the information junkie--he's always informing me of things, "Mom, did you know Jordan Michael was really a real person?" (referring to Michael Jordan)

Anna--the mini-me---she's starting to observe and say things that surprise me, "When I grow up I might want to be a mom so I can reach stuff."

Cute Costumes

Will has wanted to be Indiana Jones since September.....we found this princess dress for Anna at a kids re-sale shop back toward the beginning of the month, too. And Wyatt.....well Wyatt always keeps us on our toes. Thursday night he came up with a new idea.

Can you guess what he was? A Shepard! I spent Friday morning fashioning him a tunic from and old brown skirt. When he got home from school I showed him, what I'd made and his response was, "no, mom I wanted to be a Shepard from Heidi, not a Shepard from Israel!!"

Sheesh!

I had him try it on and said he could wear a vest (like the Shepard from Heidi) and then he was convinced. He even pinned his stuffed lamb to his shoulder!

If you think we could have convinced her to be anything but a princess, you'd be wrong! I had fun curling her hair for the first time and even let her wear lip gloss. She loved every minute of it!


And last but not least, our handsome Indiana!



A fun night was had by all! Now I'm off to raid all the dark chocolate!

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!! :)

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.....